1. AP World History Unit 2
600 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.

2. Existing Religions transform
Religious codes provide bond and ethical framework for people
Judaism – Monotheism
Hebrew Scriptures
Reflected influence of Mesopotamian culture, legal traditions
Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans conquered Jewish states
Contributed to Jewish Diaspora around Mediterranean

3. Hinduism
Sanskrit scriptures formed basis of Vedic Religions (Hinduism)
Multiple manifestations of Brahma
Reincarnation
Social, political caste system

4. New belief systems emerge
Buddhism
Teachings of Buddha
Beliefs surrounding desire, suffering, enlightenment
Reaction to Vedic Beliefs
Changed as spread through Asia
Initially supported by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka
Spread by missionaries and merchants
Established educational institutions

5. Confucianism Writings of Confucius Promote social harmony
Outline proper rituals
Established social relationship for all Chinese

6. Daoism (aka Taoism) Stressed balance between humans, nature
Designed to alter Chinese political system
Influenced Medical practices, poetry, metallurgy, architecture

7. Greco-Roman philosophy
Philosophy, science emphasized
Logic
Empirical observation
Nature of political power, hierarchy

8. Christianity Beliefs about teachings, divinity of Jesus of Nazareth
Recorded by his disciples
Influenced by Judaism, Greco-Roman society
Spread by missionaries, merchants despite initial opposition from Rome
Gained support from Emperor Constantine

9. Impact of religion, other belief systems
Values reflected in art, architecture
Hinduism
Buddhism
Christianity
Greco-Roman
Reinforced existing social structures
Offered new roles to some men and women
Confucianism – Filial piety
Christianity, Buddhism - Monasticism

10. Other religious traditions
Shamanism
Animism
Ancestor veneration

11. States, Empires Develop
Number and size grew dramatically
Rulers unified competing states

12. Asian Empires, States
Southwest Asia – Persian empires (Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanian)
East Asia – Qin, Han dynasties
South Asia – Mauryan, Gupta dynasties

13. Mediterranean Empires, States
Phoenicia (and colonies)
Greek city-states (and colonies)
Hellenistic and Roman empires

14. States, Empires in the Americas
Mesoamerica - Teotihuacan, Mayan city-states
Andean South America: Moche
North America: Chaco, Cahokia

15. New Techniques of Administration
In China, Persia, Rome, and South Asia, rulers created:
Centralized governments
Legal Systems
Bureaucracies

16. Promotion of Trade, Military Power
Currency
Diplomacy
Supply Lines, Fortifications, Defensive Walls
Roads
Soldiers drawn from local areas, conquered populations

17. Imperial Cities
Centers of trade, religious ritual, political administration
Persepolis
Chang’an
Pataliputra
Athens
Carthage
Rome
Alexandria
Constantinople
Teotihuacan

18. Social Structures Cultivators Laborers Slaves Artisans Merchants
Elites
Caste Groups

19. Food production/rewards for elites
Corvée labor (in lieu of taxes)
Slavery
Rents, tributes
Peasant communities
Family, household productions

20. Patriarchy Shaped gender roles Determined family relations
Paterfamilias (Rome)
Filial Piety (China)

21. Collapse of Empire – internal issues
Roman, Han, Persian, Mauryan, Gupta could not overcome internal issues
Political, cultural, administrative
Governments put too much wealth in hands of elite
Generated social tensions
Created economic difficulties

22. External pressure on empires
Threats of invasions loomed
Xiongnu >> Han China
White Huns >> Gupta
Northern/Eastern “barbarians” >> Romans

23. Trade routes Land, water routes developed, facilitating: Examples
Interregional trade
Communications
Cultural exchange
Examples
Eurasian Silk Roads
Trans-Saharan Caravan Routes
Indian Ocean sea lanes
Mediterranean sea lanes

24. Results of new technology
Pack animals used for long-distance trade
East Africa >> East Asia trade facilitated
Maritime technology
Knowledge of monsoon winds

25. New farming techniques
Encouraged by spread of rice and cotton from South Asia to Middle East
Examples:
Quanāt system
Water wheels (noria, sakia)
Wells, pumps (shaduf)

26. Spread of disease Diminished urban population
Contributed to decline of empires
Roman, Han

27. Religions spread Christianity Hinduism Buddhism
Transformed as they spread