Chapter 5
The Classical Period: Directions,
Diversities, and Declines by 500
C.E.
Chapter Objective:
Define history and the concepts of cause
and effect, time, change and continuity and
perspective across the global historical
periods covered in this course
Cultural Diffusion or Independent
invention
• A major theme of AP World is cultural diffusion
vs. independent invention
• It can be argued many of the most important
aspects of civilization may have been exported
from the core civilizations rather then reinvented
at different times
• Think of this in terms of how each culture
developed in relation to religion government and
family
• Also how their culture traits compare to those of
the classical civilizations
Crisis of Late Antiquity
• Chapter 5 deals with the collapse of empires
and civilizations in the classical world and the
emergence of new cultures
• Be especially alerted to the influences of
religion ( Buddhism, Christianity and
Hinduism) on these new empires
Basic Themes
• Basic theme of the 3 great civilizations of China,
India and the Mediterranean involved expansion
and integration
• Throughout the classical world, these themes
faltered between 200 and 500 CE
• This lose of strength signaled the end of that era
• The response of major religions to political
decline formed a leading direction in the next
phase of world history
• Meanwhile, developments outside of the classical
world gained new importance
Evaluate the effect on societies of
the fall of the classical civilizations
• Several institutions were affected when gov.
collapsed
Religion, the family, education, trade and the
transference of technology
• The most devastating effect was on western
Europe after the demise of Rome
• China’s society was the least affected
• India’s experience was in between Rome and
China
Compare the rise of civilizations in
the Americas and Polynesia
• Rise of agriculture was significant in the Americas
but less so in Polynesia
• Governments were headed by kings in both
areas
• A lack of large domesticated animals was a
mutual experience
• Writing systems were nonexistent in both places
• Polytheism was the common choice of religion
• Both systems developed civilizations later than
China, India, or the Middle East