The document discusses several major empires and events in history: 1) Alexander the Great created a large European empire seeking peace and religious harmony. Rome offered civilization and laws but also strived for domination. The Roman Empire eventually fell due to invasions, economic troubles, and loss of virtue. 2) Early Portuguese voyages to Africa sponsored exploration hoping to find riches. Europeans then explored and colonized other parts of the world, spreading Christianity through missionaries. 3) All major empires practiced slavery until the 19th century. Between 1492-1820, over 5 times as many Africans went to America than Europeans in the transatlantic slave trade. Slavery was eventually abolished

1. Theme 2: Big HistoryTheme 2: Big History
Audria MuscaraAudria Muscara
HIST 140HIST 140
Professor ArguelloProfessor Arguello

2. Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and Empires
• Alexander the Great, creator of the great European Empire, wanted
peace, stability, and religious harmony for all.
• Rome offered civilization and protection to it’s people. Laws were
created and Rome strived for world domination.
• Barbarian invasions, economic collapse, poor military strategies,
and loss of civic virtue may have all attributed l to the fall of the
Roman Empire.

3. Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and Empires
• Early Portuguese voyages to Africa
sponsored by Prince Henry.
• Many Europeans set off to explore
new lands in hope to find riches.
• Europeans were brought over seas
to other parts of the world.
• Christianity was also spread to
these parts. Missionaries followed
and Christianity was to stay in the
New World.

4. Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and Empires
Slavery
• All empires up to the beginning of
the 19th
century had at one time
practiced slavery.
• Between 1492 and 1820, 5-6 times
as many Africans went to America
than white Europeans.
• Major part of the transatlantic trade
• Christians often believed they were
“saving” the slaves from eternal
damnation by buying them.
• Slavery eventually came to an end
and continues to be a painful part of
human history.

5. Guns, Germs, and SteelGuns, Germs, and Steel
• How did such a small army of conquistadors
conquer the Inca’s?
• The Inca’s thought they were god’s riding in on
their horses with lighter skin wearing metal
helmets. They had never before seen horses
• The unarmed warriors approached the
conquistadors by playing music and
celebrating to “defeat the gods.”
• Ambush led by Pizzaro with steal weapons
and gunpowder.

6. Guns, Germs, and SteelGuns, Germs, and Steel
• Disease like small pox was
eventually brought on and killed
many. Diseases were given to
humans from the domestic
animals they once lived with.
• Steel was utilized to make more
advanced weapons and supplies.
Gunpowder came from Asia and
firearms were being used.

7. Guns, Germs, and SteelGuns, Germs, and Steel
• Resources of different climates helped
shape the history of the world
• New Guinea lacked the dry climate and
domestic animals that the middle East had
to farm. The animals provided fertilizer,
meat, wool, milk, and cleared crops which
allowed people of this region to flourish.
• The people of New Guinea had the mind
power to flourish but all the man power
was spent on supplying food. Even the use
of steal tools didn’t come till much later.
• The ancient inhabitants of the middle East
were able to thrive because of their
resources and the domestic animals native
to the land.

8. The Origins and Nature of NewThe Origins and Nature of New
World SlaveryWorld Slavery
• The Arabs and Muslims were
the first to use the Sub-
Saharan African Blacks as
slaves.
• The Arabic conquests spread
geographically resulted in an
increase of slavery practice in
new areas.
• Many of the Arabic slaves
were used for sugar and
tobacco cultivating.

9. The Origins and Nature of NewThe Origins and Nature of New
World SlaveryWorld Slavery
• Judaism, Christianity,
and Islamic religions
tried to regulate slavery.
• Slavery revolts occurred
• Slaves may have been
used for ritual sacrifices,
laborers, sex slaves and
even cannibalism.

10. The Origins and Nature of NewThe Origins and Nature of New
World SlaveryWorld Slavery
• Judaism, Christianity,
and Islamic religions
tried to regulate slavery.
• Slavery revolts occurred
• Slaves may have been
used for ritual sacrifices,
laborers, sex slaves and
even cannibalism.