Classical Conclusions:
Comparisons, Declines, & New Directions
Chapter 5
Pg. 98-117
Expansion & Integration
 Political,
territorial, & social integration
– China: centralization, common language
– India: Hinduism
– Mediterranean: weaker integration = more
complete fall?
Decline in China
 Characteristics
of decline:
– Nomadic invasions
– Reduced intellectual creativity
– Reduced government control
– Overburdened peasants
– Epidemics
 Postclassical
preview:
– Buddhism spreads, Daoism popularized
– Sui & Tang dynasties revive civilization
Decline in India
 Characteristics
 Least
of decline:
drastic due to vigor of trade & Hinduism
– Loss of central control
– Nomadic invasions
 Postclassical
preview:
– Arab armies in NW India
– Hinduism popularized
– Scientific & economic vigor decline
1 of 2
Decline in Rome
 Characteristics
 Most
of decline:
drastic due to lack of commonalities
– Weak emperors
– Epidemics
– Cultural decay
– Nomadic invasion
– Exceptions:
 Diocletian
 Constantine
2 of 2
Decline in Rome
 Postclassical
preview:
– East= continues as Byzantium, culturally
strong
– N. Af= power vacuum
– West= chaos, farmers offer land & labor to
landlords for protection
New Religious Map
 End
of classical period: rise & spread of
many major religions
– Invasions
– Epidemics
– Trade
 World
religions begin displacing
polytheistic & animistic faiths
Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism
 Buddhism
spread to East & SE Asia
while becoming increasingly:
– Led by monks
– Emotionally spiritual
– Artistic
– Organized
– Based on prayer & ritual
 Hinduism
& Daoism gained popularity
Spread of Buddhism
Spread of Christianity
 By 325 CE
 By 600 CE
1 of 2
Christianity, Islam
 Christianity=
beliefs & worship of Jesus
– 1 supreme God: trinity
– Spiritual dedication over worldly concerns
– Afterlife through belief, good deeds, rituals
– Equality of all believers
– Intolerance of other beliefs
2 of 2
Christianity, Islam
 Spread
due to disciples, organization, &
historical context
– Modeled Rome’s imperial government
– Organized Bible & missionaries
– Infrastructure made travel easy
 Significantly
 Islam
altered European culture
rises soon in postclassical era
Global Connections
 Civ’s
must face reviving institutions
 Societies
must react to new religions
 Civilization
continued to spread to
new societies
 International
contacts accelerated in
the wake of classical decline