Midterm Review: Foundations
Unit
Through 600 C.E.
1. Hunter Gatherers
Social – Lived in small bands; very few social distinctions
during this period.
Political – In permanent dwellings, in many cases there
were rulers and craftsmen who organized the dwellings.
Religious – Ritual observances; buried the dead with
ceremony.; cave art showed ritual observances and
Venus figurines represented fertility. This showed the
ritual observances of Cro-magnon man.
Intellectual – Systematic in their migrations, i.e. wore
disguises (animal skins)
Economic – Because of the life of the hunter gatherer,
there was no private property and no economic system.
Venus Figurine
1. Transition to Agriculture
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The neolithic era and the transition to agriculture
The origins of agriculture
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Neolithic era; new stone age; refined tools and agriculture
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From about twelve thousand to six thousand years ago
Neolithic women began systematic cultivation of plants
Neolithic men began to domesticate animals
Early agriculture around 9000 B.C.E.
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Agriculture emerged independently in several parts of the world
Merchants, migrants, and travelers spread food knowledge
Slash-and-burn cultivation involved frequent movement of farmers
2. What role did the environment play in the development of
human society? How did the development of human
society affect the environment and technological change?
• Early societies built around major river systems.
• Early cultivators built reservoirs, dug canals and
established irrigation systems
• Establishment of agricultural societies with surplus.
• Surplus allowed for specialization of labor
• The acquisition of private property brought about
distinctions in class and patriarchal society.
1. Civilization (3200 to 2350
B.C.E.)
Social – Agriculture allowed for the specialization of labor,
increased population and the establishment of villages
and ultimately cities. Class system emerged, including
slaves; establishment of a patriarchal society
Political – Establishment of city-states that directed not just
cities but outlying areas. Kings and nobles ruled
Religious – temples were built; priests, public rituals
Intellectual – professional craftsmen, writing systems were
developed.
Technology – iron metallurgy, bronze metallurgy, the wheel,
shipbuilding
Economic – Based on agriculture; Market places provided
a center for long distance trade.
3. Basic Features of Early Complex Societies:
Mesopotamia
(3200-586 B.C.E.)
Mesopotamian Civilization
• 3000 BCE
– Settlement within the fertile crescent
increases
– Contact with other cultures in the area
• Sumerian cities develop
– Concentrating in the southern regions of
the alluvial plains of the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
• Why?
– Most fertile soil
Mesopotamian Civilization
• 2800 – 2370 BCE –
Sumerian kingdom
building
– Dominant force in
Mesopotamia
– Created cuneiform
– Started as
pictograms
– Used to record daily
life
• Creation of Citystates
• Establishment of set
codes of laws
Mesopotamian Civilization
• Religion takes important role
in life
• Deities are in human forms
and represent some natural
phenomenon
• No separation of Church
and state
• Ziggurats – religious centers
• Humans were subservient to
the Gods
• Gods are hard to predict
• Art of Divination
Epic of Gilgamesh
• The Epic of Gilgamesh recounts the adventures of
Gilgamesh, king of the ancient Mesopotamian city of
Uruk, in his quest for immortality.
• Composed about 2000 bce on clay tablets. One of
the oldest literary works.
• The poem is probably Sumerian in origin but was
absorbed and adapted by succeeding eastern
Mediterranean civilizations.
• In the first prose passage, the goddess Ishtar tries to
entice Gilgamesh to marry her; Gilgamesh’s rejection
enrages Ishtar and she seeks revenge.
• In the second passage, the sage Utnapishtim reveals
that the gods once attempted to exterminate
humankind with a great flood.
