The Classical Period
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Transcript The Classical Period
Chapter 5
How did they get there? Migrants from Korea established extensive
agriculture, fishing industry by200 CE/AD
Political:
Regional politics
tribal chiefs
Imperial order at end of age
Each tribe had its own god
Social: Strict social distinction
Religion: Shintoism- worships rulers and nature spirits
Tech: ironworking, writing brought from Korean scribes
Olmecs
Intellectual
lacked writing
produced monumental architecture
cultivation of corn
Big City: Teotihuacan
Mayan civilizations linked to Olmecs
Pacific migrations
by 1000 BCE islands of Fiji and Samoa
inhabited
Outrigger canoes all the way to Hawaii by
400CE
Diffusion- plants, animals (pigs)
Political/Social- stratified classes under a
monarch
A.
China’s Decline: WHY?
Loss of centralized control, corrupt
bureaucracy…
Increased taxes, social unrest, epidemic
disease…
Invasion of nomadic peoples (such as Xiongnu)
led to downfall of Han, attempts to assimilate
Chinese culture
Decline in Gupta’s abilities to control local
princes- REGIONAL PROBLEMS!!!
INVADERS integrated into warrior castes
forming NEW regional princes, Rajput
Regionalism prevailed, commercial development
flourished
Decay set in around 180CE
declining population
Tax collection difficult
Quality of leadership declined
disputes over succession
pleasure seeking upper class
Cycles of plagues, INVADERS, peoples turned to
landlord’s protection
Constantine attempted to reinvigorate
empire with Christianity
New capital moved to Constantinople in East,
worsened West collapse
Great trade city
Byzantine Empire continued
traditions, Roman Law
Hellenistic
Religion emerged in vacuum of political disorder: stress devotion,
piety, spiritual concerns beyond earth
Buddhism
India: minority religion, monks helps others gain nirvana
China: Mayahana, Buddha as savior, ritual
Buddhism frowned on by some Confucians- too otherworldly,
may distract honor to emperor
Buddhism women’s role since they believe women also have
souls- more equal
Syncretism: Chinese culture CHANGED Buddhist sayings
Example: “Husband supports wife”(Buddhist) became “Husband controls
wife” (trad Chinese)
Southeast Asia remained more traditional Buddhism
Emphasis on salvation, saints
Organization- similar to Roman gov
Conversion- Missionaries, conquest
Virtuous life of worship, fellowship, gentleness
Formal intellectual, theological foundation,
appealing to poor
Hope