Study Guide Ch. 5 The Classical Period: Directions; Diversities and Declines by 500 C.E. I.

Expansion and Integration 1. What did Confucius, Lao-zi, Buddha and Socrates have in common? inspired by need to articulate central values 2. In what ways did China, India and Mediterranean civilization unite their expanding civilizations? China=greater centralization. India & Mediterranean =more localized & diverse. India used key religious values ( Hinduism) to cement its civilization across political boundaries. 3. Explain how China, India and Mediterranean civilizations responded to the challenge of territorial expansion. China had to reign in its new southern regions & government devoted attention to settling some northerners in the south & promoting common language for elite. In India caste & Hinduism spread southward. Rome combined local autonomy/ tolerance with common laws, expansion of citizenship to elites across empire, tight commercial network that > interdependencies between grain-growing regions & olive & grape regions. 4. Explain how China, India and Mediterranean civilizations responded to the challenge of social integration . All = inequalities between men/women & between upper/lower classes; inequalities varied, from Mediterranean slavery to Indian caste system to Confucian sense of hierarchy ; all accept inequality as normal. Most leading thinkersBuddha= exceptiondidnt oppose inequalities, writing openly of need for deference & even (in Mediterranean) for slavery. 5. How did all of the classical civilizations maintain social cohesion with inequality? Confucianism stressed mutual respect between upper/lower classes with special deference by lower social orders. Shared values about family/self-restraint = links across social hierarchy. Mediterranean aristocrats treated some locals as clients, offering them protection & supported civic rituals to foster loyalty. India=Hinduism shared by all social classes gave hope of future incarnation to lower castes. None of these consistently united society. Lower-class uprisings, even slave rebellions=part of classical experience. II. Beyond the Classical Civilizations 6. Describe the changes on the borders of major civilizations.- in northeastern Africa, Japan, northern Europe, changes had some relationship to classical world, but they were partly autonomous. In Americas new cultures evolved in entirely independent way. All changes in classical period set stage for important links in world history later on. Southeast Asia gained access to civilization through its contacts with India: regional kingdoms had already been established & agricultural economies on islands of Indonesia & on mainland. Wider trade patterns developed through efforts of Indian merchants. Hindu and particularly Buddhist religion/art also spread from India. 7. Describe the Characteristics of Kush. By 1000 B.C.E., kingdom of Kush on upper Nile. It had form of writing derived from Egyptian hieroglyphics & mastered use of iron. Briefly, around 750 B.C.E., armies from Kush conquered Egypt. Major cities built; established strong monarchy, elaborate ceremonies =belief that king was divine. Kush defeated by Axum by 300 B.C.E. 8. Identify/significance: Axum Kingdom that defeated Kush in 300 B.C.E.; eventually fell to Ethiopia. 9. Describe the contacts that Axum and Ethiopia had with the eastern Mediterranean and explain the effects of that contact. Axum&Ethiopia had contacts until after fall of Rome. Jewish merchants brought some conversions to Judaism; small minority of Ethiopians remained Jewish to the present. Greek-speaking merchants= influence Christianity brought to Ethiopia by 4th century C . E . Ethiopian Christian church-cut off from mainstream Christianity, flourished in isolation to modern times. Ethiopia =oldest continuous monarchy in world into late 20th century when it was abolished 10. Describe the extension of agriculture into Sub-Saharan Africa. For most of Africa below Sahara, but north of tropical jungles, major development up to 500 C. E.= extension of agriculture. Well-organized villages arose, similar in form/structure to those that still exist. Farming took earliest root on southern fringes of Sahara, which was less arid than today. Toward end of classical era, regional kingdoms were forming in western Africa, leading to first great state -Ghana. Because of barriers of dense vegetation & impact of African diseases on domesticated animals, agriculture spread only slowly southward; creation of strong agricultural economy prepared way for next,long-lasting /influential wave of African kingdoms, far to west of Nile. Root crops & plantains introduced from trade with southeast Asia 100 C.E.>African farmers push into new areas. 11. List major developments and characteristics of Japan in the classical period. by 200 C.E., Japan established extensive agriculture; population of islands had been formed mainly by migrations from peninsula of Korea over 200,000-year span; > regional political organization based on tribal chiefs; each with its own god thought of as ancestor; strict social differences, indicated by tattoos; considerable ironworking; by 400 C.E. regional states >sophisticated, each controlling larger territories. 12. Describe the characteristics of Shintoism in Japan. Japan's religion, Shintoism, provided for worship of political rulers & spirits of nature. Many local shrines/ rituals revolved around Shinto beliefs> unified into single religion by 700 C.E. = simple religion, different in ritual/ doctrine from great world religions /philosophies developing in classical civilizations. 13. Describe the development of political organization in Japan between 400 C.E. and 600 C.E. 400 C.E. one regional ruler began to win loyalty /trust of local leaders>basis for Japan's imperial house, with emperor worshipped as religious figure. Political sophistication & cultural unity just emerging by 600 C.E.- Japan was ready for more elaborate contacts with Chinaa process that would move Japan into orbit of major civilizations. 14. Describe the status of northern Europe during the classical period. Much of northern Europe lagged behind Japan's pace. Teutonic or Celtic peoples in north &Slavic peoples in eastern Europe= loosely organized into regional kingdoms. Some had fallen to advances of distant Roman Empire, but after Rome's decline patterns of regional politics resumed. No written language except where Latin imported. Agriculture still primitive. Scandinavians> increasing skill as sailors> wider trade & pillage in centuries after 600 C.E. Religious beliefs= gods/ rituals to placate forces of nature. Region would change, through spread of Christianity, but until 1000 C.E., northern Europe= one of most backward areas in world.

