READING QUIZ RECAP Classical Empires
GREECE Religion- anthropomorphic gods that engaged in human activities and had human emotions; provided the basis for Roman gods Scientists/Mathematicians Galen- medicine Pythagoras- math Euclid- geometry Ptolemy- astronomy
ROME Advanced in engineering and math but not the arts Aqueducts, domes Christianity embraced by emperors eventually to provide a system of ethics
CHINA Trade was heavily restricted until the rise of the Han dynasty (c. 200 BCE) Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Zhou- Mandate of Heaven Qin- Shi Huangdi, legalism, Great Wall Shi Huangdi- paranoid, standardized weights, written script, increased public works projects and silk manufacturing Han- based on Confucianism, traded luxury items, emperor Wu Ti (Wudi) 3 main classes- bureaucracy, laborers, mean people In general, Chinese society focuses on interdependence
INDIA More diverse, often decentralized but it does unify under 2 dynasties: Maurya and Gupta During periods of decentralization, priests filled power vacuum (Hinduism) Maurya Greatest ruler is Ashoka, embraced Buddhism Gupta Uniform law code but allowed for regionalism (aka no specific religion, language, culture, etc. imposed) Caste system- rigid Merchants had higher social class than in other societies Traded with cotton, textiles Traded for silk and luxury goods