Trade Routes and Religions

Codification and Continued Development of Religious and Cultural Traditions As states and empires increased in size and contacts between regions multiplied, religious and cultural systems were transformed. Religions and belief systems provided a bond among the people and an ethical code to live by. These shared beliefs also influenced and reinforced political, economic, and occupational stratification. Religious and political authority often merged as rulers (some of whom were considered divine) used religion, along with military and legal structures, to justify their rule and ensure its continuation. Religions and belief systems could also generate conflict, partly because beliefs and practices varied greatly within and among societies.

Existing land and water routes became the basis for larger trans-regional (across several regions) trade, communication, and exchange networks in the Eastern Hemisphere. Many factors, including the climate and location of the routes, the typical trade goods, and the ethnicity of people involved, shaped the distinctive features of a variety of trade routes.

Eurasian Silk Route

Trans-Saharan Caravan Routes

Indian Ocean Sea Lanes

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

Mediterranean Sea Lanes

New technologies facilitated (assisted) long- distance trade, communication and exchange (yokes, saddles, stirrups) enabled the use of domesticated pack animals (horses, oxen, llamas, camels ) transport along maritime routes from East Africa to East Asia

Innovations in maritime technologies (lateen sails, dhow ships) as well as advanced knowledge of the monsoon winds, stimulated exchanges along maritime routes from West Africa to East Asia

Alongside the trade in goods, the exchange of people, technology, religious and cultural beliefs, food crops, domesticated animals, and disease pathogens developed across far-flung networks of communication and exchange.

Spread of Disease

The association of monotheism with Judaism was further developed with the codification of the Hebrew Scriptures, which also reflected the influence of Mesopotamian cultural and legal traditions. The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman empires conquered various Jewish states at different points in time. These conquests contributed to the growth of Jewish diasporic communities around the Mediterranean and Middle East.monotheism codification of the Hebrew ScripturesJewish diasporic communities around the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Hinduism established a spiritual and social caste system that created a long-term foundation for the civilizations there. Hindu beliefs were influenced by concepts from the Vedic religions brought in by Indo-European groups and local traditions. For centuries, beliefs were passed on through oral traditions, but later they were recorded in sacred texts in Sanskrit, including the Vedas and Upanishads.Vedic religionsSanskrit This religion, Hinduism, contributed to the development of the social and political roles of the caste system and the important manifestation of Brahma, the Great Soul of the Universe to promote teachings of reincarnation. To the westerners, Hinduism appears to be both polytheistic and monotheistic. roles of the caste system manifestation of Brahmareincarnation. Unlike Christianity or Buddhism, there is no single founder of Hinduism. it developed over many years in South Asia out of a blending of various religious traditions, many of which were brought in from outside the region.

The caste system was an important part of the culture of India at this time. All living things participated in the caste system. Through the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation, believers hoped to elevate their souls to the highest levels of spirituality or moksha, when they become one with Brahma, the Great Soul. The process could take many hundreds or thousands of lifetimes. A soul may move up and down the ladder toward unity with Brahman depending on one's deeds and sincerity towards faith during a lifetime.

The law Karma taught that one's social position in this life was a sign of good or bad deeds performed in a previous life. There were five major levels of human castes; one moved into higher caste because one had demonstrated good karma in a previous life; if a person was born into a lower caste (the lowest being the untouchables, that soul had channeled bad karma through selfish deeds.

Throughout the centuries the strongest social glue in South Asia was Hinduism. Empires came and went, invaders swept through the region, and other religions has some influence on the culture, but the caste system and the elaborate Hindu traditions remained firm.

Buddhism Began in South Asia around 500 B.C.E Founded by Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha or Enlightened One) Teachings are recorded in the Sutras and other scriptures. Maintained Hinduism's belief in reincarnation but taught that, spirituality, there was no caste system. Male and female, rich and poor shared the same ability to reach nirvana, the state of perfect oneness with the great spirit of the universe. The closer one was to nirvana, the less troubled one would be by the cares of this world. Buddhism did support the existence of social castes as a temporary, worldly conditions.

The main teachings of Buddha are found in the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path. The Buddha maintained that the point to life and to achieving nirvana was to bring about the end of suffering Four Noble Truths taught: In life, there is suffering. Suffering comes from selfish desire Those seeking the path to nirvana should strive to end suffering. This can be done by following the Eight Fold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Manifestation, and Right Concentration.