15. Describe the characteristics and achievements of Olmecs and their successors. In Central America Olmecs developed/ spread an early form of civilization from 800- 400 B.C.E. Olmecs lacked writing, but built pyramid-shaped religious monuments; based on many centuries agriculture, expanding from early cultivation of corn. Development of American agriculture was limited by few domesticated animals available: turkeys, dogs, guinea pigs in Central America.Olmecs= artistic forms in jade. Religious statues/icons blended human images with animals. Scientific research> accurate calendars. Olmec culture greatly influenced later Indian civilizations. Olmecs disappeared without clear trace around 400 B.C. E., but their successors soon developed a hieroglyphic alphabet & built first great city in the Americas Teotihuacanas center for trade & worship. This culture, suffered setbacks from migrations &regional wars but from its base developed a still fuller American civilization, starting with the Maya, from 400 C.E. onward. 16. Describe the similarities and differences between Olmecs/Incas compared to River Valley civilizations. Olmecs & successors had provided for Central American region the equivalent of river valley civilizations in Asia & Middle East, many centuries later. A similar early civilization arose in Andes region where agriculture allowed construction of elaborate cities & religious monuments. This culture would lead to civilization of the Inca. The two centers of early civilization in Americas developed in total isolation from rest of the world>they lacked advantages that come from ability to copy & react to other societies, including such basic technologies as wheel or capacity to work iron. Early American Indian cultures were considerably ahead of most of those in Europe during same period; they demonstrate common tendency of humans to move from establishment of agriculture to creation of more elaborate civilized society. 17. What was another case of isolated development during the classical period? =migration of agricultural peoples to new island territories in the Pacific. Polynesian peoples had reached islands of Fiji & Samoa by 1000 B.C.E. > explorations in giant outrigger canoes led to first settlement of Hawaii by 400 C.E., where new settlers adapted local plants, brought in new animals (notably pigs) imported a highly stratified caste system under powerful local kings. 18. Explain how herding peoples contributed to world history. Central Asian herders played vital role in trade routes between east Asia & Middle East, transporting goods like silk across long distances. Other herding groups>technological innovations, such as the stirrup, which allowed mounted horsemen to aim weapons better. The herding groups enjoyed an important history of their own & also provided contacts among civilizations they bordered; some invaded major civilizations directly, helping to bring classical period to an end. III. Decline in China and India 19. Describe the causes of the fall of Han Dynasty. (Yellow Turbans) By100 C.E., Han dynasty began to enter a serious decline. Confucian intellectual activity became less creative. Central government's control diminished, bureaucrats>more corrupt, local landlords began ruling neighborhoods according to their own wishes. Free peasants, long heavily taxed, were burdened with new taxes & demands of service by landlords; many lost their farms & became day laborers on large estates; some had to sell their children into service. Social unrest increased> revolutionary effort led by Daoists in 184 C.E. Daoism gained new appeal, shifting toward a popular religion & adding healing practices & magic to philosophical beliefs. Daoist leaders-Yellow Turbans- promised a golden age to be brought about by divine magic. Yellow Turbans attacked the weakness of the emperor & self-indulgence of bureaucracy; 30,000 students demonstrated against decline of government morality>protests failed> population growth/prosperity declined; imperial court = stuck in intrigue &civil war. Also- spread of devastating new epidemics- killed half of population. >fall of Han & led to 3 centuries of chaos. Regional rulers & weak dynasties rose & fell. China's cultural unity was threatened as Buddhism spreada rare case in which China imported a major idea from outside its borders until 20th century. 20. How did China revive after the fall of the Han? Strong native rulers in north drove out nomadic invaders. The Sui dynasty briefly ruled & in 618 C.E. it was followed by the Tang, who sponsored one of most glorious periods in Chinese history. Confucianism& bureaucratic system =revived & bureaucratic tradition> more elaborate. The period of chaos left the continued presence of a Buddhist minority & new styles in art&literature; unlike fall of Rome=no permanent disruption. 21. Why were the structures of classical China able to survive the collapse of the Han? = too strong to be overturned. Bureaucracy declined in scope/quality, but did not disappear in troubled centuries. Confucian values & styles of life remained current among upper class. Many nomadic invaders assimilated Chinese traditions. China had to recover from serious setback, but it didnt have to reinvent its civilization. 