1. The Classical Period: Directions, Diversities, and Declines by 500 C.E.
APCIV | Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies c. 600 BCE - c. 600 CE

2. Transitioning out of the Classical Age
Rome, China, and India were economically and culturally self-sufficient
However, long-distance trade developed between them and assisted their growth
Cultural exchange was present: Buddhist halo (nimbus) was absorbed into Christianity, as was monasteries
As Rome and China floundered, the Guptas expanded influence
Encouraging free enterprise, trade spread to the Persian Gulf and SE Asia
Facilitated the spreading of Hinduism and Buddhism
By c. 550 CE India was in decline as Byzantium and China reasserted their power on the Middle East
What caused these declines?
Nomads had military advantages of mobility and cavalry
But in their apex, these civilizations could defend themselves against nomads – points to internal issues as well
Expansion and integration
All these civilizations expanded beyond their region of origin
Integration of new regions, peoples, ideas
China integrated the south – settling of northerners in the south, promoting common language, et cetera
India integrated the south – the spreading of the caste system and development of Hinduism
Rome integrated the Mediterranean – allowed for autonomy and expanded citizenship
Social integration was difficult for all 3 civilizations
Roman slavery, Indian caste system, Chinese social hierarchy divided rich and poor and man and woman
Societies across the world did not combat inequality in a meaningful manner

3. Beyond the “Big 3”
Kingdom of Kush c. 750 BCE along the upper Nile was under Egyptian influence
Absorbed into the regional kingdom of Ethiopia by 300 BCE
This region would maintain trade between Mediterranean and Indian Ocean – conversion to Christianity
Sahel Africa flourished in a more favorable climate than today – Kingdoms of Ghana and the Niger River Valley
By 200 CE, migrations from Korea to Japan had ceased and Japanese society developed
Chinese visitor in 297 CE commented on law-abiding, drink-happy, expert farming societies
Strictly divided, sometimes by tattoos, with local gods seen as ancestors – Shintoism would develop from this 700 CE
By 400 CE, Japanese states brought in Korean scribes, introducing the language of China
Northern/N Eastern Europe: Scandinavian, Germanic, Slavic lagged behind
Loose regional kingdoms with primitive political and economic systems
Introduction of Latin and Christianity would slowly integrate it into a new civilization by 1000 CE
Until then, it was one of the most backward regions in the world
Mesoamerican civilization by c. 500 BCE progressed well beyond Europe/Africa: the Olmec
Corn cultivation fostered a large population
Intricate stone-work, precise calendars, and religious elements that influenced the Maya and later Aztec
The Inca as well, developed completely in isolation from other parts of the world, though similarly
Polynesian peoples also developed independently
Fiji and Samoa were colonized by 1000 BCE by giant outrigger canoes: Hawaii reached by 400 CE
Brought agriculture and animals (pigs)

4. Decline of the “Big 3” Happened between 200-600 CE concurrently
All suffered outside invasions from Central Asia (the Huns among others)
Han China was growing corrupt, decentralizing and intellectually deteriorating
Daoism, more magical than philosophical, began to grow in popularity – the Yellow Turbans targeted corruption
The Han Dynasty was mired in political intrigue and fell into disunion – a deadly plague didn’t help
China fell into 300 years of regional disunion: this lack of unity allowed for Buddhism to penetrate China
The Sui would stabilize the situation late 6th century and would be eclipsed by the Tang in 618 CE
The Tang would implement a glorious period in Chinese history, continuing Chinese culture unlike Rome
Hunnic invasions of northern India took its toll as the Gupta Empire lost control of its regional princes (the Rajput)
The Huns were incorporated into the military caste and Indian political development stagnated
The Indian economy continued to expand and thrive
The Arab Conquest of the 7th century brought Islam to the Indus River Valley
Arab traders would dominate the Indian Ocean markets

