From Settlement to Empire

Many factors influence the power and size of a state. One factor is definitely geography, and with it, resources. For example, if a state is positioned on a small island in the middle of the ocean, it is going to be very hard for them to expand without the money and resources to create a great number of ships. Another factor is the economic status of the state. When China decided to begin trading and reaching out to other cultures, they spent a huge amount of money. They had to build huge ships and hire thousands of people to sail in them. Without a stable economy, a state could never hope to be truly powerful. One last factor is technology. A small band of hunters and gatherers have no hope of conquering a large settlement. However, if the hunters were well-equipped with spears, armor and bows and arrows they might stand a chance.