Silk
Roads
Started by large
Empires (ex. Roman,
Han, Kushan)
WEST
Mediterranean area
& Roman Empire
EXPORTED: glassware
Jewels, art, decorative items
EAST
Asia, India, China
Exported spices, fruits
silks
Discussion Question
0 1. What kind of economic advantage did the silk roads
create?
Religions
on the Silk
Roads
Provided rational
Explanation of
Good vs. evil
High ethical
standards
Manichaeism
Merchants, missionaries, & others
took advantage of the roads to spread
their beliefs
Christianity
Buddhism
Mediterranean
SW Asia Merchants
Basin
Missionaries
Paul of
Tarsus
Iran, C & SE
Asia, & China
Started by Mani Dualism
Hinduism
Merchants SE Asia
Spiritual
& Mariners (Vietnam &
Cambodia)
Very Devout,
Strict
Gregory
The Wonderworker
Light
Effected culture
(ex. Rajas)
Dark
Material
World
Discussion Questions
0 2. Based on your knowledge compare and contrast
any 2 of the following religions: Christianity,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Manichaesim.
Epidemic
Disease
Small pox, measles,
bubonic plague
Han Dynasty
Population
decline
In 400ce
Roman Empire
Economic
And Social Change
Trade declined &
Became regional
Population decline in 2nd
Century C.E.
Discussion Questions
0 3. In what ways did the network of trade routes called
the silk roads make life during the classical era
significantly different from life in the pre-classical
era?
China after
Han
Cultural Change
Confucian
Tradition
Lost
credibility
Epidemic Disease
Nomads migrated
Into China
Took up
Took
Agriculture
Chinese Married & settled
names Chinese
spouses
Left Confucianism toward
Buddhism & Daoism
Attracted by
migrants
already familiar
w/it from India
Becomes more
religious than
philosophical
Population declined
Political Problems
Lost ability
To maintain
order
Central gov’t
dissolves
Generals ruled
regions
Factions
within
ranks
(marriage
alliances)
Land
holdings
The Fall of the
Roman Empire
Internal
Decay
Barracks
Emperors
26 Generals
Diocletian
Died Violently
Divide Rome
East & West
Anatolia, Syria
Egypt & Greece
Constantine
Son of Co-ruler
Gaul, Spain
Britain
N. Africa
Four Official Tetrarchs
Stabilize Economy
Rome didn’t
Entirely fall
Byzantine on the East
External Threats
Intermittent
Hostilities
w/Sasanids Visigoths
Huns
(ScandiPossble
Cousins
navia & RuOf Xiogn
ssia)
Attila
Warrior king
New capital
Constantinople
Reunited Eastern
& Western Rome
Still faced external
threats
Adopted many
Roman cultures
Agriculture
army laws Christianity
Threatened
others
Forced to
Move into
Roman
Boundaries
Moved around
at will
Discussion Questions
0 4. How did the nomadic peoples of Eurasia (Visigoths,
Huns) impeded and/or contribute to the development
of the silk roads?
Cultural Change in
Roman Empire
Christianity
St. Augustine
Prominent Constantine Theodosius
survivor of
Rome
Official Religion
Converted
Bishop of Hippo in
To Christianity
Africa
Became
legitimate
religion
Edict of Milan
Converted to
Christianity
Allowed Christianity
in Rome openly
Made Christianity
intellectually
respectable against
other philosophies
& religions
Helped change a
religion to a
church
New
Testament
Institutional
Church
Hierarchy
Had more
power
Pope & Patriarchs
Bishops
Under Roman
turmoil officials
Claim to Took care
wanted to
of diocese
be the
standardize
Disputes
descendant
teachings
Arise, deof St. Peter
cide official
doctrine
After several
debates
Became spiritual
leader of
Christian
Council of
4th c.-27 short community
Nicea and
writings were
Chalcedon
recognized as
authoritative
Discuss Jesus’
nature
New Testament
Both human
& divine
Christianity survives
Imperial authority
& will serve a cultural
Unification from many
lands
Discussion Questions
0 5. The textbook states “Christianity was perhaps the
most prominent survivor of the Western Roman
Empire.” What does this statement mean? How did
Christianity manage to survive and thrive after the
collapse of the empire?