Get summary, textual answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF to NBSE Class 11 (Arts) History (Themes in World History) Section B: Empires (Introduction) . However, the educational materials should only be used for reference and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
Summary
The chapter outlines the rise and fall of empires across Mesopotamia and surrounding regions over two millennia, highlighting how these empires were shaped by their desire to control trade and resources. The Iranians took over much of the Assyrian empire by the sixth century BCE, and the growth of trade networks, particularly along the Mediterranean, benefited Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta. Alexander the Great’s conquests in the late fourth century BCE spread Hellenistic culture across his empire, although the empire quickly disintegrated after his death. Despite the political fragmentation, Greek culture remained influential for centuries, but local cultures, such as those in Iran, also played a significant role.
Rome emerged as a dominant power in the second century BCE, taking advantage of the disunity that followed the breakup of Alexander’s empire. The Roman Empire expanded across Europe, North Africa, and the eastern Mediterranean, adopting and spreading Hellenistic culture. Latin became the dominant language in the west, while Greek remained influential in the east. The empire eventually split into eastern and western halves, with the western half collapsing in the fifth century CE due to internal divisions and increasing pressure from hostile tribes like the Goths and Vandals.
Religious movements, particularly Christianity and Islam, played crucial roles in unifying diverse populations within these empires. Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, and the region saw the rise of the Christian Church as a significant political force. Islam emerged in the seventh century, and its followers rapidly expanded their empire, eventually overtaking much of the eastern Roman Empire. The chapter emphasizes that the rise and fall of these empires were driven by the need to control trade routes and resources, and that their legacies influenced the cultural and linguistic landscape of the regions they dominated.
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. When did Iranians take control of large portions of the Assyrian empire?
Answer: By the sixth century BCE.
2. Which regions did Alexander the Great conquer during his military campaigns?
Answer: Alexander the Great conquered parts of North Africa, West Asia, and Iran, reaching up to the Beas.
3. What happened when Alexander’s troops reached the Beas?
Answer: His troops refused to go any further east from there.
4. What was the impact of Alexander’s campaigns on the cultural traditions in the conquered regions?
Answer: Ideals and cultural traditions were shared among the Greeks and the local population throughout Alexander’s domain. The entire region became ‘Hellenised,’ and Greek became a widely spoken language.
5. How long did Hellenistic culture remain influential in the region after Alexander’s death?
Answer: Hellenistic culture remained influential in the region for nearly three centuries after Alexander’s death.
6. Which other culture was as important as Hellenistic culture during this time?
Answer: Iranian culture associated with the old empire of Iran was as important as, if not more important than, Hellenistic notions and ideas during this time period.
7. How did Rome take advantage of the political discord after the disintegration of Alexander’s empire?
Answer: From the second century BCE, small but well-organised military forces of the central Italian city-state of Rome took advantage of the political discord that followed the disintegration of Alexander’s empire to establish control over North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.
8. What was the political system of Rome at the time of its expansion?
Answer: Rome was a republic at the time, with a government based on a complicated election system. However, its political institutions gave birth and wealth some weight, and slavery benefited society.
9. What network did Roman forces establish after expanding their control?
Answer: The Roman forces established a trade network between the states that once belonged to Alexander’s empire.
10. What was the extent of the Roman Empire under Julius Caesar?
Answer: The Roman Empire was extended to present-day Britain and Germany in the middle of the first century BCE under Julius Caesar.
81. Who traveled to India during this period, and what significant temple was built?
Answer: Alberuni traveled to India, and the Rajarajesvara temple was built at Thanjavur.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. In which century did Iranians take control of large portions of the Assyrian empire?
A. Eighth century BCE
B. Seventh century BCE
C. Sixth century BCE
D. Fifth century BCE
Answer: C. Sixth century BCE
2. Who was the ruler of the kingdom of Macedon that embarked on military campaigns in the late fourth century BCE?
A. Philip II
B. Alexander
C. Pericles
D. Leonidas
Answer: B. Alexander
3. Which language became widely spoken across Alexander’s domain due to Hellenisation?
A. Latin
B. Persian
C. Greek
D. Arabic
Answer: C. Greek
4. When did the Roman Empire extend to present-day Britain and Germany?
A. Second century BCE
B. First century BCE
C. First century CE
D. Second century CE
Answer: B. First century BCE
5. Which emperor’s conversion to Christianity led to the largely Christianised structure of the Roman Empire?
A. Julius Caesar
B. Augustus
C. Nero
D. Constantine
Answer: D. Constantine
6. In which century was the Roman Empire divided into eastern and western halves?
A. Third century CE
B. Fourth century CE
C. Fifth century CE
D. Sixth century CE
Answer: B. Fourth century CE
7. Which tribes became increasingly hostile to the Roman administration leading to the empire’s collapse in the west?
A. Huns, Franks, Saxons
B. Goths, Visigoths, Vandals
C. Slavs, Avars, Bulgars
D. Lombards, Angles, Jutes
Answer: B. Goths, Visigoths, Vandals
8. The eastern Roman Empire was largely conquered by which empire between the seventh and fifteenth centuries?
A. Byzantine Empire
B. Mongol Empire
C. Persian Empire
D. Arab Empire
Answer: D. Arab Empire
9. What was a common motivation for the various attempts to build and maintain empires in the region?
A. To expand religious influence
B. To control the region’s trading networks
C. To spread Hellenistic culture
D. To establish democratic governance
Answer: B. To control the region’s trading networks
10. Which empire is an example of a successful pastoral empire that was not centred on cities?
A. Persian Empire
B. Greek Empire
C. Roman Empire
D. Mongol Empire
Answer: D. Mongol Empire
75. Which crop, originally from South America, was grown in the Polynesian islands?
A. Maize
B. Potatoes
C. Sweet potato
D. Cassava
Answer: C. Sweet potato
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