AP World History
Chapter 5
The Classical Period:
Directions, Diversities, and Declines by 500 C.E.
China Decline
• Han Dynasty
– decline ca. 100 C.E.
– Daoism and Buddhism
gain popularity
• Yellow Turbans
– Invasions from nomads
(Hsiung- nu)
– Political
decentralization
• Sui Dynasty
• Tang
– from 618 C.E.
– Continuity
China Decline
Sui Dynasty (589 CE)
- reestablish order in
China
- Confucian culture/
traditions kept by the
elite classes
- Invading nomads
settled and assimilated
into Chinese culture
India Decline
• Invasions from 600 C.E.
– Invaders from central
steppes (500 CE to 600 CE)
– Gupta empire destroyed
• Fragmentation
– Rajput
• Replaced centralized
rule of Guptas
• Buddhism declined
• Hinduism
– worship of Devi popular
Decline and Fall in Rome
•
Leadership
-weak emperors
Plagues
•
•
•
Change from republican values to
hedonism
Diocletian (284–305 C.E.)
-emperor worship
Decline in trade
-
Small landowners vs. large landowners
Decline in urban populations
- Conflict with large Christian community
- Constantine (312-337 C.E.)
- Constantinople
- Converts to Christianity
Two Empires
Eastern
• Population
– Greek
• Constantinople
• Byzantine Empire
• Justinian (527–565 C.E.)
– Justinian Code
• Thrived and continued to
trade
Western
• Population
– Latin, Germanic
• Rome
• decline, vulnerable
Western Europe
• Centralized government
replaced by allegiances to
Germanic kings
Contributing to Fall of Rome
• Middle East
– Parthian Empire
• Sassanids
– from 227 C.E.
– Zoroastrianism
– North Africa
• Augustine
– bishop of Hippo
– Coptic church
The New Religious Map
• Common Features
– spiritual focus
– Afterlife
– emerge in period of political
instability
• Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism
• Buddhism
– changes as it spreads
– Bodhisattvas
– Nirvana
• Mahayana
– China, Korea, Japan
– minority religion
Christianity
•
Institutional church
– Roman influence
– Papacy
– Bishops
•
Jesus of Nazareth
– Salvation
– Spread
– Paul
•
Doctrine
– trinity
•
Monasticism
– Benedict of Nursia Rule
•
Women
– spiritual equals of men