Final answer:
Imperial systems are characterized by centralized government led by an emperor, a bureaucracy of elite officials, monumental architecture symbolizing power, a tributary system of controlled relationships, and absolutism in the ruler's control over the state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of Imperial systems include a centralized government, with an emperor holding absolute authority at the apex of the power structure. Underneath the ruler was a bureaucracy based on historical models like the Qin-Han system, which was responsible for the administration and functioning of the government. The bureaucrats were often drawn from the elite classes and positions could be obtained through both merit and less savory means such as bribery and nepotism.
Monumental architecture played a vital role in imperial systems as a symbol of power and authority, while the tributary system denoted a network of relationships wherein other states paid tribute to the empire in return for protection or in acknowledgment of subservience. Lastly, absolutism characterized the ultimate control that the emperor or ruling class held over the state, often justified by a structured religious or legal philosophy, like the imperial cult in Roman society.