Discusses a prelude to the classical civilization, with brief words about the important of the Foundations Era to set the stage for the Classical Era. It also discusses the rise of empires and the development of complex governments, labor systems, and the consolidation of organized religion, as well as other key vocabulary. We talk about the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty of China as two specific examples, framing our talk on trade & cultural diffusion, standardized religion, and the consolidation of power.