Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to understand content and feature usage to drive site improvements over time. To learn more, review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Skip Navigation
OER Logo

Empire Building

Page 1 of 5
Checkmark Alert Banner
Did you know? You can access an editable version of this activity: Google Doc or Word Doc
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 4.4ACTIVITYEMPIRE BUILDINGUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Empire Building”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeAnalyzevarious characteristics that made a variety of ancient empires and dynastiessuccessful. This will help youunderstand whycertain empires succeededas well as the qualities that might have led to their failure.Process1.Complete the table by providing information about how each empire handledeach category. Then,decide which empireis the bestin each category. Your teacher may have you work in groups to fill out just one category or one empire, and then share with others.CategoryPersians and GreeksClick here for the articleThe Macedonian EmpireClick here for the articleThe Ptolemaic DynastyClick here for the articleWhich empire “wins” this category?Political structureEconomic system
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 4.4ACTIVITYEMPIRE BUILDING2CategoryPersians and GreeksClick here for the articleThe Macedonian EmpireClick here for the articleThe Ptolemaic DynastyClick here for the articleWhich empire “wins” this category?Military strengthSocial hierarchyMain weakness**Note: The “winner”for this category should be the one with the least-significantweakness.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 4.4ACTIVITYEMPIRE BUILDING3CategoryThe Mauryan and Gupta EmpiresClick here for the articleThe Zhou and Qin EmpiresClick here for the articleWhich empire “wins” this category?Political structureEconomic systemMilitary strengthSocial hierarchyMain weakness**Note: The “winner”for this category should be the one with the least-significantweakness.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 4.4ACTIVITYEMPIRE BUILDING42.Your goal is to create the best, most successful, or most indestructible empire.Butyou can only borrowthe “best” parts of the historical empires for twoof the categories. The other threecategories must be constructed based on what you or yourgroup decides are the second or third best. This means your empire willhave a weakness. The trick is to pick theweakness or weaknesses you can most easily justify.Fill in the information about your new empire below:Create a name for your new empire:_________________________________________________________________CategoryEmpire you’re going to “borrow” this fromPolitical structureEconomic systemMilitary strengthSocial hierarchyMain weaknessYour teacher may have you create a visual example of your empire and present to the class, so be prepared to defend your selection!
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 4.4ACTIVITYEMPIRE BUILDING53.What is the most important quality (category) that made these empires successful? Use evidence from the activity to support your response. 4.What was the most-significant weakness that led to the collapse of empires?Use evidence from the activity to support your response.