CHAPTER FIVE:DECLINE OF

CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS

Ms. SheetsAP World History

1) Territorial expansion2) Efforts to integrate new

territories (Rome, India, Han)A) Create territorial and social cohesion

3) Unification A) China (centralization; Confucianism)B) India (religious values)C) Greece (cultural achievements)D) Rome (citizenship)

4) Decline

COMMON THEMES IN CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS

1)Indian Ocean TradeA) East Africa to Southern ChinaB) Items traded: Chinese pottery, Indian spices, and Indian/African ivoryC) Depended on monsoons and currents

2)Silk Road TradeA) Han China to MediterraneanB) Exchange of Western/Eastern goods, religions, technology, disease

3)Trans-Saharan Trade (pre-Islamic)A) Across the Sahara: camels B) Items traded: salt, palm oil, olives, wheat, wild animals

CLASSICAL TRADE

1) ExpansionA)Mauryans expand to almost all

of Indian subcontinentB)Guptas used localized

governments in new territories2) Integration

A)Used Hinduism to expand (Buddhism unappealing)

B)Used the caste system to create social distinctions

3) Decline1) Invasions by White Huns2) Decentralization grows weak;

independent kingdoms created3) After 600, Islam enters India

CLASSICAL INDIA

1) Expansion

A) West and south, rice-growing regions

2) Integration

A)One language (written and spoken)

B)Strong centralized government (Qin and Han)

3) Decline

A)100 CE – 220 CE

B)Heavy taxes; poor harvests; weak emperors

C)Nomadic invasions by Huns (Xiongnu) and other nomadic tribes

D)184 CE: Yellow Turban Rebellion

E)Three Kingdoms Era (disorder and political decentralization), then Sui dynasty by 589 CE

CLASSICAL CHINA

1) Expansion

A) Expansion is cultural, rather than territorial

2) Integration

A)Use of common language

B)Persian War helped to integrate city-states, unite against common enemy

3) Decline

A)Ultimately default to city-state identity, geographic unity is challenging

B)Peloponnesian War weakens Athens

C)Macedonian invasion weakens all city-states

D)Greek culture (Hellenism) continues

CLASSICAL GREECE

1)Expansion1)Massive expansion under

Roman Republic2)Integration

A) Cultural tolerance, common law, and citizenship (males) for conquered peoples

B) Allow regional diversity3)Decline

A)Golden Age ends 180 CEB)Decline is complex

(economy, plague, leadership, latifundia, invasions)

C)Split of East and West (4th century)

CLASSICAL ROME

• All major religions see an increase in participants– Why? Chaos of classical decline causes people to gravitate towards a

religion that focuses upon afterlife, leaving chaos of current world behind, and salvation

• Buddhism– Rejected by Gupta India– Rapid expansion into Southeast and East Asia

• Christianity – Rapid emergence and expansion into Mediterranean and Europe– 313 CE: Constantine issues Edict of Milan to permit Christianity in Rome

• Islam– 610 CE: Created by Muhammad– Religion spreads rapidly through conversions– Empire spreads through conquering

• Hinduism– Supported by Gupta India– Supported by caste system

RELIGION DURING THE CLASSICAL DECLINE

• Kush (1070 BCE – 350 CE)– 750 BCE, Kushites conquered Egypt– Adopted Egyptian culture

• Japan– Agricultural; excellent iron-work– Shintoism developed: “way of the

gods,” animistic religion (spirits are imbedded within nature)

• Polynesia– 1000 BCE: Migration to islands (Fiji,

Samoa)– Continue to move to Hawaii by 400 CE

using giant canoes– Isolated development– Highly stratified class system under

powerful kings– Agricultural

OTHER CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS

• Olmecs (1500 BCE – 400 BCE)– First major civilization in Mexico;

“mother civilization”– 800 BCE: Settled in Central

Mexican river valley– Agriculture (corn, potatoes)– Domesticated animals– Religious statues (Olmec heads)– Disappeared in 400 BCE

• Maya (2000 BCE – 900 CE)– On Mexican peninsula by 400 CE– Most advanced culture in region– Pyramid shaped temples– Only writing system of Meso-

America– Religion was very complex

MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS