Transcript C 12: Cross Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads

C 12: Cross Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads
Hellenistic era as stage for
Silk Road Boom?
Why safe to travel now
during the Classic Era?
The Silk Road: 200 BCE – 300 CE
Products?
From East Asia:
Ginger, cinnamon, silk
From South Asia:
Pepper, sesame oil
From Central Asia:
From South East Asia:
Clove, nutmeg, mace
From the
Mediterranean:
Glassware, jewelry,
Textiles, pottery
Horses, jade
Effects of this Boom in Trade:
Economic activities become more sophisticated and productive
cultural exchange (art, language, religion)/ role of oasis towns
spread of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity
Manichaeism (Best example of religious syncretism along Silk Road)
spread of disease weakened Han and Roman empires in particular
reduction in trade with collapse
Manichaeism
Elements of: Zoroastrianism (Zarathustra), Christianity (Jesus) and
Buddhism (Buddha)
Prophet Mani (216-272 CE): a prophet for all of humanity
Dualism and cosmic struggle (strong rationale for presence of good and evil)
Personal salvation
Strong missionary component
Ascetic lifestyle (no marriage, no sex, no alcohol)
High ethical standards
Manichaeism Priests (3rd – 7th CE)
Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity:
200 BCE -400 CE
Epidemics in the Han and Roman
Empires
Chinese Population, 0600 CE
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
c. 0 c. c. c.
CE 200 400 600
CE CE CE
Millions
Conrad- Demarest?
Roman Population, 0400 CE
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
c. 0 CE c. 200 c. 400
CE
Millions
Collapse of the Han Dynasty:
Internal Decay and External Pressures
Spread of Epidemic Disease
Sets the Stage……
Internal Decay:
Generals assume authority,
reduce Emperor to puppet figure
Marriage alliances led to
conflict
 Continued problem of land
distribution
 disease
 Yellow Turban Uprising 184CE
200 CE Han Dynasty abolished,
replaced by 3 kingdoms
External Pressures:
Immigration of northern
nomads increases
Collapse of the Han Dynasty:
Internal Decay and External Pressures
Effects?
sinicization of
nomadic peoples
(adoption of
sedentary lifestyle,
adoption of Chinese
names, dress,
intermarriage
rise in Buddhism
and Daoism
(Confucianism loses
credibility: WHY?)
 disintegration into
regional states
Collapse of the Roman Empire:
Internal Decay and External Pressures
Internal Decay:
Tetrarchs?
Role of Constantine?
Constantine r. 313-337 CE
Diocletian r. 284-305 CE
 Barracks Emperors
 Epidemics
 Disintegration of Imperial Economy
 Regional Self Sufficiency favored
External Pressures:
 Nature of barbarian
relationship with Roman
Empire during times of
stability?
Visigoths sacked
Rome 410CE
 Attila the Hun
(Died 453CE)
 Germanic nomads
 Establish Germanic
Emperor in 476 CE
(Odovacer)
Germanic invasions and the fall of the
Western Roman empire: 450-476 CE
Effects?
Roman Empire survives another
1000 years as the Byzantine Empire
nomadic groups build successor
states in the West
Christianity survives
Edict of Milan 313 CE?
Constantine’s Conversion
Council of Nicea 325 CE?
(Consensus on doctrine)
 Emperor Theodosius proclaimed
Christianity the official religion of
the Roman empire
pope as spiritual leader of
church in the West