Transcript The Classical Period

Chapter 5
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Decay set in around 180CE
declining population
Tax collection difficult
Quality of leadership declined
 disputes over succession
 pleasure seeking upper class
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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
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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
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 Example: “Husband supports wife”(Buddhist) became “Husband controls
wife” (trad Chinese)
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Southeast Asia remained more traditional Buddhism
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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