1. AP Exam Study Session #2
Classical Civilizations in the Mediterranean and Classical Civilizations in Decline

2. CLASSICAL MEDITERRANEAN CIVILIZATIONS
PERSIAN EMPIRE
Founded by Cyrus the Great
Characteristics:
Tolerant of local customs
Effective government and military
Developed Zoroastrianism (new religion)
Developed iron technology
Supported the arts

3. PATTERNS OF GREEK AND ROMAN HISTORY Greece rose first
Introduced city-states (around 800 BCE)
5th century BCE—Reached high point under Pericles
Decline set in after the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta
Expansion occurred under Alexander the Great
Greek values and culture spread widely during the Hellenistic period
CITY-STATE
Polis

4. Rome emerged as an expanding republic while Hellenism declined
Defeated Carthage in the Punic Wars
The republic evolved into an empire
After the death of Julius Caesar
Pax Romana--Enjoyed great power and prosperity for 200 years
Next 250 years brought a slow but decisive fall
Despite efforts of emperors like Diocletian and Constantine

5. GREEK AND ROMAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Both emphasized aristocratic rule with democratic elements
Greek polis
Citizens participated actively in political life
Athens used direct democracy
Allowed citizens to shape policy in general assemblies
DEMOCRATIC ELEMENTS
Were significant

6. Roman republic and empire
In the republic, the Senate was the main legislative body
Senate’s influence waned under the autocratic empire
Rome later added an emphasis on law
Also created institutions necessary to run a vast decentralized empire

7. Greece and Rome didn’t generate a lasting major religion
RELIGION AND CULTURE
Greece and Rome didn’t generate a lasting major religion
Christianity did arise in the classical Mediterranean context
Their religions used epic poems and mythology
Philosophy and science relied on rationality
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were the most well-known Greek philosophers
There was a strong artistic and architectural tradition

8. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Both societies had social features of an agricultural economy
Included a large peasantry, land-owning aristocracy, and dependence on commerce and trade
Both societies used different versions of the patriarchal family structure
Slavery existed
Women were not as oppressed as they were in China

9. 180 CE—Rome began to decline Symptoms were gradual
FALL OF ROME
180 CE—Rome began to decline
Symptoms were gradual
Causes of the collapse included:
Loss of territory
Weak and insane rulers
Economic reversals
Difficulty of tax collection
Plagues
Population declined
Invaders
INVADERS
Invaded periodically until the empire finally collapsed
Included Huns and Germanic tribes like the Goths and Vandals

10. CLASSICAL PERIOD--DIRECTIONS, DIVERSITIES, AND DECLINES (BY 500 CE)
EXPANSION AND INTEGRATION
Common themes included:
Territorial expansion
Efforts to integrate the new territories
Unification took place through different mediums
China united through centralization
India united through religious values
Mediterranean world united through cultural achievements

11. Integration required territorial and social cohesion
Each civilization valued social distinctions

12. BEYOND THE CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS
Important developments occurred outside the centers of civilization
Significant civilizations developed in the Americas and in Africa
Americas—Olmecs, Maya, and Inca
Africa—Kush, Axum, and Ethiopia
Agriculture and other developments spread across northern Europe and northern Asia
Semi-civilized people developed extensive contacts with older civilizations

13. Nomadic societies were very important
Particularly in central Asia
Linked and disrupted classical civilizations
Important popular migrations across Eurasia led to the rise of new cultures

14. DECLINE IN CHINA AND INDIA Happened first in China and then in India
Caused by internal weakness and nomadic invasions
Huns attacked all three classical civilizations
China’s decline
100 CE—Han Dynasty began a serious decline
Caused by:
Weakened central government
Social unrest led by overtaxed peasants
Epidemics
Inability to stop nomadic invasions
China revived briefly under the Sui and Tang Dynasties
HUNS
Central Asian nomads
SUI DYNASTY
By 600

15. India’s decline Wasn’t as drastic as decline in China
600 CE—Huns destroyed the Gupta Empire
No native Indian led a large state there for several centuries
Hinduism gained ground
Buddhism declined
Was unappealing to the warrior caste
After 600 CE—Islam entered India
Arab traders took control of Indian Ocean trade routes
Only Hinduism and the caste system survived

16. DECLINE AND FALL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Greece was absorbed by Rome
Rome’s decline was complex
Western empire collapsed in the 400s
Eastern empire continued as the Byzantine Empire for 1,000 years

17. THE NEW RELIGIOUS MAP DURING CLASSICAL DECLINE
Buddhism and Christianity expanded rapidly
This had wide cultural, social, and political implications
Islam appeared later
Spread following the previous spread of Hinduism across south and southeast Asia

18. Collapse of classical civilizations
THREE MAJOR THEMES FOR WORLD HISTORY IN SUBSEQUENT PERIODS DEVELOPED AROUND 500 CE
Collapse of classical civilizations
Eurasia had to revive or rework their institutions after decline and invasion
New religions appeared and older ones spread
Formed basis for future civilizations
New developments led to the rise of new civilizations
Through indigenous developments or contacts with older civilizations