Cross-Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads

So, this chapter completes our look at the Classical Civilizations. Can you explain why these civilizations are called Classical? Can you list the Classical Civilizations?

Long-Distance Travel in the Ancient World Lack of police enforcement outside of established settlements Changes in classical period – Improvement of infrastructure – Development of empires Why was there so little long-distance travel in the Ancient Period?

Crash Course: The Silk Road and Ancient Trade #9

Trade Networks Develop Dramatic increase in trade due to Greek colonization Maintenance of roads, bridges Discovery of Monsoon wind patterns Increased tariff revenues used to maintain open routes Named for principal commodity from China Dependent on imperial stability Overland trade routes from China to Roman Empire Sea Lanes and Maritime trade as well Divided into small segments Tariffs and tolls finance local supervision Tax income incentives to maintain safety, maintenance of passage

The Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE Merchants carry religious ideas along silk routes India through central Asia to east Asia Cosmopolitan centers promote development of monasteries to shelter traveling merchants Buddhism becomes dominant faith of silk roads, 200 BCE-700 CE Buddhism in China Originally, Buddhism restricted to foreign merchant populations Gradual spread to larger population beginning 5 th c. CE Buddhism and Hinduism in South East Asia Sea lanes in Indian Ocean 1 st c. CE clear Indian influence in SE Asia Rulers called rajas Sanskrit used for written communication Buddhism, Hinduism increasingly popular faiths

The Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE Gregory the Wonderworker, central Anatolia 3 rd c. CE Christianity spreads through Middle East, North Africa, Europe Sizeable communities as far east as India Judaism, Zoroastrianism also practiced Influence of ascetic practices from India Desert-dwelling hermits, monastic societies After 5 th c. CE, followed Nestorios Emphasized human nature of Jesus

Spread of Manichaeism Mani Zoroastrian prophet ( CE) Influenced by Christianity and Buddhism Dualist – good vs. evil – light vs. dark – spirit vs. matter

Manichaean Society Devout: the Elect – Ascetic lifestyle – Celibacy, vegetarianism – Life of prayer and fasting Laity: the Hearers – Material supporters of the Elect

Decline of Manichaeism Spread through silk routes to major cities in Roman Empire Zoroastrian opposition provokes Sassanid persecution – Mani arrested, dies in captivity Romans, fearing Persian influence, also persecute

The Spread of Epidemic Disease Role of trade routes in spread of pathogens Limited data, but trends in demographics reasonably clear Smallpox, measles, bubonic plague Effect: Economic slowdown, move to regional self- sufficiency

Epidemics in the Han and Roman Empires

Internal Decay of the Han State Court intrigue Formation of factions Problem of land distribution – Large landholders develop private armies Epidemics Peasant rebellions – 184 CE Yellow Turban Rebellion

Collapse of the Han Dynasty Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figure Alliance with landowners 200 CE Han Dynasty abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms Immigration of northern nomads increases

Sinicization of Nomadic Peoples China-fication Adoption of sedentary lifestyle – Agriculture Adoption of Chinese names, dress, intermarriage

Popularity of Buddhism and Daoism Disintegration of political order casts doubt on Confucian doctrines Buddhism, Daoism gain popularity Religions of salvation

Fall of Rome: Internal Factors The Barracks Emperors claimants to the throne, all but one killed in power struggles Epidemics Disintegration of imperial economy in favor of local and regional self-sufficient economies

Diocletan (r CE) Divided empire into two administrative districts Co-Emperors, dual Lieutenants - Tetrarchs Currency, budget reform Relative stability disappears after Diocletanss death, civil war follows Constantine emerges victorious

Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman empire, C.E. Diocletian divides the Roman Empire into two halves Visigoths, influenced by Roman law, Christianity Formerly buffer states for Empire Attacked by Attilas Huns in 5 th c. CE Massive migration of Germanic peoples into Roman Empire Sacked Rome in 410 CE, established Germanic emperor in 476 Ce

Cultural Change in the Roman Empire Growth of Christianity Constantines Vision, 312 CE Promulgates Edict of Milan, allows Christian practice Converts to Christianity 380 CE Emperor Theodosius proclaims Christianity official religion of Roman Empire

St. Augustine ( CE) Hippo, North Africa Experimented with Greek thought, Manichaeism 387 converts to Christianity Major theologian

The Institutional Church Conflicts over doctrine and practice in early Church Divinity of Jesus Role of women Church hierarchy established Patriarchs, Bishop of Rome primus inter pares

Crash Course: International Commerce, Snorkeling Camels, and Indian Ocean Trade #18