The focus of assignment is the great territorial empires of the Classical Age-the Persian Empire; the imperial Qin and Han dynasties of China; the Mauryan Empire of India; and the Roman Empire. These empires shared certain basic features, most notably their great size and diversity. Were these features a blessing or a curse? This assignment asks you to look at both sides of the coin, and to argue both positions.
Assignment
Create a well-organized 3-4 page paper in which you examine the ways in which the great size and diversity of classical empires
• contributed to their power;
and
• undermined their power.