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The Classical Period: Directions,
Diversities, and Declines by 500 CE
Introduction
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The Indian Ocean provided an important link between the independent/ selfsufficient empires of Rome, India, and China.
How much cultural exchange occurred? (the halo and etc. are Buddhist in nature)
Did Christianity later adopt these Buddhist practices because of trade?
What would happen to the world when the classical civilization declined and
allowed for new opportunities for people? Others would rise to fill the political
and economic void that these civilization had formerly met. The classical
civilizations fell (Han, Rome, Gupta) –The Gupta Empire for example took
advantage of the trade void after the fall of the Roman Empire and their
merchants became very prosperous. This in turn allowed for the spread of
Hinduism and Buddhism as well as many temples across India to be built.
In the postclassical age, Muslim merchants would rise to power to fill this void!
The fall of the classical empires had consequences beyond just their borders. New
forces were created in sub-Saharan Africa, N. Europe and Asia.
The classical civilization did NOT take up all the globe, but they did include the
majority of the world’s people.
Expansion and Integration
• Classical civilizations featured many new ideas and innovations that arose
as a response to the needs of the people. Not a coincidence that
Confucius, Laozi, Buddha, and Socrates arose about the same time.
• China tried to unify its people by centralization of government. They had
to reign in s. territories and did this via government and had some resettle
there and promoted a common language (for elites).
• India and the Mediterranean were more localized and diverse politically.
• India unified its people by religious values and the caste system.
• Mediterranean had many cultural achievements. Rome gave lots of local
autonomy to people they conquered and much tolerance to local religion,
customs, and laws. Granted citizenship to elites and economics created an
interdependence between various regions.
• Each civilization had social inequalities (men, women, slaves etc.). Only
one leading thinker spoke against this-Buddha. A mutual relationship
between members in society as well as various ceremonies and cultural
experiences unified people socially.
Beyond Classical Civ.
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New cultures in Americas developed independent of classical models
Southeast Asia-Hindu and Buddhists merchants spread religion and soon regional kingdoms developed in Indonesia.
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Africa: Kush 1000 BCE –conquered Egypt for a short time. Had their own language, used iron, had a strong
monarchy. Defeated by Axum 300 BCE which later fell to the kingdom of Ethiopia. Kept up their contacts with
Mediterranean after fall of Rome. Jewish merchants brought Judaism to Ethiopia and there are still some
Jews today who live there. Additionally, merchants also brought Christianity (4th century). These Christians
were later cut off from the rest of the Christian world by a wave of Muslim expansion. Ethiopia also had the
world’s longest monarchy which ended in the 20th century!
Not clear how much influence Ethiopia had over other people around them?
Big development in classical age in Africa was the spread of agriculture
In Europe and Japan advances in agriculture and manufacturing occurred. Japan had tribal chiefs and social
hierarchy was marked with tattoos. Each tribe had its own god…thought to be an ancestor. The Japanese
develop iron-working. Later tribal chiefdoms gave way to regional kingdoms. Religion of Japan=Shintoism. It
provided for the worship of political leaders AND spirits of nature (god of rice). Around 700 ce beliefs unified
into a single religion.
Europe was organized into regional kingdoms-some areas had in fact come under Roman authority. After
Rome fell things returned to regional kingdoms and cities emptied out due to looting and pillaging. In many
of these areas hunting and agriculture were combined and many areas had no written language unless they
formerly knew Latin (language of the Catholic Church). After 600 ce Scandinavians (Vikings) put their sailor
skills to the test in pillaging throughout Europe. In areas were Christianity hadn’t yet spread people were still
polytheistic and believed in a host of gods and the spirits of nature. Until about 1000ce N.and E. Europe
remained fairly primitive.
Central America had developed a civilization by 600 ce: Olmecs 800-400 BCE (pyramid monuments)
-Civilization based on the cultivation of corn (in wild state just larger than strawberries) in Central America
potatoes were grown. Technology wise, Olmec culture had calendars. Later civilization in this area would be
the Mayan and Incas. They were isolated from other civilizations and therefore lacked knowledge of all kinds
of innovations (use of the wheel and iron). Other isolated groups were the Polynesians who populated islands
of the Pacific-Fiji in 1000 BCE  Made it to Hawaii by 400 ce.