Gilgamesh
Mesopotamian Civilization
• Akkadians rise to dominance
• Semitic speaking people from
“upstream”
• Kingdom centered at Akkad
– Near the site of the later city of Babylon
• 2,300 BCE – Sargon conquers the
Sumerians
• Establishes a 200 year empire
• External attack and internal weakness
end the dynasty
Mesopotamian Civilization
• Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE)
– Created most comprehensive and best
preserved code of laws
– Possibly the first written fully codified laws
Ancient Egypt
• Centered along the Nile River and its
tributaries
• Nile River is 4,000 miles long flowing
from Khartoum to the Mediterranean
• Flood cycle of the Nile helped shape
ancient Egyptian life
• Protected by location
• Originally divided into two kingdoms
– Upper Egypt – river valley
– Lower Egypt – river delta
Ancient Egypt
• Menes unified Upper and Lower Egypt
in approx. 3000 BCE, establishing the
first Egyptian Dynasty
• Capital located at Memphis
• King or Pharaoh was considered divine
• Entire society was organized under the
Pharaoh – trade, labor, religion…
Ancient Egypt
• Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BCE)
• Adopted the pictograph from from the
Mesopotamians
– Hieroglyphics
• Had intricate religious and afterlife detail
• Instituted magnificent burial practices to
evidence the power of the Pharaoh
Indus Valley civilization
3. Basic Features of Early Complex Societies:
Indus Valley – Harappan Society (2500 B.C.E. to
500 B.C.E.)
Geographical – Like the Nile, the Indus draws its waters from rain and melting
snow in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan Mountains.
Social – Like in Mesopotamia and Egypt, agricultural surplus in India increased
food supply, stimulated population, encouraged specialized labor, and
established cities.
Social - The Aryans brought the caste system to Harappan society; patriarchal
(Lawbook of Manu encouraged men to treat women with respect and
women to know their place) By end of the Vedic age, the merging of Aryan
and Dravidian traditions generated a distinctive Indian society.
Political – No evidence is available concerning the Harappan political system
although ruins of structures indicate governmental centers.
Religious – The Aryans (Indo European nomads) brought the Rig Veda
(polytheistic hymns) to India. As centuries passed Dravidian ideas were
introduced through the Upanishads which introduced the idea of
reincarnation.
Economic - traded wheat, barley, and cotton with Mesopotamia
Indus Valley River Society
3. Basic Features of Early Complex Societies:
Shang China (1766 to 1122 B.C.E.)
Geographical_ The Yellow River provided the water source at the high plateau
of the Tibet. Loess soil carried by the river’s water produced the “yellow”
color. Extensive flooding. Loess provided rich soil, soft and easy to
work.
Social – a privileged class of hereditary aristocrats, small class of free artisans
and craftsmen, merchants and traders, peasant class. Women worked
mostly in indoor activities, i.e. wine making, silkworms, etc. Society was
patriarchal.
Political – Ruled by kings who used the agricultural surplus to build the military
into thousands. Also, used surplus to support military allies who could
help them. Shang China included advisors, ministers, craftsmen, and
metal smiths who helped Shang rulers spread their influence.
Religious – No official state religion but there was Veneration of ancestors –
worship of those who had passed on
Intellectual – Oracle Bones were used to tell the future. Earliest form of
Chinese writing was the pictograph.
Technological – Bronze metallurgy transformed China during this period.
Horses, horse-drawn chariots; they used the vehicles to conquer the Xia
and other adversaries.
Economic Wheat cultivation, bronze and iron metallurgy, horse-drawn chariots
and wheeled vehicles made their way from SW Asia to China.-
Shang Dynasty
3. Basic Features of Early Complex Societies:
MesoAmerica (1200 B.C.E. to 700 C.E.)
Geographical – By 9500 B.C.E. Migrants from Siberia had reached the
southernmost part of South America—more than 10, 566 miles from the
Bering land bridge.
Social – Large class of priests and kings, merchants from the ruling and noble
classes, peasants and slaves provided agricultural and physical labor for
the construction of cities and monuments.
Political – The Maya organized themselves politically into small city-kingdoms.
Mayan kings and their families ruled. There were many conflicts between
the kingdoms.
Religious – Mayan religion was tied to agriculture. The Mayan people thought
that the gods maintained agricultural cycle. Human sacrifice involved
bloodletting.
Intellectual – Mayan priests studied astronomy and mathematics and
developed a calendar and writing system. Mayan script included ideological
elements and symbols for syllables; creation of huge human heads
(Olmecs)
Technological – They built temples, palaces, pyramids, and monuments.
Economic – produce maize, cotton, cacao beans
Olmecs and Mayans
4. Basic Features of Classical Empires: China
(500 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.) Shang, Qin, Han
Social – Distinctions between the rich and poor increased during Han dynasty.
Wealthy individuals wore silk, leather shoes, and gold while dining on pork,
fish, and wine. The poor lived on rice.
