C 12: Cross Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads
Hellenistic era as stage for Silk Road Boom?
Why safe to travel now during the Classic Era?
The Silk Road: 200 BCE – 300 CE
Products?
From East Asia:Ginger, cinnamon, silk
From South Asia:Pepper, sesame oil
From South East Asia:Clove, nutmeg, mace
From the Mediterranean:Glassware, jewelry, Textiles, pottery
From Central Asia:Horses, jade
Effects of this Boom in Trade:
Economic activities become more sophisticated and productivecultural exchange (art, language, religion)/ role of oasis townsspread of Buddhism, Hinduism and ChristianityManichaeism (Best example of religious syncretism along Silk Road)spread of disease weakened Han and Roman empires in particular reduction in trade with collapse
Manichaeism Priests (3rd – 7th CE)
ManichaeismElements of: Zoroastrianism (Zarathustra), Christianity (Jesus) and
Buddhism (Buddha)Prophet Mani (216-272 CE): a prophet for all of humanityDualism and cosmic struggle (strong rationale for presence of good and evil)Personal salvationStrong missionary componentAscetic lifestyle (no marriage, no sex, no alcohol)High ethical standards
Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity: 200 BCE -400 CE
Collapse of the Han Empire
Collapse of the Roman Empire
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: Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figureMarriage alliances led toconflict Continued problem of land distribution disease Yellow Turban Uprising 184CE200 CE Han Dynasty abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms
External Pressures:Immigration of northern nomads increases
Collapse of the Han Dynasty: Internal Decay and External Pressures
Spread of Epidemic DiseaseSets the Stage……
sinicization of nomadic peoples(adoption of sedentary lifestyle, adoption of Chinese names, dress, intermarriagerise in Buddhism and Daoism (Confucianism loses credibility: WHY?) disintegration into regional states
Collapse of the Han Dynasty: Internal Decay and External Pressures
Effects?
Collapse of the Roman Empire: Internal Decay and External Pressures
Internal Decay:
Tetrarchs?Role of Constantine?
Diocletian r. 284-305 CE
Constantine r. 313-337 CE
Barracks Emperors Epidemics Disintegration of Imperial Economy Regional Self Sufficiency favored
Germanic invasions and the fall of the Western Roman empire: 450-476 CE
External Pressures:
Nature of barbarianrelationship with RomanEmpire during times ofstability?Visigoths sacked Rome 410CE Attila the Hun (Died 453CE) Germanic nomads
Establish GermanicEmperor in 476 CE(Odovacer)
Effects?Roman Empire survives another 1000 years as the Byzantine Empirenomadic groups build successor states in the WestChristianity survivesEdict of Milan 313 CE?Constantine’s ConversionCouncil of Nicea 325 CE? (Consensus on doctrine) Emperor Theodosius proclaimedChristianity the official religion ofthe Roman empirepope as spiritual leader of church in the West
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