1. All Good Things Must Come to an End: DECLINE OF CLASSICAL EMPIRES
Han
Gupta
Roman

2. Common internal weaknesses. contributed to the collapse of
Common internal weaknesses contributed to the collapse of Classic Civilizations
Decline in Rome and Han began after 100 CE;
Gupta decline occurred around 500CE
Plague from increased international trade
(Rome, China)
Political Fragmentation (Rome, India); Late Han slows civil service exam  What impact does that have on gov’t?
Social unrest/ “moral decay”
Insurgent religions arise like Christianity in Rome and Buddhism in China; any new in India?
These new religions cause social unrest?
Or are caused by social unrest?
All were impacted by not only internal issues but external invasions

3. The Huns invaded each of these Classical Civilizations
Nomadic herding people from Central Asia
Fierce warriors on horseback
The use of the stirrup gave the Huns a technological advantage over other warriors of the time. Stirrups are loops hung from a saddle that support a horse rider's feet; these let the Huns brace themselves on their horses while wielding swords or shooting arrows.

4. Effects of Collapse of Han Dynasty on China:
Extended period of political unrest, but
NO PERMANENT DISRUPTION to fabric of Chinese civilization ----WHY?
Continuation of Chinese bureaucracy…but
Confucian values remain important
Daoism remain minority faiths with Buddhism entering because of missionary and trade interaction
Han collapses in 22o CE leading to the Era of Division…aka time of 6 dynasties until Sui in 589 CE
What belief system will meet the spiritual needs of the Chinese during the Era of Division?
Sui Dynasty will be the last classical dynasty and proves more stable than the prior six
Tang claims the mandate of heaven in 618 CE from the Sui and finally revives the glories of the Han…what do you think they brought back?

5. Effects of Decline of Gupta Dynasty on India:
Gupta arises in the 300s and begins their golden age around 320 CE
Decline begins in early 500s with political problems; Gupta family hands over more control to local governors/princes
Regional princes called Rajput (“The Raj”) control small states; REGIONALISM
Internal weakness in taken advantage off in 535 CE when Huns invade; Gupta ENDS
Tremendous cultural continuity exists despite political turmoil
Hindu beliefs remain strong, and caste system holds Indian society together despite political fragmentation

6. In the 300s, Constantine creates the 2nd capitol in Byzantium, a city in the east, naming it Constantinople
In 313 CE, Constantine issues the Edict of Milan..significances? Why is it a change and as well as an eventual continuity?
Germanic tribes are driven into Roman Empire by Huns- Odoacer seizes Rome in 476 CE
The Western Roman Empire falls into anarchy and decay- “The Dark Ages”
The Eastern Empire thrives and grows as The Byzantine Empire
Effects of Decline and Fall
of Roman Empire:
Political confusion and poor leadership lead to decline after the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180CE
Later 200s, Emperor Diocletian splits the empire in half …Why?
Which half will he rule? Impact?

7. Global Implications A New Religious Map:
As Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity spread, popularity of polytheistic faiths declined.
As these faiths spread to new areas, many people blended the new beliefs with their own, a process called syncretism. This meant that the religion took on the some cultural features of individual civilizations, while maintaining original religious claims.
The world’s religious distribution was beginning to solidify at the end of the late Classic period and somewhat resembles what exists today.

8. Global Implications
As Classic civilizations began to fail, trade along the Silk Roads of Central Asia was disrupted.
Overland trade between China and Rome became more dangerous as government protection declined.
New Indian Ocean trade routes assumed a greater importance in global trade.