Chapter Five: The Classical Period Directions, Diversities and Declines by 600 CE Spot Check!

Common Themes in Classical Civilizations 1) Territorial expansion 2) Efforts to integrate new territories (Rome, Mauryans, Han) A) Requires territorial and social cohesion, each civilization has social distinctions 3) Unification A) China (centralization) B) India (religious values) C) Mediterranean world (cultural achievements) 4) Decline

Major Trends with Classical Trade Indian Ocean Trade East Africa to Southern China Items traded: Chinese pottery, Indian spices, and Indian/African ivory Silk Road Trade China to Mediterranean Exchange of Western/Eastern goods, religions, technology, disease Trans-Saharan Trade Across the Sahara: camels Items traded: salt, palm oil, olives, wheat, wild animals

Expansion, Integration, Decline: India Used localized governments in new territories Used Hinduism to expand (Buddhism unappealing) Used the caste system to create social distinctions Mauryans – centralized government Guptas – divided into regions Decline By 600, White Huns destroy Guptas Simultaneously, regions become stronger and independent, which weakens the Gupta rulers After 600, Islam enters India

Expansion and Integration: China Expand west and south, try to integrate regions through common culture Promote one language (written and spoken) Greater political centralization Zhou – feudalism (regional princes and noblemen) Qin – eliminate feudalism, strong centralized gov Han – educated bureaucracy, strong centralized gov

Decline: China Decline begins around 100 CE Heavy taxes on peasants Poor harvests Decline of interest in Confucianism Weak emperors and influence of army generals Nomadic invasions by Huns (Xiongnu or Hsiung-nu) and other nomadic tribes Yellow Turban Rebellion, 184 CE Daoist revolutionaries led peasant revolt and promised an era of success and prosperity which would be initiated by magic. Three Kindgoms Era (disorder and political decentralization), then Sui dynasty by 589 CE

Expansion, Integration, Decline: Greece Use of common language Persian War helped to integrate city-states, unite against common enemy Ultimately default to city-state identity, geographic unity is challenging Peloponnesian War is detrimental to strength of city-states Decline Taken by Macedonian Empire Greek culture (Hellenism) continues

Expansion, Integration, Decline: Rome Use of tolerance, common law for conquered peoples Citizenship for all Allow regional diversity Used a trade network that relied on everyone Golden Age ends 180 CE Decline Complex (economy, plague, leadership) Self-sufficiency of latifundia (large estates) lessens need for central authority (emperor) Germanic tribes invade in 400s Split of East and West

Religion during Classical Decline Rapid expansion of Buddhism into Southeast and East Asia Rapid emergence and expansion of Christianity into Mediterranean and Europe Edict of Milan, issued by Constantine to permit the practice of Christianity in Rome Islam appears and spreads (622 BCE) Hinduism spreads rapidly across South Asia

Other Civilizations During the Classical Period Kush: originate around 1,000 BCE south of Egypt. At 750 BCE, Kushites conquered Egypt. Adapted many Egyptian advancements Advanced in iron smelting and agriculture Kush was defeated by Christian kingdom Axum in 300 CE Axum was conquered by its rival, Ethiopia, shortly after.

Other Civilizations Japanese - successful around 200 CE Migrations to Japan for 200,000 years Advanced in ironworking (skip bronze and copper) Rely on agriculture Regional states Shintoism – indigenous and national religion in 700 CE Worship of political rulers and spirits of nature Simple religion of individual worship Connect Japan to its ancient and mythical past

Mesoamerican Civilizations Olmecs First major civilization in Mexico Central Mexican river valley around 800 BCE Very advanced in agriculture (corn, potatoes) Domesticated few animals Religious statues, art forms Completely disappeared in 400 BCE

Mesoamerican Civilizations Maya, Mexican peninsula around 400 CE Maybe most advanced culture in region Pyramid shaped temples Only writing system of Meso-America Religion was very complex Inca, modern day Peru, arise early 13th c. Emperor with absolute power Built fortresses and irrigation systems Used llamas to carry goods

Oceanic Civilizations Polynesians migrated to islands (Fiji, Samoa) in 1000 BCE Eventually move to Hawaii in 400 CE (giant canoes) Isolated development Highly stratified class system under powerful kings (esp. Hawaii) Expansion of agriculture