Qualities that shape an empire

World History AP 23 September 2002 Qualities that Make an Empire An empire is defined as "A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority."(Dictionary.com). Over the course of history, many civilizations through conquests overtook inferior civilizations to the extent of forming an empire. The British, Roman, and Byzantine empires succeeded at achieving the recognition of obtaining the ultimate goal of becoming …

…set by the Byzantine Empire. Through the ages fortunate civilizations have prospered and expanded enough to be considered an empire. Britain's declaration of power and superiority; Rome's government and skill on the battlefield; and Byzantium's trade network and location all led to domination. All of these empires had a few things in common: a large landmass, division of regions, and a strong central government. These lead to a change from a civilization to an empire.