Decline of the Classical Civilizations Chapter 5 Between
Decline of the Classical Civilizations Chapter 5
Between 200 and 600 CE all three classical civilizations collapsed Germanic invaders disrupt the Roman Empire The Huns invaded Rome ◦ Another Hun Group disrupted the Gupta Empire in India Fall of Classical Civs
Han China/Roman Empire suffered from severe internal weaknesses well before the invasions By 100 CE Han China is in serious decline Han and Roman share many characteristics of decline
Political ineffectiveness Inability to push back invaders Revolution/Civil War ◦ Daoists: Yellow Turbans Peasant unrest Epidemics
China does revive itself towards the end of the 6 th century ◦ Sui Dynasty ◦ Tang Dynasty (618 CE) China, post-classical
India was always a REGIONAL kingdom, whereas the Emperor shared power with local princes ◦ This control was declining by the mid-5 th century ◦ Invasions ◦ Regional Princes, the Rajput, controlled the small states of Indian Culture continues to evolve Affected by Muslim armies after 600 CE India
After 180 CE, Roman Empire fell into disrepair ◦ Corruption ◦ Declining population ◦ Declining tax revenue ◦ Disputes over succession to the throne Intervention of the army ◦ Plagues International trade… Roman Decline ◦ Economic Decline
DECLINE OF THE UPPER CLASS ◦ Influence ◦ Creativity ◦ Deadening effect of authoritarian rule ◦ Sole interest in luxury Roman Collapse
As conditions worsened, as economic life became more precarious ◦ Farmers clustered under the protection of large landowners Offer food, work, shelter, and SAFETY ◦ Local Stability, but weakened the power of the Emperor ◦ Cities SHRINK in size In the West…
Diocletian (284 -305 CE) tries to improve the Empire ◦ Improve administration ◦ Improve tax collection ◦ Worship Emperor as a GOD ◦ Persecute Christians
Constantine (312 -337 CE) ◦ Set up second Capital City in the EAST to regulate that side of the Empire more effectively: Constantinople (the city of Byzantium) ◦ Adopts Christianity to help unify the empire
Decline was exacerbated by the Germanic Invasions (which only totaled about 5% of the Population) ◦ BUT…Rome was so weak…they were successful The final Roman Emperor was displaced in 476 CE
Eastern portion of Empire: Centered on Constantinople ◦ BYZANTINE EMPIRE Justinian (527 -565 CE) tries to recapture heritage of Rome Justinians Code: Codified Law Middle East: Parthian and Sassanid empires serve as a bridge between Mediterranean World and the East Post-Classical Mediterranean
North Africa: Regional Kingdoms ◦ Coptic Church: Egypt ◦ North African Christianity WESTERN EUROPE: ◦ Feudalism ◦ Regional Kingdoms Middle Ages
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