Models of Empire The ConradDemarest and Jared Diamond

Models of Empire The Conrad-Demarest and Jared Diamond Models of the Rise and Fall of Empires.

Models of Empire ► Two Models of Empires ► Conrad-Demarest ► Jared Diamond ► Conrad-Demarest § Complete model § Traces reasons for both rise and fall of Empire ► Jared Diamond § Ideas of geographic luck provide background for rise of Empires § Focuses on why empires fall

The Conrad-Demarest Model ► Preconditions which MUST exist but do not necessarily lead to empire building. § Adequate resources § Environmental mosaic § Some form of government which coalesces power § Power vacuum § Large military potential

The Model, Cont ► Many places, including the Greek Poleis met the pre- conditions mentioned, what causes an empire to “start? ” ► Ideology! Religious, philosophical, anything that will help coalesce the masses behind the idea of expansion. ► Ideology must endorse and justify warfare and expansion.

It’s all about the Booty (the money kind)… ► Ideology is great, but what does empirical expansion get you? ► Wealth from plunder, from trade, from availability and control of new resources, and from coercive tribute. ► Most often enjoyed by the wealthy, but also distributed to the masses. This “trickle-down” economic benefit serves to cement social hierarchies. (Everybody’s happy, why revolt? )

Expansion (con’t) ► Expansion also allows you to increase population § More food and land available § Less disease initially as the population density goes down, and food availability goes up. ► State-sponsored population increase. § More populated areas tend to be more powerful than lesspopulated ones. § Native population supported by outlying areas

Size leads to trouble ► The bigger the empire, the more costly the expansion ► Empires that stop expanding and do not change their ideology tend to begin collapsing ► Collapse tends to begin at the edges and creep towards the center. ► Empires are inherently unstable!

The Diamond Model ► Why do Empires Fall? ► Humans Negatively impact the environment ► Examples—deforestation, extinction of species, soil depletion/erosion ► Climate Change ► Example: Ice Age, Little Ice Age ► Friendly Neighbors on Borders Leaving or Cut Off ► Possibly due to climate changes or conflict

Diamond, continued ► Influx of Hostile Neighbors on Borders ► Dysfunctional cultural and political practices ► Unable to recognize issues contributing to erosion of society and create solutions ► Practices that often exacerbate other issues, such as diminishing natural resources ► Criticisms of Diamond ► He’s a biologist—no surprise that his emphasis is on the environment and fall of empires due to abuse of natural resources ► Lacks appreciation for the ways in which culture enables societies to overcome environmental issues.

Applying the Conrad-Demarest Model- an example ► Qin China had all the necessary preconditions- good agriculture, environmental mosaic, power vacuum that resulted from warring states period, ► Ideology? Legalism ► Booty- ever-normal granary system, public works projects, gifts, etc. ► Empire grew under Han times to huge size

Survival of the Han Empire ► Ideological change! Confucianism… ► Ritual ► Hierarchy ► Exam system theoretically rewards the able, allows some social mobility ► Filial Piety ► Mandate of Heaven ► Public works projects

Eventual Fall ► Gap between rich and poor increases ► Taxation and famine forces increasing #’s of peasants off the land ► Disease sets in (plague) ► From Peasant point of view, hierarchy no longer meeting their needs ► Exam system ends- always a bad sign! ► Invasion of the nomads and peasant rebellion.

Now, how about Diamond? ► What happened to the Maya? ► Environment played the preeminent role in their downfall. ► Mayan Empire fell to classic “Malthusian” crisis. ► What does that mean? ► Their population outstripped their resources and capability to support the number of people attempting to exist off of the land. ► Rigid Mayan religion/hierarchy unable/unwilling to react. ► This is all a best guess.