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 outsied 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

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-300 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

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

The Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE

Buddhism in China Originally, Buddhism restricted to foreign merchant populations Gradual spread to larger population beginning 5th c. CE

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

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

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

Spread of Manichaeism Mani Zoroastrian prophet (216-272 CE) Influenced by Christianity and Buddhism Dualist good vs. evil light vs. dark spirit vs. matter

Manichaean Society Devout: “the Elect” Laity: “the Hearers” 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

Internal Decay of the Han State Court intrigue Formation of actions Problem of land distribution Large landholders develop private armies Epidemics Peasant rebellions 184 CE Yellow Turban Rebellion

Collapse of the Han Dynasty Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figure Alliance with landowners 200 CE Han Dynasty abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms Immigration of northern nomads increases

Sinicization of Nomadic Peoples “China-fication” Adoption of sedentary lifestyle Agriculture Adoption of Chinese names, dress, intermarriage

Popularity of Buddhism and Daoism Disintegration of political order casts doubt on Confucian doctrines Buddhism, Daoism gain popularity Religions of salvation

Fall of the Roman Empire: Internal Factors The Barracks Emperors 235-284 26 claimants to the throne, all but one killed in power struggles Epidemics Disintegration of imperial economy in favor of local and regional self-sufficient economies

Diocletan (r. 284-305 CE) Divided empire into two administrative districts Co-Emperors, dual Lieutenants “Tetrarchs” Currency, budget reform Relative stability disappears after Diocletans’s death, civil war follows Constantine emerges victorious

Fall of the Roman Empire: External Factors Visigoths, influenced by Roman law, Christianity Formerly buffer states for Roman Empire Attacked by Huns under Attila in 5th c. CE Massive migration of Germanic peoples into Roman Empire Sacked Rome in 410 CE, established Germanic emperor in 476 Ce

Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman empire, 450-476 C Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman empire, 450-476 C.E.

Cultural Change in the Roman Empire Growth of Christianity Constantine’s Vision, 312 CE Promulgates Edict of Milan, allows Christian practice Converts to Christianity 380 CE Emperor Theodosius proclaims Christianity official religion of Roman Empire

St. Augustine (354-430 CE) Hippo, North Africa Experimented with Greek thought, Manichaeism 387 converts to Christianity Major theologian

The Institutional Church Conflicts over doctrine and practice in early Church Divinity of Jesus Role of women Church hierarchy established Patriarchs, Bishop of Rome primus inter pares