Title Classical Civs Overview Notes 600 BCE 600

Title: Classical Civs Overview Notes (~600 BCE – 600 CE)

n Civs Classical Themes: created after 1000 BCE have direct links to civs which exist today. – Chinese history flows from the Zhou dynasty to the present – India lacks political continuity but has cultural carry-over – Even Western society, with more interruptions can find direct philosophical and political connections to the Greek and Roman civs.

Themes, cont. Three Classical civilizations: – China – India – Mediterranean (Middle East, Southern Europe, & North Africa) § Assyrian/Persian empires also influential, but not as durable as the 3 Classical Civs § Mesoamerica – delayed – we will discuss later n Much larger than river valley civs but did not reach many of the world’s people. n Classical Civs established institutions and values that would have enduring effect. – China’s intense political centralization – India’s regionalism – Emotional restraint of Chinese and Japanese society – Greater emotional expression in the Mediterranean n

n Classical Themes, cont. Civs more than just continuations of river valley civs. – Iron technology = military advantage – Larger & more complex political structures = control more territory – Geographical shift: § India from Indus to Ganges § China includes rice-growing Yangtze River as well as Huang He – More elaborate philosophy and religion – Expanded science, math, and technology

Themes, cont. n Expansion & Integration: each civ spread outward from a regional center to embrace a growing diversity of people and a growing amount of territory = challenge of building institutions and beliefs to integrate, but not necessarily homogenize these people. – Politics – Trade – Distinct cultural features

n Expansion: Themes, cont. – Massive population growth before 1 CE – Migration to seek new food supplies and avoid overcrowding – Military expansion & conquest n Integration: – China & India worked harder than Greece & Rome n Contacts: existed, but limited – Silk Road and Indian Ocean Trade Network – Exchange of luxuries, some artistic and religious influences

The Roman & Persian Empires

Classical India: Mauryan & Gupta

Classical China: The Han Dynasty

Cultural Zones • Communication and trade caused the broad diffusion of religious ideas, artistic styles, & technologies. • Large regions unified by common traditions – Hellenistic – Roman – Chavin – Olmec – Hindu – China

Two major areas of trade n Indian Ocean n Silk Road