22. Describe the decline of classical civilization in India. (Rajput) -Ability of Gupta emperors to control local princes was declining by 5th century. Invasions by nomadic peoples, probably Hun tribes similar to those pressing into Europe, affected northern portions of India as early as 500 C . E . During next century, invaders destroyed Gupta empire in central India; many invaders were integrated into warrior caste>new ruling group of regional princes. For several centuries, no native ruler attempted to build a large Indian state. The regional princes, collectively called Rajput, controlled small states &emphasized military power. Few political events of more than local significance. 23. Why did Buddhism decline in India? Hindu beliefs gained ground> converting Hun princes, who had originally worshipped gods of battle & had no sympathy for Buddhist principles of calm & contemplation. 24. How did Hinduism change in response to the threat of Islam? They strengthened their emphasis on religious devotion at expense of other intellectual interests. Hinduism underwent further popularization; Hindu texts were written in vernacular languages such as Hindi, use of old classical language, Sanskrit, declined. These reactions > prevented more than a minority of Indians from abandoning Hinduism, but distracted from further achievements in science & mathematics. 25. How did Islam affect India's economic position? Arab traders soon took control of Indian Ocean from Tamil merchants. India, though still prosperous& productive, saw its commercial dynamism reduced. In politics, regionalism continued to prevail. The glory days of the Guptas were long past but classical traditions survived in Hinduism & the caste system. IV. Decline and Fall in Rome 26. What were the symptoms of decline of Roman Empire by 180 C.E.? - declining population & difficulties in recruiting effective armies. Many Roman emperors were brutal & arbitrary. Tax collection>difficult, as residents fell on hard times.

27. How did the decline of Rome compare to the collapse of the classical dynasties in Asia? The decline of Rome was more disruptive than the collapse of the classical dynasties in Asia. 28. Describe the shift in the quality of political and economic life in the Roman Empire after 180 C.E. Political confusion>series of weak emperors & many disputes over succession to throne. Intervention by army in selection of emperors complicated political life &contributed to deterioration of rule from top. More important= series of plagues that swept over empire. As in China, plagues' source was growing international trade, which brought diseases from southern Asia to new areas like the Mediterranean, where no resistance had been established. Diseases decimated the population. The population of Rome decreased from a million people to 250,000>Economic life worsened. Recruitment of troops> difficult>empire began hiring Germanic soldiers to guard its frontiers; need to pay troops= drain on budget, just as declining production cut into tax revenues. 29. What part did Rome's upper classes play in Rome's decline? Rome's upper classes became steadily more pleasure-seeking, turning away from political devotion& economic vigor that had characterized the republic& early empire. 30. What are some examples of the decline of the cultural life of Rome? Many Roman scholars contented themselves with writing textbooks that just summarized earlier achievements in science, mathematics, literary style. New knowledge or artistic styles were not being generated. They wrote textbooks about rhetoric instead of displaying rhetorical talent in actual political life; they wrote simple compendiums about animals or geometry, that barely captured essentials of what earlier intellectuals had known &often added superstitious beliefs that previous generations would have scorned. 31. Explain how Diocletian and Constantine a tried to stop decline and describe the results of their efforts. Diocletian tightened up administration & tried to improve tax collection. Regulation of economy increased. He pressured people to worship emperor as god> persecuted Christians. Constantine (ruled 312 -337 C.E.) set up second capital city, Constantinople, to regulate eastern half of empire. He tried to use Christianity to unify empire spiritually, extending its toleration& adopting it as his own faith. The eastern empire -ruled from Constantinople-remained an effective political & economic unit>division >weakness of western half worse. Attempts to regulate economy reduced economic initiative & lowered production; tax revenues declined again. The army deteriorated further. Germanic invasions began in 400s. German kingdoms established in many parts of empire by 425 C.E.; the last Roman emperor in the west= displaced in 476 C . E . Germanic invaders= 5% of population of empire, but Roman decline =so great this small, poorly organized force able to end empire. 32. Why was the end of Roman Empire more serious than displacement of classical dynasties in India and China Rome's fall split the unity that had been achieved in Mediterranean lands. Greece&Rome had not produced the shared political culture&bureaucratic traditions of China that could allow revival after a period of chaos. Mediterranean civilization had not generated a common religion that appealed deeply enough, or satisfied enough needs, to maintain unity amid political fragmentation, as in India. Such religions would reach Mediterranean world as Rome fell, but came too late to saveempire. 