PERIOD 2: ORGANIZATION & REORGANIZATION OF HUMAN SOCIETIES, C. 600 BCE TO C. 600 CE
Key Concept 2.1 The Development & Codification of Religious & Cultural Traditions
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Codifications of existing religious traditions led to a bond among the people, ethical code to live by
A. Judaism developed - monotheism
a. Influenced by Mesopotamian culture and legal traditions
b. Conquered by political states, led to diaspora communities
B. Sanskrit scriptures formed Hinduism
New belief systems emerged and spread, often asserting universal truths
A. Buddhism
1. Developed out of Hinduism
2. Spread 1st through Mauryan emperor Ashoka, then through missionaries and merchants
B. Confucianism
1. Developed from teachings of late Zhou era philosopher Confucius
2. Sought to promote social harmony by outlining proper rituals and social relationships for all
people in China
C. Daoism
1. Developed from teachings of Laozi (Lao Tsu)
2. Focused on harmony, balance
3. Influence on Chinese culture: medical theories & practices, poetry, metallurgy, architecture
D. Christianity
1. Developed out of Judaism, initially rejected Roman & Hellenistic influences
2. Pax Romana allowed for rapid spread by missionaries/merchants throughout Afro-Eurasia
E. Greco-Roman philosophy and science
1. Logic & empirical observation
2. Nature of political power and hierarchy
Belief systems affected gender roles
A. Buddhism & Catholicism encouraged monastic life
B. Confucianism emphasized filial piety
Other religions/traditions continued parallel to written belief systems
A. Shamanism & animism
B. Ancestor veneration (know examples from Africa, Mediterranean region, East Asia, Andean areas)
Artistic expressions, including literature & drama, architecture, and sculpture
A. Literature & drama (Greek plays, Indian epics)
B. Indian, Greek, Mesoamerican, Roman architectural styles
C. Greco-Roman sculpture, syncretism with Buddhism
Key Concept 2.2 The Development of States & Empires
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Imperial societies grew dramatically
A. Southwest Asia: Persian empires (Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid)
B. East Asia: Qin & Han dynasties
C. South Asia: Maurya & Gupta empires
D. Mediterranean region: Phoenician & Greek colonies/colonization, Hellenistic & Roman Empires
E. Mesoameria: Teotihuacan, Maya city states
F. Andean South America: Moche
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Empires & states developed new techniques of imperial administration
A. Rulers created centralized governments, elaborate legal systems, & bureaucracies (China, Persian,
Rome, South Asia)
B. Imperial governments projected military power
1. Diplomacy
2. Developing supply lines
3. Building fortifications, defensive walls, and roads
4. Drawing new groups of military officers & soldiers from local population or conquered peoples
C. Much of the success of empires rested on their promotion of trade & economic integration
Unique social & economic dimensions developed in imperial societies
A. Cities functioned as centers of trade, religious rituals, political administration (Persepolis, Chang’an,
Pataliputra, Athens, Carthage, Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, Teotihuacan)
B. Social hierarchies: cultivators, laborers, slaves, artisans, merchants, elites, caste groups
C. Range of methods used to produce food, provide rewards for loyalty of elites (corvée, slavery, rents &
tributes, peasant communities, family & household production)
D. Patriarchy continued to shape gender and family relations
Roman, Han, Mauryan & Gupta declined, collapsed, transformed into successor empires or states
A. Empires caused environmental damge & generated social tensions & economic difficulties
1. Caused by excessive mobilization of resources
2. Concentrated too much wealth in the hands of the elites
3. Examples: deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, silted rivers
B. External problems resulted from the threat of invasions in frontier areas
Examples: between Han China & the Xiongnu, between Gupta & the White Huns, between Romans &
their northern/eastern neighbors
Key Concept 2.3 Emergence of Transregional Networks of Communication & Exchange
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Land/water routes basis for transregional trade, communication, & exchange networks in Eastern
Hemisphere
A. Factors shaped distinctive features of variety of trade routes: climate & location of routes, typical
trade goods, ethnicity of people involved
B. Examples: Eurasian Silk Roads, Trans-Saharan caravan routes, Indian Ocean sea lanes,
Mediterranean sea lanes
New technologies facilitated long-distance communication and exchange
A. New technologies (yokes, saddles, stirrups) permitted use of domesticated pack animals (horses, oxen,
llamas, camels), resulting in longer routes
B. New maritime technologies and advanced knowledge of monsoon winds stimulated exchanges along
routes from East Africa to East Asia (lateen sail, dhow ships)
Intangible trade networks
A. Spread of crops encouraged changes in farming & irrigation techniques (rice & cotton from South
Asia to the Middle East, qanat system)
B. Spread of disease pathogens diminished urban populations, contributed to decline of some empires
(Rome, Han)
C. Religious & cultural traditions were transformed as they spread
1. Christianity
2. Hinduism
3. Buddhism