The Rise of Empires
What is an empire?
Find out what an empire is.
The word empire comes from the **Latin imperium, meaning supreme power**.
Picture it as a drawing: one big ruler at the top, the emperor. Under him sit Kingdom 1, Kingdom 2, Kingdom 3 ..., each still with its own rājā. Usually the emperor got there by war against these smaller kingdoms.
The smaller kings now answer to the emperor, who rules from a capital, a big centre of money and government. So an empire does not wipe out the kingdoms inside it. It puts a king above them.
A kingdom that has submitted like this is a tributary (another word: vassal). It pays tribute: money, gold, grain, cattle, elephants or other goods, as a sign of loyalty. In return, the emperor usually let the local king keep ruling his own area.
Old Sanskrit words for 'emperor' all say the same thing:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| samrāj | lord of all, supreme ruler |
| adhirāja | overlord |
| rājādhirāja | king of kings |
What does an empire do? The book lists six things:
- keeps an army to control tributaries, grow, and defend
- runs an administration: officials to manage land, collect taxes, keep order
- makes laws; issues coins, weights and measures; controls trade
- controls resources: mines, forests, crops, workers
- encourages art, literature, religions and centres of learning
- keeps up roads, river and sea routes for government, trade and people's welfare
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