33. Describe the development of each zone resulting from fall of Rome. Zone 1: eastern empire centered on Constantinople, later known as Byzantine Empire, its language= Greek, but it kept authoritarian tone of late Roman rulers. It was vibrant, artistically creative, active in trade; emperor Justinian (ruled 527 to 565 C.E.)tried to recapture heritage of Rome, but was unable to hold Italy & provinces of north Africa. His compilation of Roman law (Justinians Law Code)=last effort to restore Mediterranean unity. Parthian & Sassanid empires= bridges between Mediterranean & the East, transmitting goods & artistic & literary styles between Greekspeaking world &India & China. The Sassanid empire preserved important strain of Persian culture in eastern part of Middle East & this continued to influence this region as well as India. The Sassanids were finally overthrown by surge of Arab conquest that followed the rise of Islam, in 7th century C.E. Zone 2. The second zone =north Africa &southeastern shores of Mediterranean. Christianity spread into area, but separate beliefs/doctrines soon split north African Christianity from larger branches> Coptic church in Egypt, which still survives as a Christian minority in that country. Soon this region would be filled with still newer doctrines of Islam & a new Arab empire Zone 3. the western part of the empireItaly, Spain & points north. Here- Rome's fall shattered unities & reduced level of civilization itself. Crude, regional Germanic kingdoms developed in parts of Italy, France &elsewhere. Cities shrank further, & trade almost disappeared. The only vital forces in this region came not from Roman traditions but from spread of Christianity, but Christianity couldnt sustain culture of literature or art. After Rome's collapse, this part of the world forgot for several centuries what it had previously known. V. The New Religious Map 34. Describe the similarities in expanding religions 200-600 C.E.: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism. all emphasized intense devotion& piety, stressing importance of spiritual concerns beyond daily cares of earthly life. All offered hope of a better existence after this life had ended, each responded to new political instability & to growing poverty of people in various parts of civilized world. 35. Identify/significance: syncretism As religions spread, people blended new beliefs with old, in process called syncretism. 36. Explain how Buddhism expanded and changed. (bodhisattvas) Buddhism tended to divide the faithful among a minority who abandoned earthly life in favor of spiritual dedication & the larger number who continued to work in the world while doing the best they could to meet their spiritual obligations. Centuries after Buddha's death, a doctrine of bodhisattvas developed: some people could attain nirvana through their own meditation while choosing to remain in the world as saints & to aid others by prayer & example. Buddhism shifted from an original emphasis on ethics to become a more emotional cult stressing possibility of popular salvation. The role of the bodhisattvas, in broadening the prospects of salvation for ordinary people by leading them in prayer & advising on spiritual matters was crucial. 37. Explain how Buddhism evolved as it spread to China. (Mahayana) Buddhism evolved further as the religion spread to China after the fall of Han dynasty, when idea of a celestial afterlife proved almost irresistible. Monasteries in India & the Himalaya Mountains served as spiritual centers for Chinese Buddhism, but it spread through China & from there to Korea & Japan. The east Asian form of Buddhism, called Mahayana, or the Greater Vehicle, retained basic Buddhist beliefs, but emphasis on Buddha himself as a divine savior increased. Statues devoted to Buddha as god countered earlier Buddhist hostility to religious images; it improved its organization, with priests, temples, creeds, rituals. Buddhist holy

men, bodhisattvas, remained important-their souls after death resided in a kind of super-heaven, where they could receive prayers & help people. Prayers & rituals could now help ordinary people to become holy. Buddha became a god to whom one could appeal for solace. East Asian Buddhism also > new artistic interests in China & later, in Japan, including pagoda style of temple design& statues devoted to Buddha. 38. How did Buddhism affect women in China? Buddhism should have disrupted China's firm belief in patriarchal power, because Buddhists believed that women, like men, had souls, but Chinese culture> changes in Buddhism. Buddhist phrases like "husband supports wife" were changed to "husband controls his wife," = example of cultural blending, or syncretism. Buddhism was perhaps appealing to Chinese women because it> more meaningful life, but it did notchallenge patriarchy. 39. Why was Buddhism not popular among all Chinese? Confucian leaders disliked intense spirituality; ideas of holy life incompatible with family obligations; might distract people from loyalty to emperor. When imperial dynasties revived in China, they showed some interest in Buddhism for a time, but ultimately attacked Buddhist faith, driving out many missionaries. Buddhism remained a minority current in China=many villages worshipped in Buddhist shrines. Daoism reacted to Buddhism by improving organization & emphasizing benefits of magic> Daoism developed clear hold on many peasants. 