The word "empire" has been on everyone's lips lately, it has even become fashionable. On it lies a reflection of former grandeur and luxury. What is an empire?
Is it promising?
Dictionaries and encyclopedias offer the basic meaning of the word "empire" (from the Latin word "imperium" - power), the meaning of which, if you do not go into boring details and do not resort to dry scientific vocabulary, is as follows. First, an empire is a monarchy headed by an emperor or empress (Roman Empire, Russian Empire). However, in order for a state to become an empire, it is not enough for its ruler to simply call himself emperor. The existence of an empire presupposes the existence of sufficiently vast controlled territories and peoples, a strong centralized power (authoritarian or totalitarian). And if tomorrow Prince Hans-Adam II calls himself emperor, this will not change the essence of the state structure of Liechtenstein (whose population is less than forty thousand people), and it will not be possible to say that this small principality is an empire (as a form of state).
Equally important
Secondly, countries that have impressive colonial possessions are often called empires. In this case, the presence of the emperor is not necessary at all. For example,English kings were never called emperors, but for almost five centuries they headed the British Empire, which included not only Great Britain, but also a large number of colonies and dominions. The great empires of the world forever imprinted their names in the tablets of history, but where did they end up?
Roman Empire (27 BC - 476)
Formally, the first emperor in the history of civilization is considered Gaius Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC), who was previously a consul, and then declared a dictator for life. Realizing the need for serious reforms, Caesar passed laws that changed the political system of Ancient Rome. The role of the People's Assembly was lost, the Senate was replenished with Caesar's supporters, which granted Caesar the title of emperor with the right to transfer it to his descendants. Caesar began to mint gold coins with his own image. His desire for unlimited power led to a conspiracy of senators (44 BC), organized by Mark Brutus and Gaius Cassius. In fact, the first emperor was Caesar's nephew - Octavian Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD). The title of emperor in those days denoted the supreme military leader who won significant victories. Formally, the Roman Republic still existed, and Augustus himself was called princeps (“first among equals”), but it was under Octavian that the republic acquired the features of a monarchy, similar to the eastern despotic states. In 284, Emperor Diocletian (245-313) initiated reforms that finally turned the former Roman Republic into an empire. WithSince then, the emperor began to be called dominus - master. In 395, the state was divided into two parts - Eastern (capital - Constantinople) and Western (capital - Rome) - each of which was headed by its own emperor. Such was the will of Emperor Theodosius, who on the eve of his death divided the state between his sons. In the last period of its existence, the Western Empire was subjected to constant barbarian invasions, and in 476, the once powerful state will be finally defeated by the barbarian commander Odoacer (circa 431 - 496), who will rule only Italy, renouncing both the title of emperor and others. dominions of the Roman Empire. After the fall of Rome, great empires will rise one after another.
Byzantine Empire (IV - XV centuries)
The Byzantine Empire originates from the Eastern Roman Empire. When Odoacer overthrew the last Roman emperor, he took from him the dignity of power and sent them to Constantinople. There is only one Sun on earth, and the emperor must also be alone - approximately the same importance was attached to this act. The Byzantine Empire was located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, its borders stretched from the Euphrates to the Danube. Christianity, which in 381 became the state religion of the entire Roman Empire, played a major role in the strengthening of Byzantium. The Fathers of the Church asserted that thanks to faith, not only a person is saved, but society itself. Consequently, Byzantium is under the protection of the Lord and is obliged to lead other peoples to salvation. Secular andspiritual power must be united in the name of a common goal. The Byzantine Empire is the state in which the idea of imperial power found its most mature form. God is the ruler of the entire Universe, and the emperor dominates the kingdom of the Earth. Therefore, the power of the emperor is protected by God and is sacred. The Byzantine emperor had practically unlimited power, he determined domestic and foreign policy, was the commander-in-chief of the army, the supreme judge and at the same time the legislator. The emperor of Byzantium is not only the head of state, but also the head of the Church, so he had to be an example of exemplary Christian piety. It is curious that the power of the emperor here was not hereditary from a legal point of view. The history of Byzantium knows examples when a person became its emperor not because of a crowned birth, but as a result of his real merits.