Political – Centralized imperial bureaucracy . China was divided into
administrative provinces and districts and was governed by officers of the
central government.
Religious – Mandate of Heaven
Intellectual –Confucianism advocated moral, ethical, and political character and
practicality; he established cultivation of high moral standards. He
emphasized filial piety or children’s respect for parents and family elders.
Daoism – retreat from engagement in the world of politics and
administration. This was in contradiction to Confucianism. Legalists didn’t
care about morality or ethics. They argued that the state should be
strengthened at all costs. Ban Zhao Admonitions for Women
Technological – Roads, defensive walls, common script was established during
this time
Economic – Iron industry moved beyond agriculture to include pots, stoves,
armor; Han invented paper; Manufacture of silk; high taxes forced many
small landowners to sell their property or sell themselves into slavery. Land
ended up in the hands of the rich.
Great Wall of China
4. Basic Features of Classical Empires: India (563
B.C.E. to 550 C.E.) Mauryan Dynasty – Gupta
Dynasty
Social – Caste System: brahmins (priests), kshatriyas (warriors and
aristocrats), vaishyas (peasants and merchants), and shudras
(serfs); Patriarchal dominance; child marriage was common
Political – Chandragupta Maurya brought centralized, unified
government to the subcontinent of India for a short period, but after
the fall of Maurya’s empire, local rulers formed a series of kingdoms
that brought order to large regions.
Religious – Jainism (inspired by Upanishads) Everything in the
universe possesses a soul, no recognition of social heirarchies;
Buddhism, Hinduism
Intellectual –
Technological – roads between Persia and India, cotton, aromatics,
black pepper, pearls, and gems were principal exports. Horses
came from western lands, silk from China
4. Basic Features of Classical Empires: Classical
Greek Society (220 B.C.E. to 323 B.C.E.)
Social – Patriarchal society. Greek women were under the authority of their
fathers, husbands, or sons. Women could not own land but they did
operate small businesses. Sparta was an exception. Women were active
participants in festivals and contest. Literacy was common among upper
class Greek women. There were aristocratic families, slaves made up of
free Greeks who could not pay their debts.
Political – city-state or polis; There was no centralized, imperial state even
though there were many colonies throughout the Mediterranean. Colonies
relied on their own resources.
Religious – polytheistic (Greek deities)
Intellectual – Olympic games; They learned astronomy, science, math,
medicine, and magic from the Babylonians and geometry and medicine
from the Egyptians. They adapted Phoenician alphabet. Socrates and
Plato – see video. Christian and Islamic theologians tried to harmonize their
religious beliefs with philosophical views of Plato and Aristotle. Greek drama
See video on Plato.
Economic – Colonies encouraged trade. The cultivation of olives and grapes
for wine
4. Basic Features of Classical Empires: Classical
Roman Society (753 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.)
Social – Patriarchal society. Greek women were under the authority of their
fathers, husbands, or sons. Women could not own land but they did
operate small businesses. Sparta was an exception. Women were active
participants in festivals and contest. Literacy was common among upper
class Greek women. There were aristocratic families, slaves who were
originally made up of free Greeks who could not pay their debts. See video
on Venice.
Political – republic made up of consuls and a Senate; consuls were elected by
wealthy aristocrats
Religious – polytheistic (Greek deities)
Intellectual – Olympic games; They learned astronomy, science, math,
medicine, and magic from the Babylonians and geometry and medicine
from the Egyptians. They adapted Phoenician alphabet. Socrates and
Plato – see video. Christian and Islamic theologians tried to harmonize their
religious beliefs with philosophical views of Plato and Aristotle. Greek drama
(see class video)
Technological – road, aqueducts, public works projects
Economic – Colonies encouraged trade. Rome relied on the agriculture of
other places, i.e. olives and Grapes from Greece, wine and horses from
Spain. The Roman military and naval power kept the seas safe.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through
600 C.E.: Hinduism, the World’s Oldest Religion
The classical theory of the origins of Hinduism traces the
religion's roots to the Indus valley civilization 4000 to
2200 B. C. E.
The development of Hinduism was influenced by many
invasions over thousands of years. The major influences
occurred when light-skinned, nomadic "Aryan" IndoEuropean tribes invaded Northern India from the steppes
of Russia and Central Asia.
