And the end of the Classical Age East And west And the end of the Classical Age

Internal Decay of the Han State Court intrigue Problem of land distribution Large landholders develop private armies Epidemics – small pox/measles in 161CE Famine – “Little Ice Age” Peasant rebellions 184 CE Yellow Turban Rebellion

Collapse of the Han Dynasty Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figure Alliance with landowners 200 CE Han Dynasty abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms Immigration of northern nomads increases China after the Han Dynasty, 220 CE

Sinicization of Nomadic Peoples Sinicization – (also sinification) social and cultural changes to a Chinese way of life Nomads adapted to the Chinese environment Agriculture Trade Adoption of Chinese names, dress, intermarriage

Popularity of Buddhism and Daoism Disintegration of political order casts doubt on Confucian doctrines Buddhism, Daoism gain popularity Religions of salvation

Fall of the Roman Empire: Internal Factors The Barracks Emperors 235-284 26 claimants to the throne, all but one killed in power struggles Epidemics – small pox/measles 165- 180CE (Antonine Plague) Famine – “Little Ice Age” Loss of imperial tax revenues Disintegration of imperial economy in favor of local and regional self- sufficient economies Inflation Overuse of slavery Increase in Christianity

Diocletian (r. 284-305 CE) Divided empire into two administrative districts Power/resources start shift to eastern side Co-Emperors, dual Lieutenants “Tetrarchs” Currency, budget reform to save empire Relative stability disappears after Diocletian's death, civil war follows Constantine emerges victorious

Fall of the Roman Empire: External Factors Massive migration of Germanic peoples into Roman Empire (nomadic tribes shift to better climates during Little Ice Age) Visigoths, influenced by Roman law, Christianity Formerly buffer states for Roman Empire Attacked by Huns under Attila in 5th c. CE Sacked Rome in 410 CE, established Germanic emperor in 476 CE Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman Empire, 450-476 CE

Christianity Grows in the Roman Empire 312CE “Constantine’s Vision” before Battle of Milvian Bridge Converts to Christianity Promulgates (promotes) Edict of Milan - allows legal Christian practice 380CE Emperor Theodosius proclaims Christianity official religion of Roman Empire

St. Augustine (354-430 CE) Hippo, North Africa Experimented with Greek thought, Manichaeism 387 converts to Christianity Major theologian who establishes foundation for unified Christian ideology

The Institutional Church Conflicts over doctrine and practice in early Church (will escalate though Periods 3&4) Divinity of Jesus Role of women Actively sought to include/convert women Monastic communities Church hierarchy established Patriarchs, Bishop of Rome primus inter pares

SUMMARY: Han Rome Confucian court intrigues Barracks emperors Weakened government Confucian court intrigues Barracks emperors Land distribution Wang Mang, followed by civil war and private armies Gracchi brothers, followed by civil war and private armies Environmental challenges Little Ice Age leads to famine Epidemics Small pox Invasion of nomadic people Xiongnu Germanic tribes Economic factors Loss of trade revenue, military spending Inflation, loss of trade revenue, heavy reliance on slave labor; military spending Rise of peaceful religions Daoism, Buddhism Christianity Split Three Kingdoms Two empires