Ottoman (Ottoman) Empire (1299 – 1922)
Usually, historians count its existence since 1299, when the Ottoman state arose in the north-west of Anatolia, founded by its first sultan Osman, the founder of a new dynasty. Soon, Osman will conquer the entire west of Asia Minor, which will become a powerful platform for the further expansion of the Turkic tribes. We can say that the Ottoman Empire is Turkey during the period of the sultanship. But strictly speaking, the empire was formed here only in the XV-XVI centuries, when the Turkish conquests in Europe, Asia and Africa became very significant. Its heyday coincided with the collapse of the Byzantine Empire. This, of course, is not accidental: if somewheredecreased, then in another place it will certainly increase, as the law of conservation of energy and power on the Eurasian continent says. In the spring of 1453, as a result of a long siege and bloody battles, the troops of the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II occupied the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople. This victory will lead to the fact that the Turks will secure a dominant position in the eastern Mediterranean for many years to come. Constantinople (Istanbul) will become the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire reached its highest point of influence and prosperity in the 16th century, during the reign of Suleiman I the Magnificent. By the beginning of the 17th century, the Ottoman state would become one of the most powerful in the world. The empire controlled almost all of Southeastern Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, it consisted of 32 provinces and many subordinate states. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire will occur as a result of the First World War. As allies of Germany, the Turks will be defeated, the Sultanate will be abolished in 1922, and Turkey will become a republic in 1923.
British Empire (1497 - 1949)
The British Empire is the largest colonial state in the entire history of civilization. In the 30s of the twentieth century, the territory of the United Kingdom was almost a quarter of the earth's land, and its population - a fourth of those living on the planet (it is no coincidence that English became the most authoritative language in the world). The European conquests of England began with the invasion of Ireland, and the intercontinental ones with the capture of Newfoundland (1583), which becamespringboard for expansion in North America. The success of British colonization was facilitated by the successful imperialist war that England waged with Spain, France, and Holland. At the very beginning of the 17th century, Britain will begin to penetrate India, later England will take on Australia and New Zealand, North, Tropical and South Africa.
Britain and the colonies
After the First World War, the League of Nations will give the United Kingdom a mandate to govern some of the former colonies of the Ottoman and German empires (including Iran and Palestine). However, the results of the Second World War significantly shifted the emphasis on the colonial issue. Britain, although it was among the winners, had to take a huge loan from the US to avoid bankruptcy. The USSR and the USA, the major players in the political arena, were opponents of colonization. In the meantime, liberation sentiments intensified in the colonies. In this situation, it was too difficult and expensive to maintain their colonial domination. Unlike Portugal and France, England did not do this and transferred power to local governments. To date, the UK continues to maintain dominance over 14 territories.
Russian Empire (1721 – 1917)
After the end of the Northern War, when new lands and access to the B altic were assigned to the Moscow state, Tsar Peter I took the title of Emperor of All Russia at the request of the Senate, the highest state authority established ten years earlier. In terms of its area, the Russian Empire became the third (after the British and Mongolian empires) of the ever existing state formations. Before the appearance of the State Duma in 1905, the power of the Russian emperor was not limited by anything, except for Orthodox norms. Peter I, who strengthened the vertical of power in the country, divided Russia into eight provinces. During the reign of Catherine II, there were 50 of them, and by 1917, as a result of territorial expansion, their number increased to 78. Russia is an empire, which included a number of modern sovereign states (Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, the B altic countries, Transcaucasia and Middle Asia). As a result of the February Revolution of 1917, the rule of the Romanov dynasty of Russian emperors ceased, and in September of the same year, Russia was proclaimed a republic.
Centrifugal tendencies are to blame
As you can see, all the great empires have collapsed. The centripetal forces that create them sooner or later are replaced by centrifugal tendencies, leading these states, if not to complete collapse, then to disintegration.