The Aryans brought with them their religion of Vedism.
These beliefs mingled with the more advanced,
indigenous Indian native beliefs.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems
through 600 C.E.: Hinduism
The primary sacred texts of Hinduism are the Vedas, a
series of hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient
India.The Rig Veda (a.k.a. Rigveda) may be the oldest of
the four.
A short poetic work called the Bhagavad Gita introduced
the concept of the caste system and salvation.
The Upanishads deal with Vedic philosophy and form the
conclusions of each of the Vedas. "They elaborate on
how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate
truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation,
as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects
of a persons' actions."
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems
through 600 C.E.: Hinduism
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Hinduism has commonly been viewed in the west as a
polytheistic religion - one which worships multiple
deities: gods and goddesses.
• Although a widespread belief, this is not particularly
accurate. Some have viewed it as a monotheistic
religion, because it recognizes only one supreme God:
the principle of Brahman. The entire universe is seen
as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the
universe and who transcends it as well.
• Strictly speaking, most forms of Hinduism recognize a
single deity, and other gods and goddesses as facets,
forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God.
• Hinduism spread to Asia via the Silk Road.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through
600 C.E.: Buddhism
• Originated in India
• Siddhartha Gautama (born 563 B.C.E.) left his
comfortable and elaborate life in the foothills of the
Himalayas for an ascetic, wandering life. He wanted to
understand the phenomenon of suffering.
• According to legend, after 49 days of meditation, he
received enlightenment.
• He understood the problem of suffering and how humans
could escape it. At that point, he became Buddha, or the
“enlightened one.”
• He attracted disciples who became known as monks.
• They traveled on foot, preaching Buddha’s doctrine.
Siddhartha Gautama
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through
600 C.E.: Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths
All life involves suffering.
Desire is the cause of suffering.
Elimination of desire means the elimination of suffering.
A disciplined life brings the elimination of desire.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through
600 C.E.: Buddhism
A reduction in the desire for material goods and other
world attractions result in a detachment from the world
itself.
This would lead to personal salvation and an escape
from the cycle of incarnation and attainment of nirvana,
a state of perfect spiritual independence.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through
600 C.E.: Buddhism
Early preachers and monks avoided the use of Sanskrit,
the literary language of the Veda that brahmins used in
favor of the vernacular.
This reached a larger audience.
Ashoka Maurya embraced Buddhism and helped spread
the faith throughout India.
Buddhism attracted merchants, artisans, and others of
low rank. It appealed to many because of its disregard
for social classes.
Buddhism spread to China via merchants on the Silk
Road.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Judaism (Origins)
– Monotheism, or the worship of one god is attributed to
the Hebrews, or Jews.
– The Hebrews trace their origins back to Abraham who
migrated from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan on
the eastern shores of the Mediterranean about 2000
B.C.E
– Because of famine in Canaan, the descendants of
Abraham migrated to Egypt, which had escaped
famine.
– The Hebrews remained there about 430 years, part of
this time serving as slaves under the pharaoh.
– The Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses
was marked by the giving of the Ten Commandments .
– Returning to the land of Canaan, or Palestine, they
established a theocracy, or a government ruled by
religious leaders.
Abraham’s
Journey
Moses and the
Exodus from
Egypt to Canaan
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Judaism (Basic Beliefs)
– The heart of Judaism was a covenant, or agreement,
between God and Abraham in which Yahweh would be
their god and the Jews would be his people.
– The history of this covenant relationship became the
basis of the Torah, or the Hebrew scriptures.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Judaism (A Brief History)
– The Hebrews established the kingdom of Israel about 1000 B.C.E.
under Saul.
– During the rule of Saul’s successor, David, Jerusalem became the
capital is Israel.
– The kingdom weakened under David’s successor, Solomon,
because of the heavy taxes he imposed.
– Eventually dividing into two kingdoms, the Northern kingdom of
Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C.E.
– Its inhabitants scattered throughout the far reaches of the
Assyrian empire, constituting the first Jewish diaspora or exile.
– The southern kingdom, called Judah, endured until 586 B.C.E.
– Conquered by the Chaldeans (from the same territory as the
Babylonian empire, the people of Judah were carried off into
captivity into Babylon.