5. Day 2
Chapter 5

6. The Fall of Rome
By 180 CE, the Roman Empire was entering into decline (a haunting Western memory)
Emperors were becoming corrupt and an educated culture was in decline
A culture of educated elite running a politically stable system gave way to self-service
Intellect simply replicated past knowledge and did not create new knowledge: Pagan-Christian theology
Incorporation of superstition over intellectual investigation
Citizens fell on hard times, cities became less prosperous and despair set in
Grave inscriptions: “I was not, I was, I am not, and I have no more desires” – no pagan afterlife
Plagues (and climate shifts) devastated the empire: Rome’s population dropped from 1 million to 250K
Recruitment of troops became difficult: enlistment of Germans – route to citizenship and Emperor
A slow decentralization of political, social, and economic power: apathetic elite class
Most prominent in the Western Empire: the east remained more centralized and organized
This cycle of deterioration spun out of control in the west and left it vulnerable
Diocletian attempted to end the cycle by regulating the economy and unifying the culture via religion c. 290 CE
Christians refusal to accept the emperor over their god was socially/politically unstable: persecutions
Constantine moved capital to the east (Constantinople) and adopted Christianity
Council of Nicaea 325 CE to organize and unify Christianity
Would not stop the Western Empire’s process of decay, merely focused power in the east
Germanic and Hunnic invasions of the Western Empire in the 5th century CE
Was the death knell for the Western Empire: the Germanic Barbarian Kingdoms settled in with no cultural/political unity
Greek/Roman civilization did not continue in the West and would only be remembered
The Eastern Empire would remain (the Byzantine Empire) and flourished for another 1000 years

7. New Religious Map
C CE was a time of social, political, and economic decay
But it saw the rise of many of the world’s modern religions in face of pain and suffering
Spirituality gave meaning and solace to populations in despair
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism: similarities but very different
Hinduism expanded after the collapse of the Guptas with a unifying force: the mother goddess, Devi
Buddhism traveled beyond India – Bodhisattvas: reaching nirvana but remaining in the world to assist others
Spread to China during the period of disunity after the Han collapsed
Mahayana Buddhism (east Asian) emphasized Buddha as a divine savior: souls could interact with people
Some Buddhist quips were fitted to Chinese patriarchy
“husband supports wife” to “husband controls wife”
“the wife comforts the husband” to “the wife reveres her husband”
Daoism reacted to Buddhism by appealing to practical benefits of magic and spirituality: popularity with peasants
Christianity broke from Judaism by worshiping Jesus Christ as savior and preached his coming as an end
St. Paul reacted to the rigidities of Jewish religion by lowering barriers to becoming Christian
Organized by c. 50 CE into an entirely separate religion from Judaism, emphasizing a church structure
Became very popular in the Roman army as it promised an everlasting eternal paradise: Pagan afterlife
Spread through PCSing soldiers as Roman armies became “Christianized” and generals took note: Constantine
Mysticism, spirituality and superstition came back into mainstream thought
Structure of early Church became entrenched into the Roman political system and survived Rome’s fall
The Catholic Church’s resemblance to Rome
Islam’s emergence c. 550 CE will be discussed in future chapters

8. The Spread of Religions
The connections of the classical world via trade facilitated the spread of new religions
Focused more on the spiritual nature of a single, divine god with limitless powers
The transition of religions across Afro-Eurasia is a result of equal threats from
Central Asia (nomads)
Deteriorating situations within civilizations
Exposure to deadly diseases
All of the new, monotheistic-trending religions helped push out animism
By 500 CE, 3 major themes for world history emerged for the future
There was a response to the collapse of classical civilizations
Attempts to reviving or reworking these institutions into new frameworks
There was a need to react to the new religious map that was taking shape
Either integrate these new religions into existing systems or use them as the basis of a new civilization (north Europe)
There was a diffusing of classical civilization through its cultural attributes
Chinese language-culture diffused to Korea and Japan; Roman religious-culture diffused to western Europe
Centers of old civilization would attempt to become the “successor” to the old civilization and spread its influence
This effect would be amplified by war and trade