Big Era 4 Presentation

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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!

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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.

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

• • WorldWorld’’s largest city in Big Era 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:


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Hmmm... What is a

network of exchange?

That’s easy! A network of exchange is a web of

connections through which people, goods, and ideas circulate. Telephones, the

Internet, and highways are all networks of exchange.

Expanding NetworksExpanding Networks

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RoutesRoutes Around 300 BCE to 300 CE, merchants, Around 300 BCE to 300 CE, merchants, shippers, sea captains, and empire-builders shippers, sea captains, and empire-builders extended and strengthened trade routes extended and strengthened trade routes across Afroeurasia and the Americas.across Afroeurasia and the Americas.

EmpiresEmpires Empires required networks of military and Empires required networks of military and political communication. These networks political communication. These networks encouraged interaction of many kinds over encouraged interaction of many kinds over long distances.long distances.

WritingWriting With the appearance of alphabetic writing With the appearance of alphabetic writing systems in Afroeurasia, people could systems in Afroeurasia, people could communicate faster and easier than ever communicate faster and easier than ever before.before.

ReligionsReligions The appearance of world religions— The appearance of world religions— Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity—stimulated cultural interchange Christianity—stimulated cultural interchange across political and cultural boundaries.across political and cultural boundaries.

Expanding NetworksExpanding Networks

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In the Americas...In the Americas...

The Tiwanakans in what is today Bolivia also The Tiwanakans in what is today Bolivia also began to build trade routes during Big Era began to build trade routes during Big Era Four. Llama caravans brought produce, Four. Llama caravans brought produce, wood, metals, and fish from outlying villages wood, metals, and fish from outlying villages to the city of Tiwanaku.to the city of Tiwanaku.

The Olmec of Mexico developed extensive trade The Olmec of Mexico developed extensive trade networks that extended hundreds of miles from networks that extended hundreds of miles from Olmec territory. They imported jade and other raw Olmec territory. They imported jade and other raw materials for their crafts. Their exports included materials for their crafts. Their exports included pottery and sculpture.pottery and sculpture.

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: RoutesRoutes

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The silk road, The silk road, Persian royal road, Persian royal road, Roman roads, and Roman roads, and shipping routes shipping routes combined to form combined to form extensive extensive interregional interregional networks of networks of exchange in exchange in Afroeurasia.Afroeurasia.


A wide variety of goods A wide variety of goods flowed along these flowed along these networks… networks…

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On the map are some of the On the map are some of the goods traded along the goods traded along the Afroeurasian networks.Afroeurasian networks.

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• A number of large states, or empires, appeared in A number of large states, or empires, appeared in Big Era Four.Big Era Four.

• Empire-builders had to move troops and supplies, Empire-builders had to move troops and supplies, dispatch messages, gather intelligence, and collect dispatch messages, gather intelligence, and collect taxes.taxes.

• These tasks required good systems of These tasks required good systems of communication and transport by land and sea.communication and transport by land and sea.

• These systems were created mainly to serve the These systems were created mainly to serve the empireempire’’s government and army.s government and army.

• But they also served as highways of commerce, But they also served as highways of commerce, cultural exchange, and migration.cultural exchange, and migration.


An empire is a state that unites many territories and diverse peoples under one ruler or

government.

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The Romans built an The Romans built an extensive network of extensive network of roads. Over 50,000 roads. Over 50,000 miles of paved roads, miles of paved roads, tracks, and trails tracks, and trails radiated from the Forum radiated from the Forum in the center of Rome to in the center of Rome to all parts of the empire.all parts of the empire.

Roman RoadsRoman Roads


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Though built primarily to speed Though built primarily to speed troops and supplies, Roman roads troops and supplies, Roman roads were used for commercial were used for commercial purposes, too. Goods were purposes, too. Goods were shipped to distant provinces and shipped to distant provinces and beyond.beyond.

Constructed by skilled engineers, Constructed by skilled engineers, the roads were strong enough to the roads were strong enough to support half-ton wagons and wide support half-ton wagons and wide enough to allow two-way traffic.enough to allow two-way traffic.


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The Silk Roads was a network of roads, The Silk Roads was a network of roads, tracks, and trails ran across Inner Eurasia. tracks, and trails ran across Inner Eurasia. Most of this region is part of the Great Arid Most of this region is part of the Great Arid Zone, the belt of dry country that extends Zone, the belt of dry country that extends

across Afroeurasia.across Afroeurasia.


Great Arid ZoneInner Eurasia

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Inner Eurasia is a region of grassy steppes, rugged Inner Eurasia is a region of grassy steppes, rugged mountains, and forbidding deserts. This terrain is mountains, and forbidding deserts. This terrain is hard to cross. Despite these harsh conditions, hard to cross. Despite these harsh conditions, humans have been carrying goods, ideas, and humans have been carrying goods, ideas, and technologies along the Silk Roads of Inner Eurasia technologies along the Silk Roads of Inner Eurasia for millennia.for millennia.

I n n e r E u r a s i a

1997, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc

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Instead, they traded with farmers and city-dwellers Instead, they traded with farmers and city-dwellers for food and other goods.for food and other goods.

By 1000 BCE, pastoralists controlled networks of By 1000 BCE, pastoralists controlled networks of exchange throughout Inner Eurasia .exchange throughout Inner Eurasia .

Domestication of the horse, ox, and camel made Domestication of the horse, ox, and camel made humans more mobile.humans more mobile.

About 3000 BCE, people in the steppes of Inner About 3000 BCE, people in the steppes of Inner Eurasia began to take up pastoralism. Because they Eurasia began to take up pastoralism. Because they moved with their herds, they typically did not grow moved with their herds, they typically did not grow crops.crops.


