What makes a good leader? Early Empires

What makes a good leader? Early Empires

by Bruce Hartley

​You are the King of Akkad. You've conquered the smaller city-states and kingdoms of Mesopotamia. How will you create a unified empire?

​In unifying your empire, consider the following

​Money

​Religion

​Existing laws

​language

​borders and walls

​Ruling class

​the people

​art

​technological advancements

Poll

LITERACY: Verbal and written language

• Create a uniform language for the empire

• Allow different languages to co-exist

• Adopt the new language as your own.

Poll

EXISTING RULING CLASS

• Put them to death

• Enslave them

• Allow them to retain power if they swear loyalty

• It depends

Poll

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT  MONEY?

• Allow existing currency to continue

• Create one currency for the empire

• Do away with all forms of currency

Poll

HOW ABOUT RELIGION?

• Outlaw all religion

• Allow existing practices to continue

• Install your own religion, making all others illegal.

Poll

BORDERS AND WALLS

• Destroy them

• Allow them to stand

Poll

ART AND TECHNOLOGY

• Outlaw and destroy it 

• Respect and use it

• Choose what's useful to you and destroy the rest.