1. Classical Civilizations
A transition in history

2. How do changes in history happen?
Slowly
Never all at once
Never all in one place
So how do you think the world transitioned from Ancient Civilizations to Classical Civilizations? Why did Ancient Civilizations end and new civilizations emerge?

3. Case study: the Middle East
Babylon was absorbed by the brutal Assyrians in 700 BC
The Persians absorbed all of the Middle East in 539 BC, east to India, until 300 BC
Where did these empires come from? What did they have that the ancient civilizations did not have?

4. The Persian Empire (559 BC- 330 B) at its height

5. Compare the Ancient and the Classic
Ancient civilizations:
Centralized monarchs with little ability to control the upper class or were not unified at all (Aryans)
Polytheistic, with little intervention from the government
Armies with standard bronze weaponry and little training
Government not “connected” to the people
Classic civilizations tended to:
Have highly organized and centralized governments
Have superior military: horseback warfare, crossbows, iron weapons, etc.
Have more political say over the religion of their citizens, sometimes forcing conversion
Grow as empires

6. A closer look at Persia- was it ancient or classic?
The Persians were an indo-European group (like the Aryans) who lived in what is now Iran.
They were nomadic at first, but settled after awhile (again, like the Aryans!!)
A leader of theirs, Cyrus, began to spread the Persian area to absorb surrounding civilizations
How did he do it??!?!

7. What about the Persians was ancient?
Had cities
Written law codes and religious texts
Government ruled by a King
Local religion: Zoroastrianism (monotheistic)
Art: Ever heard of Persian rugs?!?!? Actually, those come later, but out of Persian tradition!!
Merchants traveled the “Royal Road”, traded with neighbors

8. What about the Persians was classic?
Ability to conquer and rule a large area
New ruling practices: tolerance and mercy, idea of citizenship
Much more complex government and bureaucracy
Very capable and organized military

9. In the end….
Persia is taken over by Alexander the Great…. More about him later….

10. Definite classic civilizations (empires):
Rome
Greece
Mauryan and Gupta India
Qin and Han China
Think about: What made them more advanced and different from the ancient civilizations we have studied?