Buddhism changed over time as it spread throughout Asia- Support of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka – StupaMauryan Emperor Ashoka Through the efforts of missionaries and merchants The establishment of educational institutions to promote core teachings.

Christianity Began in southwest Asia during the first century CE. Christianity was introduced by to the Hebrews in Roman-controlled Palestine by Jesus, who preached salvation through faith in him as the Son of God. Jesus's teachings were recorded in the Gospels and developed in other writings, particularly by his disciple, Paul. As the Roman Empire began to fall in the West, Christianity became a more prominent religion as the focus on ever-faithful God and never ending heavenly reward was more comforting to increasing number of people.

Comparison A significant difference between Buddhism and Christianity is that the Buddha did not promise eternal life to his followers, while Jesus did Both Buddhism and Christianity gained more followers outside their place of origin. Just like Buddhism, Christianity spread by the work of missionaries and merchants. Neither wrote down their own teachings Had disciples Both gained more popularity as empires crumbled Buddha was not a deity Syncretism

Both Jesus Christ and the Buddha sought to reform existing social / religious practices which had denigrated into ritualistic forms with no spiritual meaning. Both were egalitarians. Buddha accepted all castes into his sangha. Christ taught his philosophy was not just for a small race. Both religions stress ethical living, compassion / love to other people. Both religions have both a monastic and lay approach.

Confucianism Around 500 BCE, when China was undergoing great political turmoil during the Warring States period, the teachings of Confucius became the bedrock of that society. The sayings of Confucius were written after his death in The Analects. He set out a clear set of rules for moral behavior and for family and political stability. Filial piety-utmost respect for parents- and obedience to those in political control were two of his most important teaching. The kind of strict moral clarity shaped family and gender relations, political governance, and attitude towards other civilizations for centuries and is still strong today. Patriarchy, a superior place of men over women in society, was firmly established in East Asian cultures by his teachings.

Confucius did not promise an eternal rewad for following his instructions. His teachings were a philosophy for this life, not a religion. The dynasties rose and fell over the centuries, Confucius's teachings remained strong and held the society together..

Daoism Developed in East Asia about the same time as Confucianism and was another major influence on Chinese culture. Daoism taught that there were close connections between humans and nature, a balance and harmony in all things; it also stressed deep respect for ancestors. Whereas Confucianism emphasized order in human relations, Daoism encouraged people to look away from human creations and instead find peace and balance in nature's examples. This attention to attaining a proper balance in life influenced Chinese medical practices, such as acupuncture. Daoist-influenced architecture sought to blend the building style into local landscape. Examples of this blending are the famous sloping roofs that top many temples in East Asia. Laozi was the best known Daoist philosopher. The best known symbol of Daoism is the Yin-Yang.

Greco-Roman The core ideas in Greco-Roman philosophy and science emphasized logic, empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchyGreco-Roman philosophy

Animism and Shamanism Other religious and cultural traditions such as Animism and Shamanism continued parallel to the codified, written belief systems in core civilizations. Animism is a belief that the natural world itself has spiritual powers. Shamanism is the belief that human spirit guides (shamans) are contacts between this world and the spirit world and deceased ancestors. Shamans believed to have the power to heal physical and spiritual illnesses. Shamanism and Animism continued to shape the lives of people within and outside of core civilizations because of their daily reliance on the natural world

Belief systems affected gender roles. Buddhism and Christianity encouraged monastic life While men dominated the leadership of all major religions Women often served in similar capacities as priestess, prophets, and missionaries. Both Buddhism and Christianity offered religious community to women by allowing them to serve as nuns. Confucianism emphasized filial piety. (children respect parents and family elders, look after their welfare, support in old age, remember them and ancestors after their deaths).

Ancestor veneration persisted in many regions (Africa, Mediterranean region, East Asia, Andean areas (this site is on Incan ancestor worship that was derived from earlier beliefs)

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

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

Essay Prompts Compare and Contrast the rise and spread of Christianity and Buddhism during the Classical Period – 600 BCE – 600 CE Compare and Contrast the decline od TWO of the Following Classical Empires: Han China Imperial Rome Gupta India