– When Cyrus conquered the Chaldeans and allowed the Jews to
return to Palestine 70 years later, Palestine remained under
Persian rule until it became into the Roman empire in 63 C.E.
– In 132 C.E. after they rebelled against Roman rule, the Jews were
spread throughout the Roman Empire in a second diaspora.
Division of Israel
into northern and
southern
kingdoms
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Judaism
– Unlike other religions of the period, notably Buddhism and
Christianity, Judaism was not a missionary religion.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Christianity (Origins)
• A key element of early Judaism was the belief that God had
promised to send the Jews a Messiah or a savior form their sins.
• Some of the early Jews felt that promise was fulfilled when Jesus
was born in the Roman province of Judea about 4 to 6 B.C.E.
• As an adult, Jesus and his 12 disciplines went throughout the land of
Judea, preaching the forgiveness of sins.
• Jesus was also called Christ meaning, “annointed.”
• When Jesus’ teachings were feared as a threat to Roan and Jewish
authority, cooperation between both Jewish and Roman leaders led
to his trial and death by crucifixion.
• After Jesus’ execution, his followers strongly felt his presence and
proclaimed that he had triumphed over death by rising from the
grave.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Christianity (Origins)
• Following Jesus’ teachings, Christians compiled a body
of writing about Jesus’ life, reports of his followers’
works, and letters outlining Christian beliefs.
• Christians referred to this body of writing as the New
Testament. It became the holy book of Christianity.
• The principal figure in the expansion of Christianity was
Paul of Tarsus, a Jew from Anatolia who preached his
faith throughout the Roman empire.
• Paul’s doctrine promised a glorious future for those who
conscientiously observed the faith.
• Paul traveled widely throughout Greece, Anatolia, Syria
and Palestine
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Christianity
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Several Roman emperors considered Christianity a threat to their rule.
Emperor Diocletian persecuted the Christian church, but it continued to
grow in spite of this.
In 313, the Roman Emperor Constantine change the position of earlier
Roman emperors.
In the Edict of Milan, Constantine permitted the practice of Christianity in the
Roman empire.
Christianity became the official religion of the Roman empire in 381 under
the Emperor Theodosius.
After its adoption as the state church of Rome, Christianity began
developing an organization under the leadership of the bishop of Rome or
pope.
Christianity gained popularity because of its appeal to all social classes,
especially the poor.
Women received new status as Christianity taught that men and women
were equal in matters of faith.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Christianity spread to northern Europe,
the Balkans, and Russia.
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Confucianism
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Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.) and his school
Confucius
– Educator and political advisor
– Sayings were compiled in the Analects by his disciples
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Confucian ideas
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Key Confucian values
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Fundamentally moral and ethical in character
Thoroughly practical: how to restore political and social order
Concentrated on formation of junzi--"superior individuals"
Edited and compiled the Zhou classics for his disciples to study
Ren--a sense of humanity, kindness, benevolence
Li--a sense of propriety, courtesy, respect, deference to elders
Xiao--filial piety, familial obligation
Cultivate personal morality and junzi for bringing order to China
Mencius (372-289 B.C.E.), spokesman for the Confucian school
– Believed in the goodness of human nature (ren)
– Advocated government by benevolence and humanity
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Xunzi (298-238 B.C.E.) had a less positive view of human nature
– Believed that humans selfishly pursue own interests
– Preferred harsh social discipline to bring order to society
– Advocated moral education and good public behavior
5. Basic Features of World Belief Systems through 600
C.E.: Daoism (see Taylor and Katie’s video)
• Daoism featured prominent critics of Confucian activism
• Preferred philosophical reflection and introspection, a life in harmony
with nature
• Laozi, founder of Daoism, allegedly wrote the Daodejing (Classic of
the Way and of Virtue)
• Zhuangzi (compendium of Daoist philosophy)
• The Dao--the way of nature, the way of the cosmos
– Elusive concept: an eternal principle governing all the workings of the
world
– Dao is passive and yielding, does nothing yet accomplishes everything
– Humans should tailor their behavior to the passive and yielding nature of
the Dao
– Ambition and activism had only brought the world to chaos
– Doctrine of wuwei: disengagement from worldly affairs, simple life
– Advocated small, self-sufficient communities
• Political implications: served as counterbalance to Confucian
activism
6. Causes for the Decline of Empire: Han China
• Heavy taxes levied on peasants
• The decline in the interest in Confucian
intellectual goals.
