Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. Chapter 12 Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads

Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Chapter 12

Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads


Long-Distance Travel in the Ancient World Lack of police enforcement outside of

established settlements Changed in classical period

Improvement of infrastructure Development of empires


Trade Networks Develop

Dramatic increase in trade due to Greek colonization

Maintenance of roads, bridges Discovery of Monsoon wind patterns Increased tariff revenues used to maintain

open routes


Trade in the Hellenistic World Bactria/India

Spices, pepper, cosmetics, gems, pearls Persia, Egypt

Grain Mediterranean

Wine, oil, jewelry, art Development of professional merchant class


The Silk Roads

Named for principal commodity from China Dependent on imperial stability Overland trade routes from China to Roman

Empire Sea Lanes and Maritime trade as well


Organization of Long-Distance Trade Divided into small segments Tariffs and tolls finance local supervision Tax income incentives to maintain safety,

maintenance of passage


The Silk Roads, 200 BCE-300 CE


Cultural Trade: Buddhism and Hinduism Merchants carry religious ideas along silk

routes India through central Asia to east Asia Cosmopolitan centers promote development

of monasteries to shelter traveling merchants Buddhism becomes dominant faith of silk

roads, 200 BCE-700 CE


The Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE


Buddhism in China

Originally, Buddhism restricted to foreign merchant populations

Gradual spread to larger population beginning 5th c. CE


Buddhism and Hinduism in SE Asia Sea lanes in Indian Ocean 1st c. CE clear Indian influence in SE Asia

Rulers called “rajas” Sanskrit used for written communication Buddhism, Hinduism increasingly popular faiths


Christianity in Mediterranean Basin Gregory the Wonderworker, central Anatolia 3rd c.

CE Christianity spreads through Middle East, North

Africa, Europe Sizeable communities as far east as India Judaism, Zoroastrianism also practiced


Christianity in SW Asia

Influence of ascetic practices from India Desert-dwelling hermits, monastic societies After 5th c. CE, followed Nestorios

Emphasized human nature of Jesus


Spread of Manichaeism

Mani Zoroastrian prophet (216-272 CE) Influenced by Christianity, Buddhism and

Zoroastrianism Dualist

good vs. evil light vs. dark spirit vs. matter


Manichaean Society

Devout: “the Elect” Ascetic lifestyle Celibacy, vegetarianism Life of prayer and fasting

Laity: “the Hearers” Material supporters of “the Elect”


Decline of Manichaeism

Spread through silk routes to major cities in Roman Empire

Zoroastrian opposition provokes Sassanid persecution Mani arrested, dies in captivity

Romans, fearing Persian influence, also persecute


The Spread of Epidemic Disease Belief systems and scapegoats

Romans believe Christians are to blame St. Cyprian – On Morality

Role of trade routes in spread of pathogens Limited data, but trends in demographics reasonably

clear Smallpox, measles, bubonic plague Effect: Economic slowdown, move to regional self-

sufficiency


Epidemics in the Han and Roman Empires

0102030405060

c. 0CE

c.200CE

c.400CE

c.600CE

Chinese Population, 0-600 CE

Millions

0102030405060

c. 0 CE c. 200CE

c. 400

Roman Population, 0-400 CE

Millions


Internal Decay of the Han State Court intrigue Formation of actions Problem of land distribution

Large landholders develop private armies Epidemics Peasant rebellions

184 CE Yellow Turban Rebellion


Collapse of the Han Dynasty

Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figure

Alliance with landowners 200 CE Han Dynasty

abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms

Immigration of northern nomads increases


Sinicization of Nomadic Peoples Sinicization: to make Chinese in character or

bring under Chinese influence Nomads adapt to Chinese environment Adoption of sedentary lifestyle

Agriculture Adoption of Chinese names, dress,

intermarriage


Popularity of Buddhism and Daoism Disintegration of political order casts doubt on

Confucian doctrines Buddhism, Daoism gain popularity Religions of salvation


Fall of the Roman Empire: Internal Factors The Barracks Emperors 235-284 26 claimants to the throne, all but one killed

in power struggles Epidemics Disintegration of imperial economy in favor of local

and regional self-sufficient economies


Diocletian (r. 284-305 CE)

Divided empire into two administrative districts Co-Emperors, dual Lieutenants

“Tetrarchs” Currency, budget reform Relative stability disappears after Diocletian’s

retirement from office (305 CE) civil war follows (306 CE)

Constantine emerges victorious


Fall of the Roman Empire: External Factors Visigoths, influenced by Roman law, Christianity

Formerly buffer states for Roman Empire Attacked by Huns under Attila in 5th c. CE Massive migration of Germanic peoples into Roman

Empire Sacked Rome in 410 CE, established Germanic

emperor in 476 CE Germanic general Odovacer deposed Romulus

Augustulus


Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman empire, 450-476 C.E.


Cultural Change in the Roman Empire Growth of Christianity

Constantine’s Vision, 312 CE Promulgates Edict of Milan, allows Christian

practice Converts to Christianity

380 CE Emperor Theodosius proclaims Christianity official religion of Roman Empire


St. Augustine (354-430 CE)

Hippo, North Africa Experimented with Greek thought,

Manichaeism 387 converts to Christianity Major theologian


The Institutional Church

Conflicts over doctrine and practice in early Church Divinity of Jesus Role of women

Church hierarchy established Bishop of Rome Five Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria

and Constantinople


Collapse of Rome and the Church Church Council’s Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and Council of

Chalcedon (451 CE Determine the nature of Jesus

Pope as spiritual leader

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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. Chapter 12 Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads