The first empires included the Middle and New Kingdoms in Egypt, as well as the Kush kings in Nubia.  This podcast reviews these first empires including the Assyrians, the Persian Empire established by King Cyrus the Great and his successor King Darius, and the Qin Dynasty in China.  The first emperor of China, Shi Huangdi and his legalistic autoctratic government is also reviewed.  These early civilizations became empires as they expanded and conquered other lands.

The first empires included the Middle and New Kingdoms in Egypt, as well as the Kush kings in Nubia.  This podcast reviews these first empires including the Assyrians, the Persian Empire established by King Cyrus the Great and his successor King Darius, and the Qin Dynasty in China.  The first emperor of China, Shi Huangdi and his legalistic autoctratic government is also reviewed.  These early civilizations became empires as they expanded and conquered other lands.