The following central issues should lie in the centre of the commission’s transdisciplinary work relating to the discussion on transformation of empire:
Continuity and discontinuity of elites (transregional and regional)
Continuity and discontinuity of established imperial societies (imperial society versus conglomerate of regional societies)
Continuity and discontinuity of imperial narratives (imperial charter)
Continuity and discontinuity of geopolitical constellations (Competing empires, alliances)
Continuity and discontinuity of regional powers (infrastructure, taxes, cult)
Continuity and discontinuity of economy and trade
Continuity and discontinuity of the management of resources
Continuity and discontinuity of traditional elements of securing imperial authority (military, war, infrastructure, deportations, narrative, dynasty and dynasty cult, multilingualism, “religion”)
Continuity and discontinuity in exercising authority (bureaucracy and taxes)