Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads 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 Luxury goods greatest profit for expensive overland transport

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 The Silk Roads 200 BCE – 30 CE

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

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

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvFl6UBZLv4

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

Syncretic Christianity in SW Asia Influence of ascetic practices from India Desert-dwelling hermits, monastic societies After 5th c. CE, followed Nestorius Emphasized human nature of Jesus

Spread of Manichaeism Mani a devout Zoroastrian (216-272 CE) Viewed himself a prophet for all humanity Influenced by Christianity and Buddhism 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 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