• Poor harvests.
• Population declines from epidemic disease
• Social unrest, i.e. Yellow Turban Uprising
• Weak emperors and the increased influence of
army generals
• Unequal land distribution
• A decline in trade
• Invasions from nomadic tribes
6. Causes for the Decline of Empire: Western
Roman Empire
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Ineffective later emperors
The influence of army generals
The decline of trade
Increasingly high taxes
Decreased money flow into empire as conquests of new
territory ceased.
Population declines as a result of epidemic disease
Poor harvests
Unequal land distribution
Social and moral decay and disinterest of the elite
classes
Recruitment of non-Romans in the Roman army
Vastness of the empire, making it difficult to rule
Outside invasions
7. What was the impact of the Huns in India?
• The White Huns, a nomadic people from
central Asia, crossed the Hindu Kush
mountains into India.
• For the first half of the 5th century, the
Guptas were able to fight off the Huns.
• By the end of the fifth century, the Huns
had established several kingdoms in
northern and western India.
• This helped aid the decentralization and
establishment of regional kingdoms in
India.
Germanic and Hun Invasions
7. What was the impact of the Germanic invasions
and the Huns in Western Europe during the late
classical period?
In the 5th century, nomadic Huns began migrating
south and west in search of better pasturelands.
The movement of the Huns exerted pressure on
Germanic tribes who already lived around the
border of the Roman Empire.
These tribes, in turn, overran the Roman borders.
By 425, several Germanic kingdoms were set up
within the empire.
By 476, the last western Roman emperor was
replaced by a Germanic ruler from the tribe of
the Visigoths, settled agriculturalists.
7. What was the impact of the Germanic invasions
and the Huns in Western Europe during the late
classical period?
Under the leadership of Attila the Hun, the
Huns achieved hegemony over several
well-organized rivals by using superior
weaponry such as the composite bow and
a well-organized system of taxation.
Supplementing their wealth by plundering
wealthy Roman cities to the south, the
Huns maintained the loyalties of a diverse
number of tributary tribes.
Both the Germanic and Hun invasions were
instrumental forces in the dissolution of the
Roman empire.
8. Explain the exchange of goods and ideas on the
Silk Roads.
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Trade routes
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Overland trade routes linked China to Roman empire
Sea lanes joined Asia, Africa, and Mediterranean basin into one
network
Trade goods
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Silk and spices traveled west
Central Asia produced large horses and jade, sold in China
Roman empire provided glassware, jewelry, artworks,
perfumes, textiles
The organization of long-distance trade
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Merchants of different regions handled long-distance trade in
stages
On the seas, long-distance trade was dominated by different
empires
Silk Road
8. Religion on the Silk Road
– Buddhism in central Asia and China
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First present in oasis towns of central Asia along
silk roads
Further spread to steppe lands
Foreign merchants as Buddhists in China, first
century B.C.E.
Popularity of monasteries and missionaries, fifth
century C.E.
– Buddhism and Hinduism spread to
Southeast Asia
8. Religion on the Silk Road
– Christianity in Southwest Asia follows the
trade routes
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Sizable communities in Mesopotamia and Iran,
second century C.E.
Sizable number of converts in southwest Asia until
the seventh century C.E.
Their ascetic practices influenced Christian
practices in the Roman empire
Nestorians emphasized human nature of Jesus,
fifth century C.E.
Nestorian communities in central Asia, India, and
China by seventh century C.E.
8. Religion on the Silk Road
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The spread of Manichaeism; best example of
religion spread on silk roads
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Mani and Manichaeism
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Prophet Mani, a Zoroastrian, drew influence from Christianity
and Buddhism
Dualism: perceived a cosmic struggle between light and
darkness, good and evil
Offered means to achieve personal salvation
Ascetic lifestyle and high ethical standards
Differentiation between the "elect" and the "hearers"
Spread of Manichaeism; appealed to merchants
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Attracted converts first in Mesopotamia and east
Mediterranean region
Appeared in all large cities of Roman empire, third century
C.E.