word "empire" lately on everyone's lips, it has even become fashionable.It is a reflection of its former grandeur and luxury.What is the Empire?
This perspective?
dictionaries and encyclopedias offer the basic meaning of the word "empire" (from the Latin word «imperium» - power), meaning that if you do not go into the boring details and not to resort to the dry scientific vocabulary is as follows.Firstly, the empire - a monarchy, headed by the Emperor and Empress (Roman Empire, the Russian Empire).However, in order that the state was an empire of its ruler just to name a few emperor.The existence of the empire requires a fairly extensive controlled territories and peoples, a strong centralized power (authoritarian or totalitarian).And if tomorrow, Prince Hans-Adam II will call himself emperor, it does not change the essence of the state structure of Liechtenstein (which has a population of less than forty thousand people), and you can not say that this is a small principality - Empire (as a form of state).
Equally important
Secondly, empires often referred to the country, which have impressive colonial possessions.In this case the presence is not necessarily the emperor.For example, the English kings never were called emperors, but almost five centuries, led by the British Empire, in which included not only the UK but also a large number of colonies and dominions.The great empires of the world forever etched their names on the tablets of history, but what they ended up?
Roman Empire (27 BC. E. - 476)
Formally, the first emperor in the history of civilization is considered to Gaius Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC. E.), Who had been consul and then announceddictator for life.Aware of the need for serious reforms, Caesar had laws that changed the political system of ancient Rome.Lost was the role of the National Assembly, the supporters of Caesar was replenished Senate, which gave Caesar the title of emperor with the right to transmit to his descendants.Caesar began minting gold coins with his own image.His desire to unlimited power led to a conspiracy of senators (44 BC. E.), Organized by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius.In fact, the first emperor was the nephew of Caesar - Octavian Augustus (63 BC. E. - 14 AD. E.).The title of Emperor in those days meant the supreme commander who won a significant victory.Formally, the Roman Republic still existed, and Augustus himself was called Princeps ("first among equals"), but it was under Octavian Republic acquired the features of the monarchy, like the Eastern despotic states.In 284, Emperor Diocletian (245 - 313 years.) Has initiated reforms that finally turned the former Roman republic into an empire.Since then he became known as the Emperor Dominus - lord.In 395, the state was divided into two parts - East (the capital - Constantinople) and the Western (capital - Rome) - each headed by its own emperor.This was the will of the Emperor Theodosius, who on the eve of his death divided the state among his sons.In the last period of its existence, the Western Empire was subjected to constant incursions of the barbarians, and in 476 once powerful state will be finally defeated the commander-barbarian Odoacer (about 431 - 496), who will rule only Italy, to abandon the title of emperor, and from otherpossession of the Roman Empire.After the fall of the great empires of Rome will occur one after the other.
Byzantine Empire (IV - XV centuries.)
Byzantine Empire originates from the Eastern Roman Empire.When Odoacer deposed the last Roman emperor, he took away the dignity of the government and sent them to Constantinople.On the ground, only one Sun, and the emperor also has to be one - it is about the importance attached to this act.The Byzantine Empire is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, its borders stretched from the Euphrates to the Danube.An important role in the consolidation of the Byzantine Empire played a Christianity in 381 became the state religion of the Roman Empire.Fathers of the Church argued that by faith saved not only people, but society itself.Consequently, Byzantium is under the patronage of the Lord, and is obliged to keep other nations to salvation.Secular and spiritual authority must be united for the sake of a common goal.Byzantine Empire - a state in which the idea of imperial power gained the most mature form.God - the Lord of the Universe, and the Emperor dominates in the earthly kingdom.Therefore, the emperor protected by God and is sacred.The Byzantine emperor had virtually unlimited power, he defined the domestic and foreign policy, was chief of the army, supreme judge and legislator at the same time.Emperor of Byzantium - is not only head of state but also head of the Church, so he had to show an example of a model of Christian piety.It is interesting that the emperor is not inherited from a legal point of view.History knows many examples of Byzantium, when it became the Emperor of people not because of birth crowned, and the results of its real merit.
