Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (H) Corvee corvee was unpaid labors often formed

by peasants who usually worked on public projects. The corve was the earliest and most extensive form of taxation, which can be traced back to the beginning of civilization. Corvee was forced labor and was used when money was in short supplies. Corvee is most closely associated to the medieval period but is widespread throughout civilizations. Military duty could also fall under the term of corvee.

Egyptian workers

workers

examples of different tasks

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/corvee.html http://www.gendercide.org/case_corvee.html

Slavery When the Romans were farmers, slaves were used on the farm to help out with the work. When Romans were away at war, slaves were necessary to keep the farms going. It got to the point where slaves gradually increased, until there was more slaves than free men who worked for pay. It got to the point where competition with slave labors determined wages and living conditions of free workmen. With slaves working for them, Romans became consumed with wealth and luxuries. Slaves were cared after their masters. They farmed for themselves as well as their masters and had their own living quarters on the property. If a slave ran away and a man turned in the slave he was rewarded with money.

Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (H)

Slaves being transported

Slave Market in Rome

A slave family

http://www.classicsunveiled.com/romel/html/slavery.html

Rents and Tributes A Tribute is money or goods one group gives to another as a sign of respect or allegiance. When two kingdoms wanted to perform an alliance often times the lesser kingdom pay tribute to the more powerful kingdom as a sign of allegiance and often in order to finance projects that benefited both parties. A tribute would be used, like in the case of the Persian Empire, where non-Persian subjects would have to make regular payments in gold, goods or animals. The Chinese used a tribute system for administrative means as well as to control their subjects. The foreign regions that paid a tribute got priority when it came to trading with the Chinese. The tribute system supported Confucian Philosophy in the means that the younger generation should look after their elders.

Chinese accepting tributes

Mongols collecting tributes

Chinese art depicting tributes

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/persian_influence_on_greece5.php http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199920082/obo-97801999200820069.xml

Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (H)

Peasant Communities Peasants make up about a fourth of the worlds population. With so many peasants there was great diversity among them. Within complex societies, peasants used natural resources from their environment and used them for subsistence goods. They relied on the household to maintain everyday needs like feeding the family. The goods they sold brought little goods and in most cases paid a tribute or rent to their local community. Some peasants did manual labor like construction or worked for the state, landlord, or church. Peasants had a subsistence way of living as opposed to them looking to make a profit.

Chinese Peasants

European working class

Roman Peasant class

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RieAAAAIAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA127&dq=ancient+peasant+communities&ots=wRwiCY2LX&sig=YE3lwp9HI7FSVybaEVvPn6iKNGc#v=onepage&q=ancient%20peasant%20communities &f=false http://gem.greenwood.com/wse/wsePrint.jsp?id=id504

Family and household production In the classical period marriage was important to your social rank in the community. After marriage often the mans life wouldnt change as much as the womans. In China after marriage the woman would move into the mans home and would have to provide for the entire family. In the classical time period woman did not have as much freedom as man would have, therefore they were subjected to keep up with the household chores. The man was responsible for providing the income or food for the family. With different empires and different civilizations the household function varied. In some cases a man would have multiple wives and in others a man and woman could be married and not live together.

Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (H)

Ancient Chinese Family Portrait

Family Dinner

Roman Family

http://books.google.com/books?id=8awruI9XyXsC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=family+and+household+pr oduction+in+history&source=bl&ots=oKZD4SKwV6&sig=7MW1ChC0wJsFWy7Ej4FtZg9psY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Vu_2UrmvDILcyQHGICwBA&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=family%20and%20household%20production%20in%20histo ry&f=false http://events.history.ac.uk/event/show/8334