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Between 300 BCE and 300 CE, Between 300 BCE and 300 CE, long periods of stability and long periods of stability and prosperity in states throughout prosperity in states throughout Afroeurasia stimulated interest in Afroeurasia stimulated interest in long distance trade. long distance trade.

Intercontinental communication Intercontinental communication and the exchange of goods, and the exchange of goods, became regular, organized, and became regular, organized, and protected by large empires.protected by large empires.

The Silk Roads carried shipments The Silk Roads carried shipments of Chinese silk but also many of Chinese silk but also many other goods.other goods.


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On the Silk Roads, goods changed On the Silk Roads, goods changed hands many times. Parthians, hands many times. Parthians, Indians, Kushans, Uigurs, and Indians, Kushans, Uigurs, and others acted as middlemen, selling others acted as middlemen, selling and bartering goods, and taking and bartering goods, and taking profits. profits.

Caravans passing west carried silk, Caravans passing west carried silk, porcelain, jade, bronze, and spices. porcelain, jade, bronze, and spices.

Those traveling east shipped gold Those traveling east shipped gold and silver coins, ivory, gemstones, and silver coins, ivory, gemstones, glassware, and carpets.glassware, and carpets.


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Sea routes ran down the Sea routes ran down the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Persian Gulf, across the Arabian Sea and across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and through Bay of Bengal, and through the Straits of Malacca to the the Straits of Malacca to the South China Sea. South China Sea.

Chinese Chinese ShipShip

Roman Roman ShipShip

Indian Indian ShipShip


These sea lanes often linked These sea lanes often linked up with overland routes, up with overland routes, facilitating travel, trade, and facilitating travel, trade, and the exchange of ideas the exchange of ideas across Afroeurasia.across Afroeurasia.

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Empires had formed in Afroeurasia as Empires had formed in Afroeurasia as early as Big Era Three. Although many early as Big Era Three. Although many claimed vast territories, most did not claimed vast territories, most did not survive for long.survive for long.

In the 4th century BCE, Alexander the In the 4th century BCE, Alexander the Great amassed an empire that stretched Great amassed an empire that stretched from Greece to India. Upon his death, from Greece to India. Upon his death, however, the empire fragmented.however, the empire fragmented.

The later centuries of Big Era Four saw The later centuries of Big Era Four saw the rise of new empires that both the rise of new empires that both dominated huge expanses of land and dominated huge expanses of land and remained unified for a long time. The remained unified for a long time. The Largest of these were the Han and Largest of these were the Han and Roman empires.Roman empires.

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: EmpiresEmpires

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Large Empires of AfroeurasiaLarge Empires of Afroeurasia500 BCE - 500 CE500 BCE - 500 CE

Rome

Kush

Parthian/Xiongnu

Han

Kushana

Maurya/ Gupta

Byzantium

Sassanid

Axum

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• Alphabetic writing systems appeared Alphabetic writing systems appeared in the later second millennium BCE. in the later second millennium BCE. These systems used a small number These systems used a small number of symbols, or letters, to represent of symbols, or letters, to represent sounds.sounds.

• Letters could be arranged in Letters could be arranged in countless ways to form words.countless ways to form words.

• The Phoenicians were among the first to devise an alphabet. The Phoenicians were among the first to devise an alphabet.

• Because they were sailors and merchants, the idea of alphabetic Because they were sailors and merchants, the idea of alphabetic writing spread wherever the Phoenicians traveled.writing spread wherever the Phoenicians traveled.

• During the first millennium BCE alphabetic writing spread from the During the first millennium BCE alphabetic writing spread from the Mediterranean region to India.Mediterranean region to India.

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: WritingWriting Cool!Cool!

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BuddhismBuddhism

HinduismHinduism

ChristianityChristianity

JudaismJudaism

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: ReligionsReligions

What is a world religion? It’s a belief system that

embraces people of differing languages and

cultural traditions. Religions that spread

during Big Era Four were:

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Growth of World Growth of World ReligionsReligions

In Big Era FourIn Big Era FourHinduismFrom lstmillennium BCE

BuddhismFrom 5th centuryBCE

ChristianityFrom 1st centuryCE

JudaismCommunitiesscattered widely inSouthwest Asia, Northern Africa, andEurope, especially from the first centuryCE.

Outline Map: Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002

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When people carried a When people carried a new religion from place new religion from place to place, they also often to place, they also often took alongtook along

•A writing system (This was A writing system (This was useful in teaching holy scripture.)useful in teaching holy scripture.)

•Trade goods (Religion was a Trade goods (Religion was a basis of trust among merchants.)basis of trust among merchants.)

•Art styles (Religious ideas were Art styles (Religious ideas were often expressed in painting, often expressed in painting, sculpture, and architecture.)sculpture, and architecture.)

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: ReligionsReligions

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So, what have we learned about two key developments of this

era?Population growth and networks

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Expanded networks of exchange Expanded networks of exchange allowed people, goods, and ideas allowed people, goods, and ideas to move thousands of miles. The to move thousands of miles. The development of alphabetic writing development of alphabetic writing systems speeded up the transfer systems speeded up the transfer of information. Also, people who of information. Also, people who met, shared ideas, and conducted met, shared ideas, and conducted business with one another helped business with one another helped spread new world religions across spread new world religions across Afroeurasia.Afroeurasia.

Expanding Networks Expanding Networks of Exchangeof Exchange

Population growth in Big Era Population growth in Big Era Four was linked to the Four was linked to the expansion of agriculture. expansion of agriculture. Increases in population density Increases in population density and job specialization in and job specialization in farming communities led to the farming communities led to the creation of more and larger creation of more and larger cities.cities.

Population Population GrowthGrowth

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So many developments in

Big Era Four! Hmmm… I wonder what will happen

next. Stay tuned forBig Era Five!

Documents

Big Era 4 Presentation