Moreover, the empire was politically as well as geographically fragmented. Macedonian rule was tolerated only as long as Alexander remained alive. 3. The reasons civilizations developed with particular robustness in the Near East can be narrowed down to geography and the migratory patterns of early humans. Known as the Fertile Crescent, the Eastern Mediterranean offered arable land complete with a plethora of indigenous flora and fauna for domestication and cultivation. Moreover, animal domestication flourished in the Near East. Agriculture and animal husbandry necessitated the rise of early cities, whereas in less fertile regions hunting and gathering remained more productive means to procure food. Early humans, traveling from the African subcontinent, naturally found the Fertile Crescent a suitable place for developing permanent settlements. As disparate groups settled throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, geography also permitted the ready trade of goods, people, and ideas. The sea and a location close to East Asia fostered trade and economic prosperity.

4. Lawmakers during the pinnacle of the ancient Greek world included Persian kings such as Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, and Ashurbanipal. Ordinary...

In what would later become the Roman Empire, Etruscan kings ruled small cities. Later, the Romans developed a republican system of government and senators were local lawmakers. Emperors ruled Rome during the peak of its expansionist empire. Laws ensured social order, reflected societal values, preserved existing power structures, and determined relationships between different social groups. Local laws also affected day-to-day issues including trade and issues related to marriage and land ownership.
References

Ancient History Timeline." Thinkquest. Retrieved Feb 11, 2007 at http://library.thinkquest.org/10805/timeline.html

Hooker, R. (1996). "Sparta." Retrieved Feb 11, 2007 at http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/SPARTA.htm

Hooker, R. (1996). "Athens." Retrieved Feb 11, 2007 at http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/ATHENS.htm

Kings Rulers Emperors Dictators Tyrants and Military Leaders" About.com http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/rulersleaderskings/Kings_Rulers_Emperors_Dictators_Tyrants_and_Military_Leaders.htm