Around 500 BCE, four empires emerged along the Mediterranean Sea, Central Asia. and East Asia. The Greek, Roman, Persian, and Chinese Empires all expanded at an astonishing pace, encompassing vast territories and millions of people. Each empire was affected by forces ranging from the impact of geographical factors to the decisions made by a few powerful leaders. The people living within the empires constructed new cultural forms and innovations as they interacted with and responded to these forces.
In this task, you will discuss the impact of geography on your choice of two of these empires. You will also describe the unique cultures of these empires and then consider how they changed over time by choosing one empire and identifying and discussing the empire's rulers and the expansion of that empire.