1 Expanding Networks of Exchange and Encounter 1200 BCE – 500 CE Big Era Four

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Expanding NetworksExpanding Networksof Exchange and Encounterof Exchange and Encounter

1200 BCE – 500 CE1200 BCE – 500 CE

Big Era Four Big Era Four

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Welcome to Big Era Four!

2000 CEBig Era 31200 BCE500 CEBig Era 4

10,000 BCE1200 BCE500 CEBig Era 41 CE

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Population Population GrowthGrowth

Expanding Expanding Networks of Networks of ExchangeExchange

Let’s focus on two key developments

of this era.

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•• Between 1000 BCE and 1 CE Between 1000 BCE and 1 CE world population rose from world population rose from about 120 to about 250 million. about 120 to about 250 million.

• • This rise was fueled by an This rise was fueled by an acceleration in the acceleration in the raterate of of growth during this time. growth during this time.

• • Between 3,000 and 1,000 Between 3,000 and 1,000 BCE, it took about 1,600 years BCE, it took about 1,600 years for world population to double.for world population to double.

• • Between 1,000 BCE and 1 CE Between 1,000 BCE and 1 CE the doubling time was less the doubling time was less than 1,000 years.than 1,000 years.

Population Growth Population Growth

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What caused this surge in population?


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In Afroeurasia, iron axes, hoes, In Afroeurasia, iron axes, hoes, spades, and plows enabled spades, and plows enabled farmers to clear and cultivate farmers to clear and cultivate millions of acres never before millions of acres never before used for farming.used for farming.

#1 The invention

of iron!


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Farming and Farming and pastoral pastoral nomadism nomadism replaced hunting replaced hunting and gathering in and gathering in some regions.some regions.

People moved People moved into previously into previously uninhabited uninhabited areas.areas.

#2 Farming and pastoral

nomadism!


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#3Improved species of

crops produced

more food per acre!


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#4Horses and camels were

used for work!

#4Work animals made farms

more productive.


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It was connected to the It was connected to the build-up of natural build-up of natural immunities to local immunities to local infectious diseases.infectious diseases.

#5People now lived

in denser populations!


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In Afroeurasia, the invention of In Afroeurasia, the invention of iron enabled farmers to clear and iron enabled farmers to clear and cultivate millions of acres never cultivate millions of acres never before used for farming.before used for farming.

Farming and pastoral nomadism Farming and pastoral nomadism replaced hunting and gathering in replaced hunting and gathering in some regions. People moved into some regions. People moved into previously uninhabited areas.previously uninhabited areas.

Improved kinds of crops produced more food per acre.Improved kinds of crops produced more food per acre.

Horses and camels began to be used more as work animals, making farms more Horses and camels began to be used more as work animals, making farms more productive.productive.

People began to live closer in denser populations. This led to the build-up of People began to live closer in denser populations. This led to the build-up of natural immunities to local infectious diseases but left people vulnerable to natural immunities to local infectious diseases but left people vulnerable to epidemics caused by diseases new to the region.epidemics caused by diseases new to the region.

In Summary:In Summary:


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What were the consequences of population

growth?

Population GrowthPopulation GrowthConsequences Consequences

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Over time, the clearing of Over time, the clearing of forests led to soil erosion, forests led to soil erosion, shortages of wood for fuel, shortages of wood for fuel, and the extinction of some and the extinction of some local animal and plant species.local animal and plant species.

#1#1Deforestation!Deforestation!


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As populations grew and As populations grew and communities grew larger, communities grew larger, more complex, and closer more complex, and closer together, organization became together, organization became more important. New political, more important. New political, social, and economic systems social, and economic systems emerged.emerged.

BrahminKshatriyaVaishyaSudraUntouchable

The Indian Caste SystemThe Indian Caste System

#2 More complex

societies!


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#3#3Collective Collective learning learning

increased!increased!


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#4More people

began living in large cities!

Population GrowthPopulation GrowthCities Cities

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AlexandriaAlexandria

• • Founded by Alexander the Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCEGreat in 331 BCE

• • Important trade center Important trade center

• • Its library home to many Its library home to many famous scholarsfamous scholars

There were not only Greeks and There were not only Greeks and Italians, but also Syrians, Libyans, Italians, but also Syrians, Libyans, Cilicians and yet others from farther Cilicians and yet others from farther countries—Ethiopians, Arabs, as countries—Ethiopians, Arabs, as well as Bactrians, Scythians, well as Bactrians, Scythians, Persians, and a few Indians.Persians, and a few Indians.

A Greek orator A Greek orator writing about writing about

AlexandriaAlexandriaThe Pharos Lighthouse in AlexandriaThe Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria

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Changan (Xian)Changan (Xian)

• • Capital of China during the Capital of China during the Han dynastyHan dynasty

• • Located at the eastern end of Located at the eastern end of the silk roadthe silk road

• • Merchants and diplomats Merchants and diplomats brought trade goods and brought trade goods and new ideasnew ideas

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PersepolisPersepolis

• • Founded in the 6th century Founded in the 6th century BCE by Darius IBCE by Darius I

• • Capital of the Achaemenid Capital of the Achaemenid Empire of PersiaEmpire of Persia

• • Destroyed by Alexander the Destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BCEGreat in 330 BCE

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RomeRome

Not without good reason did gods Not without good reason did gods and men choose this spot as the and men choose this spot as the site of a city.site of a city.

Livy, a Roman historianLivy, a Roman historian

• • Political and economic hub of Political and economic hub of the Roman Empirethe Roman Empire

• • World’s largest city in Big Era World’s largest city in Big Era Four, with nearly one million Four, with nearly one million residentsresidents

• • Elaborate water and sewer Elaborate water and sewer systems made Rome livable systems made Rome livable despite its sizedespite its size

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• • Major city of the Major city of the Americas located in Americas located in the valley of Mexicothe valley of Mexico

• • From 400 to 600 CE, a From 400 to 600 CE, a thriving commercial and thriving commercial and agricultural center with agricultural center with 200,000 residents200,000 residents

• • The Pyramid of the Sun The Pyramid of the Sun covered as much covered as much ground as the pyramid ground as the pyramid of Khufu in Egyptof Khufu in Egypt

The Pyramid of the Sun, The Pyramid of the Sun, TeotihuacanTeotihuacan

TeotihuacanTeotihuacan

Photo: University of Arizona

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Over time, deforestation led to Over time, deforestation led to soil erosion, shortages of wood soil erosion, shortages of wood for fuel, and the extinction of for fuel, and the extinction of some local animal and plant some local animal and plant species.species.

When communities grew larger, When communities grew larger, more complex, and closer more complex, and closer together, new political, social, together, new political, social, and economic systems became and economic systems became necessary.necessary.

Collective learning increased, further fueling advances in technology.Collective learning increased, further fueling advances in technology.

Although the vast majority of people still inhabited rural farming villages, more Although the vast majority of people still inhabited rural farming villages, more people than ever before began living in large cities.people than ever before began living in large cities.

In Summary:In Summary:


BrahminKshatriyaVaishyaSudraUntouchable

Documents

1 Expanding Networks of Exchange and Encounter 1200 BCE – 500 CE Big Era Four