The author, Motyl writes about empires and the concepts of empires using different theorist ideas. He compares concepts, which are central to this book, the theories and theorists that the author uses are both organizational and substantive in explaining empires, decay, collapse and revival. The writer explains about empires, the hierarchical structure of the political system in these empires. The author uses rimless wheels and hub like structures and parabolas to explain about elites and state dominate peripheral elites in empirical society. The author examines the collapse of five different empires; there are the Ottoman, Soviet Union, Habsburg, Wilhelmine and Habsburg. The author explains the end of empires as a certain political structure …show more content…
In my opinion the author did not do an extremely good job persuading me with his argument. The author has cooked up theories that are not actual theories in proving his argument. The author himself state that his theories are untruthful and only help in adding his theories. Some of the author theories are just empirical data that the author interprets to his liking for supporting his arguments. The author seems to have done a well-researched work, but as mentioned about the research is invalid of insufficient to connect his main argument of very structure of empires promotes decay and that decay in turn facilitates the progressive loss of territories. His writing style is not clear and organized, the structure of writing is flawed, the reason being after reading his work I have a confusion of how his interpretation research of imperial data plotting and parabolas represent relief situation of rise and falls of empires, because one theory is normative and the other theory is descriptive. Also his arguments in the book were built up by his faith because the writer’s theories are imperfect and incomplete. His work could be recommended to specialists in the areas of empires, because the author himself in not a specialist in historical events. The specialist could be able to get a better understanding of the arguments his is making and theories claim that he uses. The one main question I would like to ask him would be how he can use empirical data to explain such descriptive theories and where is the
Throughout world civilization, numerous empires have dominated geographical areas with powerful military forces, effective rulers and strong economy’s. However, majority of the worlds empires have declined after centuries of dominance. The most significant similarity in all of the worlds empires is the greed of expansion. History has proven this significance to result in the falling of great empires. When empires fall, new ones are established and this is the process known as the dynastic cycle. The dynastic cycle is based off the different dynasties that once ruled China, however, the process can be used with the rise, fall and replacement of other empires. The dynastic cycle has occurred in the once dominant Ottoman empire, that dominated in Europe and the Middle East for nearly 500 years and also the Russian empire (1721-1917).
An Empire Divided by Andrew O’Shaughnessy conveyed the reasons for non-participation on the part of the British West Indies during the American Revolution. He explores concepts such as double consciousness on part of the planters, as well as economic and political ideologies of the planters and the slaves during the late 1700s.
The problem of internal revolt is inherent to all empires, as it is difficult to consistently maintain authority over a large and diverse population. Although empires have taken steps to prevent a loss of control from occurring, even the utmost vigilance has been either not enough, or has lapsed long enough for a revolt to occur. The resulting uprising might be minor, or it might be serious enough to threaten a crucial territory. How empires have dealt with a major internal revolt is instructive in several ways: it tests whether or not the empire's military is strong enough to deal with revolts, it tests the ability of the ruler or the ruling class to maintain their authority in the face of the challenge, and it provides a way to examine an empire's policies by looking at which ones may have contributed to the revolt, and which were changed or introduced in its aftermath.
Emperor Justinian is identified as one of the greatest Caesars to ever rule in Europe during his reign from 527-565, during this he succeeded in reviving Roman Authority throughout his growing Byzantium Empire . As Emperor of the Byzantium Empire in the sixth and seventh century he conquered many parts of Europe restoring the control of the Roman Authority once again if only for a while . This essay will point out the extent in which Justinian succeeded Roman Authority. Although many depictions that can be argued, closer examination can be shown that through huge military successes, Architectural activities that changed the Empires value and enhanced Constantinople as the centre of the Christian World, and the legal work of the ‘Code of Justinian’ helped Justinian to revive Roman Authority. In the seventh century saw the collapse of the Byzantium Empire, which was defeated and taken over by the Ottoman-Turk Empire from the East of Constantinople. This Essay will access the reasons for decline of such a powerful empire, hit with the ‘Justinian Plague’ and eventually deteriorating after Justinian death . This saw the end to any last element of any Roman Authority in Europe.