40. In what areas did Buddhism have a great influence? more in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, than in China itself. Buddhism had also spread to parts of southeast Asia. In world today = 500 million Buddhists; most in areas of east & southeast Asia, where the religion had taken root by 500 C.E. Buddhism didnt dominate any whole civilization; it lived along-side other faiths. 41. Describe the similarities and differences in Christianity and Buddhism. Similarities- emphasis on salvation ; differences- Christianity placed more emphasis on church organization (example of Roman Empire); and placed premium on missionary activity& widespread conversions. Christianity stressed exclusive nature of its truth= intolerant of competing beliefs. 42. Identify/significance: Jesus Christians believe Jesus was son of God sent to earth to redeem human sin. Jesus preached widely in Israel&gathered group of loyal disciples. After Jesus' crucifixion, disciples attracted more supporters in various parts of Roman Empire. 43. Describe the beliefs and message of Christianity. There was a single God who loved humankind despite earthly sin. God sent Jesus to preach his holy word & through his sacrifice to prepare his followers for an afterlife & heavenly communion with God. Belief, good works & discipline of fleshly concerns would lead to heaven; rituals- commemorating Christ's Last Supper with wine/bread. 44. Explain the factors in the spread of Christianity. (Paul) Christian emphasis on beauty of simple life & spiritual equality of all people, plus fervor of early Christians captured attention. Roman Empire> easy for Christian missionaries to travel in Europe/ Middle East to spread new word & also reached beyond to Persia, Axum, Ethiopia. As empire decayed, the solace this otherworldly religion provided> wider appeal. Under Paul, an early convert, Christians began to see themselves as part of a new religion. Christianity welcomed all people, including non-Jews. Paul encouraged more formal organization within new church, with local groups selecting elders to govern them; soon, a single leader, or bishop, was appointed for each city. This structure paralleled the provincial government of the empire. Christian doctrine> increasingly organized; writings of several disciples collected into New Testament of Christian Bible. 45. How did Constantine's conversion affect Christianity? some attempted interference by state in matters of doctrine, but it became much easier to spread Christianity with official favor. 46. How did the development of organization of the Church differ in the eastern Mediterranean and the West? (pope) In eastern Mediterranean imperial rule remained strong from Constantinople=state control of church. In West-centralized church organization under leadership of bishop of Rome, called pope. 47. How did Christianity accommodate earlier polytheistic traditions? The celebration of Christ's birth moved to coincide with winter solstice= example of syncretism>allowed new faith to benefit from power of older rituals. 48. Describe the appeal of Christianity. offered deep devotion to all-powerful God;mystical holy men & women flourished under Christian banner. In West, after empire's collapse> monasticism- Benedictine Rule encouraged disciplined life, with prayer/spiritual fulfillment alternating with hard work in agriculture/study. Message of salvation & rituals appealed to poor; special appeal for women; Christianity did not create equality among men & women, but preached equal importance of male & female souls & encouraged men & women to worship together, unlike many other faiths. 49. How did Christianity create a new culture? otherworldly emphasis/interest in spiritual equality differed from classical Med. civilizations. Christians accepted state, but did not put it first. Christianity> greater respectability for disciplined than in Mediterranean civ., where aristocratic ethic dominated. Christianity preserved important classical values;church buildings retained Roman architectural styles; Latin remained language of church in West;Greek= language of most Christians in eastern Med. Monks/ monasticism = role in preserving classical & Christian learning. 50. Identify/significance: world religion faith of unusual durability whose complexity wins devotion of different kinds of people. Christianity&Buddhism=ability to cut across cultures to win converts in a wide geographic area & diversity. Global Connections 51. Describe the wider contacts that existed in the classical period. India=contacts with south-southeast Asia . China = contacts = Korea/Vietnam. Trade along silk roads (mainly nomadic merchants). Overland travel between China- Rome> more dangerous as government protection faltered in both empires> new premium on shipping connections, especially in Indian Ocean. 52. What new cultural exchanges across regions occurred in the classical period? spread of Buddhism from India to China/East Asia; spread of Christianity beyond Roman Empire into parts of n.e. Africa & > Armenia.