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