Period 2: Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies 600 BCE to 600 CE

Key Concept 2.1

As states and empires grew in size and interaction religious and ideological beliefs and practices transformed These new religions provided a bond among people and also a code to live by

Pagan – earliest form of religion based off of spirits and nature Different types of religion Pagan – earliest form of religion based off of spirits and nature Polytheistic – belief in more than one God Monotheistic – belief in one God Philosophy – spiritual belief system but has no gods and no belief in an afterlife

Judaism became first monotheistic religion Developed with the codification of Hebrew scriptures Later different empires conquered the Jews and exiled them Contributed to the growth of diaspora communities around the Mediterranean and Middle East They were always the minority group which made them easy targets

Sanskrit scriptures formed the basis for it Another religion developed called Hinduism – polytheistic Sanskrit scriptures formed the basis for it Beliefs include: Dharma – duty to perform in life Reincarnation – come back to earth after death (takes many lives to go up the caste system and reach their heaven) Reinforced strict caste system Each life went up or down the caste system

The philosophy of Buddhism grew in response to Hinduism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Created to end the suffering caused by the inequalities of the caste system It branched into many schools over time Spread into SE Asia through missionaries

Confucius founded Confucianism Chinese philosophies also began to hopefully stop chaos and warfare from the Period of the Warring States Confucianism Daoism Confucius founded Confucianism Wanted to promote social harmony by showcasing proper rituals and social relationships

Daoism’s philosophy was more about the balance between humans and nature Believed it was better to not act on most occasions so that it could play out without confrontation or violence Assumed that the Chinese political system would be altered indirectly

Daoism influenced the Chinese culture in the following ways: Medical theories and practices Poetry Metallurgy Architecture

Monotheistic Christianity developed within the Roman Empire Based on the teachings, divinity and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth Rome initially persecuted Christians because it interfered with their polytheistic religion Later Rome, under Emperor Constantine, adopted it as its official religion

Christianity would eventually spread due to missionaries, merchants, and early saints Spread throughout Afro-Eurasia Appealed to lower classes because it offered salvation in the afterlife

Greek and Roman mythology offered an alternative to Christianity initially, however most eventually converted over Both mythologies offered diverse perspectives on the following: Study of the natural world Connection to the divine Nature of political power and hierarchy

Art and architecture in the following places reflected the value of their religions and belief systems Hindu art and architecture Buddhist art and architecture Christian art and architecture Greco-Roman art and architecture

Hindu Art & Architecture

Buddhist Art & Architecture

Christian Art & Architecture

Greco-Roman Art & Architecture

Zoroastrianism was based off of two gods One good One evil Preached a struggle between good and evil and at the end there would be a final judgment between the two Influenced many monotheistic religions

Islam developed later compared to the other religions Based upon the revelations of the prophet Muhammad Developed in Arabian peninsula Reflected interactions between Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians with local Arabs

Muslim rule expanded to many parts of Afro-Eurasia due to military expansion Islam further expanded through the activities of merchants, missionaries, and Sufis (mystics)

Others actually offered new roles and status for some men and women Religions and belief systems usually reinforced existing social structures Others actually offered new roles and status for some men and women Confucianism emphasized filial piety Filial piety – extreme obligation to the male head of household Buddhism and Christianity allowed for monasticism Monasticism – Monks and/or nuns who dedicated their lives to the belief system

Other religions and traditions continued in some places Shamanism Animism Ancestor Veneration (China) These mainly pagan beliefs continued on independently until most were absorbed into organized religions as more people began to convert to them Exception would be China who always continued their own version of religion They never really had gods or afterlife

Key Concept 2.2

Note from College Board – Don’t Write As early states and empires grew they often competed with each other for resources and power More and more rulers were imposing political unity on places that had been competing beforehand Note from College Board – Don’t Write Students should know the location and names of the following key empires and states

Key states and empires include: SW Asia – Persian Empire Achaemenid Parthian Sassanian

East Asia Qin Dynasty Han Dynasty

South Asia Mauryan Empire Gupta Empire

Mediterranean Region Phoenicia and its colonies Greek city-states and colonies Hellenistic Empire Roman Empire

Mesoamerica Teotihuacan Maya city-states

Andean South America Moche

North America Chaco Cahokia

Empires and states developed new techniques of imperial administration (gov’t) Many rulers created centralized governments as well as elaborate legal systems Had one ruler who had many assistants/governors to enforce the rule around the entire empire

They also promoted trade and projected military power over larger areas in the following ways: Issuing currency (mainly coins) Diplomacy Developing supply lines Building fortifications, defensive walls and roads Drawing new groups of military officers and soldiers from conquered locations

Imperial cities served as the following: Unique social and economic developed in societies in Afro-Eurasia and the Americas Imperial cities served as the following: Centers of trade Public performance of religious rituals Political centers

Cities include: Persepolis - Persia Chang’an - China Pataliputra - India Athens - Greece Carthage – Competitor of Rome Rome – Roman Empire (RE) Alexandria - RE Constantinople - RE Teotihuacan - Mesoamerica

Social structures displayed a natural hierarchy Included the following (in no order) Cultivators Laborers Slaves Artisans Merchants Elites Caste Groups

Patriarchy continued to shape gender and family relations Societies relied on many ways to maintain the food production and provide rewards for the loyalty of the elites Methods included: Corvée Labor – used in feudalism Also alternative way to pay taxes, pay it off in labor Slavery Rents/tributes – work for your rent/gave a portion of crop to pay for rent or taxes Patriarchy continued to shape gender and family relations

The Roman, Han, Persian, Mauryan and Gupta empires began to experience political, cultural and administrative problems Eventually led to their decline and collapse Problems included: Excessive mobilization of resources Erosion of established political institutions Economic changes Unequal distribution of wealth and power Security issues along their borders

Key Concept 2.3

Factors that led to this included: Land and water routes became the basis of interregional trade, communication and exchange networks Factors that led to this included: Climate and location of routes Typical trade goods Ethnicity of people involved

Trade routes included: Eurasian Silk Roads Trans-Saharan caravan routes Indian Ocean sea lanes Mediterranean sea lanes

New technologies allowed long-distance trade and communication to get better New technologies allowed the use of domesticated pack animals to transport goods across farther distances Maritime innovations and increase knowledge of monsoon winds stimulated trade from East Africa to East Asia

Along with trade, people, technology, religion, food & animals, and disease spread across the trade routes Spread of crops encouraged changes in farming and irrigation techniques Qanat System - gently sloping underground channel to transport water from an aquifer or water well to the surface Variety of water wheels Improved wells and pumps

Religion also spread and transformed in the process Spread of disease caused by more contact between people which diminished urban populations Also contributed to the decline of some empires like the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty Religion also spread and transformed in the process Christianity Buddhism Hinduism