The government within the monarchical society was populated by the aristocracy. It was they who were depended upon for directing the course of governmental affairs. The controls of all co...
1) The author of this book, Alan Palmer, is a reliable historian educated at Oxford University. He is an expert in European History and even headed the History Department in Highgate School. He left his post of sixteen years to concentrate on historical writing and research. He went on to publish eighteen books on numerous leaders and empires of Europe. His work includes, Napoleon in Russia, Alexander I: Tsar of War and Peace, The Decline and Fall of the Ottoman Empire and many more.
More than two thousand years ago, two great empires arose. The Chinese and the Roman Empires. Having different locations, there were obvious differences from the start, assembly and the collapse of the empires, but there were also astonishing similarities. Located in modern time Asia and Europe, the Chinese and Roman empires were revolutionary with their ideas and accomplishments in their time from the start to the end of their empires.
“While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls - the World.” Lord Byron. This essay will discuss the similarities of military, economics and systems of government between the Roman Empire of the 6th century BCE and the United States of America of the 20th century. History has revealed that all superpowers fall eventually, although much time has passed since the glory days of Rome we see in 2015 the largest superpower in charge, the United States. There are many similarities that can be drawn between the American superpower and the Roman Empire such as the same founding of government and both dominated in military, as well as economic similarities. This leads to the conclusion that because the rise to power between the two powers was so similar, the downfall will be equally parallel.
Most of the civilizations throughout history have been taken over or replaced by other civilizations due to disunity and chaos. Although an empire might seem prosperous, the decline and fall of empires are sometimes inevitable. Even though an empire might seem invincible, there are many factors that could lead to the sudden decline or fall of an empire. Over many centuries, historians have composed many reasons, such as weak militaries, economic burdens, dynastic successions, and external enemies, which have been known to contribute to the rise and fall of many once successful empires.
From the realist point of view, the international political system is considered as anarchic. There is a lack of external authority among states that ensures peace, stability and balance of power. In the analyzed document, the author's main thesis states that changes of the system would alter the international political system. However, changes within the system will maintain its anarchism. In order to support his thesis, the author replies to liberal critics, who consider the neorealism as obsolete taking into account three important arguments against the neorealism.
In the Empire, the Emperor had complete jurisdiction over all policies and decisions. In the beginnings of the empire, h...
The next theory is the modernization theory, which is the basis for the rest of the essay. The modernization theory is that since the West led the push to modernization, many components of Western culture are embedded in modern society. “As the first civilization to modernize, the West is the first to have fully acquired the culture of modernity.” This theory also heavily relies on the idea that in order to modernize, the country must Westernize and lose its traditional culture. It is then proposed that although in present day many societies are modern, it does not mean they are all the same.
The political plus military factors of fall, it is often hard to isolate one exact element as the main reason of decline. But as the Ottoman Empire’s system was so reliant on the sultan for stimulating and guide it as well as keep it as one and since collapse was, indeed, accompanied with serious elements of corruption within the organization of the sultanate and the persons holding the sultanate office, one can suppose that this was, certainly, the key to fall. Even during the glorious days of the rule of Suleyman there was decline. Maybe it was a lot to expect that the Ottoman Empire or any empire could maintain a constant series of able sultans such as the sultans who had made the empire. Conversely, because so much reliant on the personality of the sultan, a single weak sultan was enough for opening the doors to a sequence of nonentities and incompetents. The majority members of the feudal Sipahis and the Kapikulu corps married, left the garrisons, became estate owners, artisans, or merchants, abandoned military training jointly, and kept their groups memberships just for the pri...
While hierarchy is often seen as an ancient mode of survival, it has also permeated into many significant facets of the modern-day Asian lifestyle. This particular essay will explore the hierarchy that is the norm in both households and social situations in Japan, all the while also exploring the political and filial hierarchy as well as the significance of the hierarchical structure that is shared with Feudal Europe.
In this paper, I will argue that the current system is hegemonial. My explanation to hegemony will then be centered on the sources of the United States as a hegemonial power. Furthermore, I will state the different primary implications associated with the rise of China and what the Roman Empire offers for understanding the United Sta...