A theory for formation of large empires
Peter Turchin
Abstract Between 3000 BCE and 1800 CE there were more than sixty ‘mega-empires’ that, at the peak, controlled an area of least one million square kilometres. What forces that kept together such huge pre-industrial states? I propose a model for route to mega-empire, motivated by imperial dynamics in eastern Asia, world region with highest concentration mega-empires. This ‘mirror-empires’ proposes antagonistic interactions between nomadic pastoralists settled agriculturalists result autocatalytic process, which pressures both farming polities scale up polity size, thus military power. The suggests location near steppe frontier should correlate frequency imperiogenesis. A worldwide survey supports this prediction: over 90% mega-empires arose within or next Old World’s arid belt, running from Sahara desert Gobi desert. Specific case studies are also plausibly explained model. There are, however, other possible mechanisms generating empires, few discussed end article.
Journal of Global History