Ottoman (Ottoman) Empire (1299 - 1922)
historians usually lead the countdown to its existence in 1299, when the north-west Anatolia, the Ottoman state emerged, founded his first sultan Osman - the founder of a new dynasty.Osman soon conquer the whole West Asia Minor, which will be a powerful platform for further expansion of the Turkic tribes.We can say that the Ottoman Empire - Turkey is sultanate period.But strictly speaking empire is formed only in the XV - XVI centuries, when the Turkish conquest in Europe, Asia and Africa have become very significant.Its heyday coincided with the collapse of the Byzantine Empire.This, of course, is not accidental: if somewhere subtract else will certainly be added, as the law of conservation of energy and power on the Eurasian continent.In the spring of 1453 as a result of a long siege and bloody battles troops Ottoman Turks led by Sultan Mehmed II took the Byzantine capital Constantinople.This victory will lead to the fact that the Turks will secure a dominant position in the eastern Mediterranean for many years.The capital of the Ottoman Empire would be Constantinople (Istanbul).Acme its influence and prosperity to reach the Ottoman Empire in the XVI century - during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the I.By the beginning of the XVII century the Ottoman state will be one of the most powerful in the world.The Empire controlled almost the entire South-East Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, it consisted of 32 provinces and a plurality of slave states.The collapse of the Ottoman Empire will happen as a result of the First World War.As Germany's allies, the Turks were defeated in 1922 will be abolished the sultanate, and in 1923 Turkey becomes a republic.
the British Empire (1497 - 1949)
the British Empire - the colonial state is the largest in the history of civilization.In the 30 years of the twentieth century, the United Kingdom accounted for nearly a quarter of the Earth's land and its people - a quarter of the inhabitants of the planet (no coincidence that English has become the most influential language in the world).European conquest of England to invade Ireland and intercontinental - the seizure of Newfoundland (1583), which became a springboard for expansion in North America.The success of the British colonization contributed to the successful imperialist war which Britain waged against Spain, France, Holland.At the beginning of the XVII century will penetrate Britain to India, England will take up later, Australia and New Zealand, North, tropical and South Africa.
Britain and the colonies
After World War I the League of Nations of the United Kingdom will present the mandate for the management of some former colonies of the Ottoman and the German empires (including - Iran and Palestine).However, the results of the Second World War significantly shifted the emphasis in the colonial question.Britain, although it was among the winners, was forced to take a huge loan from the United States to avoid bankruptcy.USSR and the USA - the largest players in the political arena - were opposed to colonization.But in the colonies, meanwhile, intensified liberation sentiment.In this situation it is too difficult and expensive it was to retain its colonial domination.In contrast, Portugal and France, England did not do that and transferred power to local governments.To date, the United Kingdom continues to rule over 14 territories.
Russian Empire (1721 - 1917)
After the Great Northern War, when a Moscow state were assigned new land and access to the Baltic Sea, King Peter I took the title of Emperor of Russia on the petition of the Senate - the highest organ of state power established ten years earlier.In its area of the Russian Empire was the third (after the British and Mongol Empire) from ever existing public entities.Before the advent of the State Duma in 1905, the authorities of the Russian Emperor is not restricted, except for the Orthodox standards.Peter I, who strengthened vertical power in the country, Russia has divided into eight provinces.In the time of Catherine II was 50, and by 1917, as a result of territorial expansion, their number increased to 78. Russia - Empire, which included a number of modern sovereign states (Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, Baltic States, Caucasus and CentralAsia).As a result of the February 1917 revolution dynasty Russian emperors of the Romanov stopped, and in September the same year, Russia was proclaimed a republic.
centrifugal tendencies to blame
As you can see, all great empires collapsed.In place of creating their centripetal forces will sooner or later come to the centrifugal tendencies that lead the state, if not to a complete collapse, then to decay.