During classical period agriculture spread to new areas. Central nomadic people started to form new contacts
and played an important role in trade between Asia and Middle East. Some also made innovations like the
stirrup! They also invaded major civilizations!
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Decline of China and India
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200-600 ce-all three major classical civilization collapsed. Rome fell to Germanic
invaders b/c of the pressures placed on them by the Huns! Another Hun group also
overthrew the Gupta Empire and a similar nomadic tribes had earlier toppled the
Han.
Han China-corruption increased, creativity decreased, peasants burden by taxes,
landlords became more powerful, Daoists led a revolution in 184 ce (magic and
healing practices during this time)-Yellow Turbans promised a golden age that would
be started due to divine magic. Not successful!
Growing political ineffectiveness and inability to kept out invaders (like Rome).
China had to deal with new epidemics which killed many. However, China did revive
itself with the Sui and Tang dynasty which started the dynastic cycle again (under
Tang-Confucian scholars back).
India-by 5th century in decline-local princes harder to control and invaders became a
problem. Hun invaders formed a new ruling group of regional princes-collectively
called the Rajput, that controlled many areas in India. Buddhism declined, but
successfully moved to China…as you can imagine Hun princes didn’t do well with the
concept of being calm and peaceful  Buddhism suffered and Hinduism grew. India
grew economically from control of Indian Ocean trade basin. After 600 ce greatest
threat to India would be Muslim Arabs. 711 Abbasid Empire defeated the Sind
kingdom in India which began an influx of Muslim conquest and a take over of trade.
Decline/ Fall of Rome
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After 180ce many problems: population decline, recruiting problems, high taxes, despair. It was a
process of deterioration: quality of political and economic life shifted, weak emperors, disputes
over succession with the interference of the army contributed further to this deterioration. Series
of plagues that swept across the empire like in China-b/c of international trade. A set of general
problems triggered by a cycle of plagues resulted in the spiral of Rome. Upper class became more
interested in pleasure-seeking than ruling. In Rome there was also a cultural decline where
intellectually little was done. Rome had a combination of moral and political decay  The plagues
weakened the society and culture suffered.
As things got bad, farmers gave up lands to larger landlords for protection-eventually led to the
manorial system and feudalism. Trade and production declined as did city dwellers.
Later emperors who tried to reform and stop problems were Diocletian (284-305 ce) improved tax
collection, tried to get worshipped as a god, split empire, made you stay in your job for life.
Constantine (312-337 ce) capital –Constantinople, tolerance to Christians. However, you know that
nothing actually worked to stop the fall of Rome! By 476ce Roman emperor fell to Germanic
invaders! Rome’s fall split the unity of the Mediterranean culture (Hellenistic culture) and didn’t
have one central religion. The eastern portion of Rome didn’t really fall, but formed into the
Byzantine empire (ruler-Justinian-tried to retake all Roman lands, but couldn’t hold onto them.
Justinian law code –taken from Roman law code). In the Middle East after Alexander the Great the
Parthian empire rose, but was quickly displaced. In 227ce the Sassanid Empire rose and was similar
to the great empire of Persia (Zoroastrianism revived). Parthian and Sassanid served as bridges
between Mediterranean and East-goods, beliefs, art. As Rome weakened the Sassanids joined the
attack, but the Byzantine Empire manage to stabilize the borders and limit Sassanids into Europe.
Sassainds later overthrown by Arabs. Persian rule simply continued in Middle East and Byzantine
Empire maintained many Roman ideas.
North African zone- a number of regional kingdoms developed after fall of Rome. Christianity
spread into N. Africa and indeed Augustine was a bishop there. Differences between Christianity
there and in Rome developed (Coptic church in Egypt for example). Soon Islam would spread here.
Western empire-Italy, Spain, and north-reduced civilization here and crude Germanic kingdoms
developed while cities shrank (mentioned earlier). This part of the world had lost previous
Hellenistic knowledge! Even many members of the church began having problems in reading and
writing.
