Collapse and Restructuring
Driving Question: How have societies restructured after the collapse of empires?
After the fall of empires like Rome and Han China, the societies they once ruled didn’t collapse, they adapted: rebuilding, restructuring, and even entering new golden ages. This lesson challenges the idea of a universal decline and highlights the resilience of people across the world.
Learning Objective
- Understand how historians create narratives to explain how societies rise and fall.
Opener: Collapse and Restructuring
New vocabulary? No problem! Let’s see what you know by matching up new words with previous knowledge and experiences.
Collapse and Transform
Sometimes endings are really beginnings. Empires come and go, but new societies and authorities emerge.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Preview the questions below, and then review the transcript.
While you watch
Look for answers to these questions:
- What sort of advice did Dhouda write to her son?
- What led to the period that historians once called “a dark age”?
- Why is the term “collapse” misleading?
- How did the lands once ruled by the Roman Empire restructure after its decline and fall?
After you watch
Respond to this question: If a government were to collapse today, what sources of authority do you think people would organize around instead?
Key Ideas
Empires Collapse
How do empires collapse? Invasion, lack of money, and internal challenges are three major reasons, as many ancient empires discovered.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What are two general factors that usually bring down an empire?
- How might changes in population affect an empire?
- What was a problem shared by some emperors in both Rome and the Han Dynasty?
- What factors made it easier for Alexander to conquer Persia?
- Why did the Spanish have lucky timing when they took over former Inca territory?
After you read
Respond to this question: Are there any lessons we can learn from the collapse of these empires that might help us think about how to keep our own society from collapsing?
Collapse and Restructuring
This activity gives you a chance to reflect on what you’ve learned about societal collapse in by stepping into the shoes of a person from the time period.
