Part 6 (1/2)

number of kingdoms incorporated into the Persian empire 14,560.

annual revenue of Persian empire under King Darius, according to Herodotus, in Euboean silver talents 366,912.

the same amount of silver, in kilograms 404.5.

the same amount of silver, in tons 200,000.

number of helots working under Spartan domination 10,000.

number of Spartan citizens they worked for 35,000.

number of Athenian male citizens 19,000.

miles sailed by Phoenician fleet to circ.u.mnavigate Africa in 600 BCE

ATHENS, ALEXANDER, AND ALL THAT.

(500 BCE0 BCE)

IN A NUTSh.e.l.l.

Out of the ashes of the ancient ”Dark Ages,” a s.h.i.+ning new world emerged between the years 500 BCE and 0: legendary leaders created huge empires that have never been equaled since. These mega-states were ruled from capitals that were the biggest cities the world had ever seen. It all began with a major s.h.i.+ft in the balance of power, as the world's first global empire, Persia, declined and new contenders arose in Europe.

Persia's decay began with the stunning defeat of King Xerxes by the Greeks, who were able to triumph against overwhelming odds by trying something new: working together. But their victory didn't mean smooth sailing. At the moment of their greatest triumph, they threw it all away in an incredibly destructive civil war that brought their Golden Age cras.h.i.+ng to a close.

It took new management under a young king from north of Greece, Alexander of Macedon, to unite the Greeks again in a common purpose. And what purpose was that? Revenge (of course)! The Persians may have tried to forget Greece, but the Greeks weren't going to forget them. And Alexander the Great was just the leader they needed to settle the score.

Alexander did a bit more than settle the score: he conquered the whole Persian Empire. But like all rock stars, he was fated to die young, and his empire didn't outlast him. Nonetheless, by spreading Greek culture, he created a new international community, and paved the way for the most successful empire in history: Rome (perhaps you've heard of it).

Rome was truly remarkable, but it had some stiff compet.i.tion half a world away, in Asia, where a similar process of consolidation created the first Chinese empire: the Han Dynasty. Like the West, China had a couple of false starts, including an insanely ambitious conqueror named Qin s.h.i.+ Huang who grabbed it all-and lost it all-with breathtaking speed.

Meanwhile, an Indian prince named Chandragupta Maurya took advantage of regional instability to create his own huge empire. Covering most of India and modern-day Pakistan, the empire took his family name, Maurya.

And a few letters away, the Maya hit fast-forward in Central America, leaping ahead of their Olmec ancestors as they built societies of unprecedented complexity in what is now Guatemala and Mexico.

All in all, this period was an incredible recovery from the chaos that went before, and with its orderly empires, grand cities, cultural achievements, and rampant conquering, it is still considered one of the high points of human civilization.

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WHAT HAPPENED WHEN.

509 BCE BCE.

Roman republic founded.

492 BCE BCE.

Greek colonies in the Persian Empire rebel but are defeated.

490 BCE BCE.

Darius invades Greece.

480 BCE BCE.

Darius's successor, Xerxes, invades Greece.

479 BCE BCE.

United Greeks defeat Persians at Platea.

475 BCE BCE.

”Warring States” period begins in China.

433 BCE BCE.

Athens and Sparta go to war against each other.

415 BCE BCE.

Alcibiades leads Athenian invasion of Sicily.

405 BCE BCE.

Sparta defeats Athens.

399 BCE BCE.