Decline of the Classical
Civilizations
AP WORLD
Fall of Classical Civs
• Between 200 and 600 CE all three
classical civilizations collapsed
• Germanic invaders disrupt the Roman
Empire
• The Huns invaded Rome
• Another Hun Group disrupted the Gupta
Empire in India
• Han China/Roman Empire suffered from
severe internal weaknesses well before
the invasions
• By 100 CE Han China is in serious
decline
• Han and Roman share many
characteristics of decline
• Political ineffectiveness
• Inability to push back invaders
• Revolution/Civil War
• Daoists: Yellow Turbans
• Peasant unrest
• Epidemics
China, post-classical
• China does revive itself towards the end
of the 6th century
• Sui Dynasty
• Tang Dynasty (618 CE)
India
• India was always a REGIONAL kingdom,
whereas the Emperor shared power
with local princes
• This control was declining by the mid-5th
century
• Invasions
• Regional Princes, the Rajput, controlled the
small states of India
• Indian Culture continues to evolve
• Affected by Muslim armies after 600 CE
Roman Decline
• After 180 CE, Roman fell into disrepair
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Corruption
Declining population
Declining tax revenue
Disputes over succession to the throne
• Intervention of the army
• Plagues
• International trade…
• Economic Decline
Roman Collapse
• DECLINE OF THE UPPER CLASS
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Influence
Creativity
Deadening effect of authoritarian rule
Sole interest in luxury
In the West…
• As conditions worsened, as economic
life became more precarious
• Farmers clustered under the protection of
large landowners
• Offer food, work, shelter, and SAFETY
• Local Stability, but weakened the power of
the Emperor
• Cities SHRINK in size
• Diocletian (284-305 CE) tries to improve
the Empire
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Improve administration
Improve tax collection
Worship Emperor as a GOD
Persecute Christians
• Constantine (312-337 CE)
• Set up second Capital City in the EAST to
regulate that side of the Empire more
effectively: Constantinople (the city of
Byzantium)
• Adopts Christianity to help unify the empire
• Decline was exacerbated by the
Germanic Invasions (which only totaled
about 5% of the Population)
• BUT…Rome was so weak…they were
successful
• The final Roman Emperor was displaced
in 476 CE
Post-Classical Mediterranean
• Eastern portion of Empire: Centered on
Constantinople
• BYZANTINE EMPIRE
• Justinian (527-565 CE) tries to recapture
heritage of Rome
• Justinians Code: Codified Law
• Middle East: Parthian and Sassanid
empires serve as a bridge between
Mediterranean World and the East
• North Africa: Regional Kingdoms
• Coptic Church: Egypt
• North African Christianity
• WESTERN EUROPE: Middle Ages
• Feudalism
• Regional Kingdoms