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Religion
200-600ce many of the world religions became popular. Religion provided solace to
problems: political instability, plagues that killed many, and increasing infant mortality
rates.
Christianity become popular –formed under Roman Empire, Buddhism moved quickly
into Asia when Han fell. In early postclassical empire-Islam developed and became a
very important religious and political force in history. Never before had a single religions
spread so widely crossing so many cultural and political boundaries!
Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism (and later Islam) all emphasized intense devotion
and piety, stressed importance of spiritual concerns beyond daily cares, offered hope of
a better existence, each responded to political instability and growing poverty. Hundreds
of thousands of people in Europe, Africa, and Asia underwent conversions. Many also
blended new beliefs with older ones (syncretism).
Hinduism-very popular after Gupta fall especially b/c of focus on mother goddess, Devi.
Buddhism: became minority in India, but changed significantly b/c it spread. Monks
spread the religion. Bodhisattvas-could attain nirvana via meditation and could then
become saints and remain in the world to help others. Buddhism became a more
emotional cult-popular salvation. Mahayana Buddhism-(E. Asia) retained the original
beliefs of Buddha, but Buddha became seen as a divine savior-god. Prayers and rituals to
help ordinary people become holy. Women in China-Buddhists believed that women like
men and women should have been treated better, but in fact were not-case of cultural
syncretism. Confucian leaders were not big fans of Buddhism as you can imagine! Over
time in China, Buddhists were attacked.
Daoism- improved organization and emphasized practical benefits obtained via magicdrew much interest from peasants.
Christianity and Islam
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Christianity moved westward from Middle East. Similar to Buddhism in emphasis on
salvation and guidance of saints. Differed b/c more emphasis on church organization
and structure, focused more on missionaries, stressed the exclusive nature of its truth
and was intolerant of competing beliefs.
Christianity developed in response to rigidness in Judaism. Some Jews began to
believe in a Messiah that would led them out of their problems. Jesus believed by
Christians to be the son of God was sent to earth to redeem humans of sin. Jesus
preached widely in Israel and had disciples. Message: there is one single God, who
loved humankind despite sin. One needed to be devoted to worshipping God and
fellowship with other believers. Poverty was best for holiness and God sent Jesus to
preach and through his sacrifice his followers could have an afterlife of heaven. Belief,
good works, and discipline of fleshly concerns would lead to heaven. Rituals:
communion
Roman Empire made it easy for Christianity to spread b/c of travel and unhappiness of
many peasants with Greek/ Roman religion.
Under Paul-no an original disciple –Christianity was seen as its own religion and not a
Jewish reform movement. They began to welcome non-Jews, encouraged more
formal organization in the church, and a more organized doctrine-New Testament.
Under much persecution and competition. –Constantine! In the west the church was
organized under the pope (father). In the east still under much control of the state.
When Rome fell Christianity continued and so also did the Church.
Focus on theology which made intellectuals happy. Focus on importance of faith in
the religion and Christianity also accepted some polytheistic traditions-moved Christ’s
birth to coincide with the winter solstice (syncretism). Offered deep develop to God
and soon monasteries developed (St. Benedict). Latin remained the language of the
church in the west while Greek in the east.
Spread of Major Religions
• Because of the decline of classical empires these
religions were able to run through political and
cultural borders much due to contacts between
these peoples (trade, missionaries activities).
Common forces like invaders, diseases, and death
help to explain parallel changes in each
civilization. The new religions allowed for greater
focus on spiritual matters which resulted in a
greater tendency to focus on a single basic god.
Polytheism continued to flourish due to Hinduism
and Daoism. However, animism was reduced.
World around 500 ce
• Response to collapse of classical forms-reviving or
reworking institutions/ values.
• Need to react to the new religious map and to
integrate those values into established civilization or
use them as the basis for establishing a civilization.
• Increased skill in agriculture and these civilization
would allow for later developments to come.
• Wider contacts, importance of trade, as empires
decline trade more complicated  and shipping more
important. Important new culture exchanges (religion).