Transcript Decline of the Classical Civilizations

Decline of the Classical
Civilizations
Chapter 5
Between 200 and 600 CE all three
classical civilizations collapsed
 Germanic invaders disrupt the Roman
Empire
 The Huns invaded Rome

◦ Another Hun Group disrupted the Gupta Empire
in India
Fall of Classical Civs
Han China/Roman Empire suffered from
severe internal weaknesses well before
the invasions
 By 100 CE Han China is in serious decline
 Han and Roman share many
characteristics of decline
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Political ineffectiveness
 Inability to push back invaders
 Revolution/Civil War
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◦ Daoists: Yellow Turbans
Peasant unrest
 Epidemics
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China does revive itself towards the end
of the 6th century
◦ Sui Dynasty
◦ Tang Dynasty (618 CE)
China, post-classical

India was always a REGIONAL kingdom,
whereas the Emperor shared power
with local princes
◦ This control was declining by the mid-5th
century
◦ Invasions
◦ Regional Princes, the Rajput, controlled the
small states of India
Indian Culture continues to evolve
 Affected by Muslim armies after 600 CE
India
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After 180 CE, Roman Empire fell into
disrepair
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Corruption
Declining population
Declining tax revenue
Disputes over succession to the throne
 Intervention of the army
◦ Plagues
 International trade…
Roman
Decline
◦ Economic
Decline
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DECLINE OF THE UPPER CLASS
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Influence
Creativity
Deadening effect of authoritarian rule
Sole interest in luxury
Roman Collapse
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As conditions worsened, as economic life
became more precarious
◦ Farmers clustered under the protection of large
landowners
 Offer food, work, shelter, and SAFETY
◦ Local Stability, but weakened the power of the
Emperor
◦ Cities SHRINK in size
In the West…

Diocletian (284-305 CE) tries to improve
the Empire
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Improve administration
Improve tax collection
Worship Emperor as a GOD
Persecute Christians
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Constantine (312-337 CE)
◦ Set up second Capital City in the EAST to
regulate that side of the Empire more
effectively: Constantinople (the city of
Byzantium)
◦ Adopts Christianity to help unify the empire
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Decline was exacerbated by the Germanic
Invasions (which only totaled about 5% of
the Population)
◦ BUT…Rome was so weak…they were successful
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The final Roman Emperor was displaced in
476 CE
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Eastern portion of Empire: Centered on
Constantinople
◦ BYZANTINE EMPIRE
 Justinian (527-565 CE) tries to recapture heritage
of Rome
 Justinians Code: Codified Law
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Middle East: Parthian and Sassanid
empires serve as a bridge between
Mediterranean World and the East
Post-Classical Mediterranean
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North Africa: Regional Kingdoms
◦ Coptic Church: Egypt
◦ North African Christianity
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WESTERN EUROPE: Middle Ages
◦ Feudalism
◦ Regional Kingdoms