Download AP Unit 2

Unit 2: The Formation of Classical Societies, 600 C.E. to 600 C.E.
Summary: Between 1000 and 500 B.C.E, societies began to transcend previously established patterns of communication,
exchange, law, and order. Beginning with the Persian Empire, classical societies increasingly sought means to bring
political unity to their large, culturally diverse territories while facilitating the flow of goods. Equally, classical societies
established long standing cultural institutions including Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Key Concepts:
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Persian/Achaemenid Empire
Bureaucracy: Centralized/ Decentralized
Standardization
Regional Specialization
Zoroastrianism
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Gentry/Aristocracy
Patriarchal/ Filial Piety Jati/ Guilds
Jainism
The Bhagavad Gita/Hindu Ethics
Buddhism/Ethics
Mahayana Buddhism
The Silk Roads/ Long Distance Trade
Democracy/Republic
Greek Culture/Alexander/ Hellenistic Era
Rational Thought: Plato, Socrates
Roman Political Organization and Cultural Influence
Religions of Salvation The Church/Christian Ethics
Spread of Religions/Appeal and Cultural Influence
Fall of the Roman and Han Empires
Key Societies by Region:
Southwest Asia:
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Persian/Achaemenid Empire
Europe:
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Mycenaean Society
Greek Polis: Athens and Sparta
Roman Republic/ Empire
Germanic Peoples
South Asia:
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Mauryan Empire
Gupta Empires
Hindu and Buddhist Ethics
Han Dynasty
Xiongnu
East Asia:
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Qin Dynasty
Unit 2 Focus Questions:
Chapter 7. Why was Darius more important as an administrator that as a conqueror?
Chapter 8. Many have argued that order is the key to understanding classical China. How did each of the major schools
of thought attempt to provide social stability?
Chapter 9. Why was Jainism not a viable alternative to Hinduism? Socially, what did Buddhism offer that Jainism did
not?
Chapter 10. Given that the Spartans and Athenians were both Greek, why were they so different? What were the major
differences between the Spartans and the Athenians?
Chapter 11. Discuss the political-social foundation of the Roman Empire? How did the Roman political system change
over time?
Chapter 12. Consider the factors contributing to the fall of than Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire. What similarities
and differences exist among them?