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The Conrad Demarest Model

The Conrad Demarest Model. Using a representative model to teach comparative empires. Background. Geoffrey Conrad Arthur Demarest Latin- Americanists inspired by the Inca and Aztec empires

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The Conrad Demarest Model

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  1. The Conrad Demarest Model Using a representative model to teach comparative empires.

  2. Background • Geoffrey Conrad • Arthur Demarest • Latin-Americanists inspired by the Inca and Aztec empires • Model Can be applied to all empires and used to compare and contrast empires or to trace changes and continuity over time.

  3. The 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

  4. 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.

  5. It’s all about the $… • Ideology is great, but what does empirical expansion get you? • Wealth from plunder, from trade, 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.

  6. $ 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 less-populated ones. • Native population supported by outlying areas

  7. 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!

  8. Homework Complete the Conrad-Demarest Model for the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty Use Chapter 6 for Rome P.181-187 for Han

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