Chapter 5 The Classical Period: Directions, Diversities, and Declines by 500

C.E.

Chapter Objective:Define history and the concepts of cause

and effect, time, change and continuity and perspective across the global historical

periods covered in this course

Cultural Diffusion or Independent invention

• A major theme of AP World is cultural diffusion vs. independent invention

• It can be argued many of the most important aspects of civilization may have been exported from the core civilizations rather then reinvented at different times

• Think of this in terms of how each culture developed in relation to religion government and family

• Also how their culture traits compare to those of the classical civilizations

Crisis of Late Antiquity

• Chapter 5 deals with the collapse of empires and civilizations in the classical world and the emergence of new cultures

• Be especially alerted to the influences of religion ( Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism) on these new empires

Basic Themes • Basic theme of the 3 great civilizations of China, India

and the Mediterranean involved expansion and integration

• Throughout the classical world, these themes faltered between 200 and 500 CE

• This lose of strength signaled the end of that era • The response of major religions to political decline

formed a leading direction in the next phase of world history

• Meanwhile, developments outside of the classical world gained new importance

Evaluate the effect on societies of the fall of the classical civilizations • Several institutions were affected when gov.

collapsed Religion, the family, education, trade and the

transference of technology • The most devastating effect was on western Europe

after the demise of Rome• China’s society was the least affected • India’s experience was in between Rome and China

Compare the rise of civilizations in the Americas and Polynesia

• Rise of agriculture was significant in the Americas but less so in Polynesia

• Governments were headed by kings in both areas • A lack of large domesticated animals was a mutual

experience • Writing systems were nonexistent in both places • Polytheism was the common choice of religion • Both systems developed civilizations later than

China, India, or the Middle East