Ancient Empires before Alexander | Ancient Empires before Alexander, and After (Lecture 36)

Lecture 36: The two millennia between the rise of Sargon and the fall of Hannibal saw a dozen empires come and go on the stage of the ancient Near East. They were strikingly diverse in their origins, in their approach to imperial rule, in their extent, and in their longevity—a diversity that reflects their varied environments, historical circumstances, and cultures. They anticipated much that was to come in the empires of later ages. This was particularly true in imperial administration; we find Near Eastern elements both in the empires of Alexander’s successors and in Rome.

It is also true in military organization; the Assyrian army set the standard for the Persians, and through them for the Parthians and Sassanids, and for the heavy cavalry of Rome, which in turn inspired the armored knights of medieval Europe. But the most enduring legacy may be the idea of empire itself, which has endured and still endures to the present day.

Suggested Reading:
Bowman, Egypt After the Pharaohs.
Brosius, The Persians.
Green, Alexander to Actium.
Millar, The Roman Near East.