1. Cross-Cultural Exchanges
The Silk Road

2. Establishing the Silk Road
Zhang Qian’s Mission
West held by Xiongnu
Told Han Wudi of possible trade relationship with Bactria
Han Wudi subdues Xiongnu- opens western region for safe trade routes
Hellenistic Era
Investment in large road and bridge construction
Large empires bring borders closer to others
Exchanges between India/Bactria in east and Mediterranean in west
Maritime trade in West Africa
Ptolemies follow monsoon seasons to trade in Indian Ocean

3. The Silk Roads Overland trade routes linked China to Roman Empire
Sea lanes linked Asia, Africa, and Mediterranean basin
Silk and spices travel west from India and China
Jewelry, art, perfumes, textile travel east from Roman empire
Central Asia produced large horses and jade for sale in China
Merchants trade in regional stages
Long-distance trade over seas

4. Cultural Exchanges Buddhism in central Asia and China Christianity
Oasis towns along Silk Road
Spread to steppe lands
Monasteries and missionaries popular (5th century CE)
Buddhism and Hinduism spread to southeast Asia
Christianity
Mediterranean basin
Missionaries attract converts (Gregory the Wonderworker)
Communities flourish (3rd century CE)
Mesopotamia, Iran, Southwest Asia, Roman Empire
Nestorians
Human nature of Jesus
Communities in central Asia, India, and China

5. Cultural Exchanges Manichaeism Mani and Manichaeism
Prophet Mani (Zoroastrain) influenced by Christianity and Buddhism
Dualism- struggle between light and dark, good and evil
Personal salvation
Ascetic lifestyle + highly ethical standards
“Elect” and the “hearers”
Appealed to merchants
Mesopotamia, east Mediterranean, and Roman empire
Persecuted by Sasanids and Romans-> thrives in central Asia

6. Biological Exchanges Epidemic diseases
Rome and China: smallpox, measles, bubonic plague
Roman Empire: population drops by 25% from 1st to 10th century CE
China: population drops by 25% from 1st to 7th century CE
Both Chinese and Roman economies suffer
Small regional economies emerge
Weaken Han and Roman empires

7. China after the Han Dynasty
Factions and land distribution problems lead to rebellions
Generals seize political authority-> emperor becomes puppet
220 CE general divide empire into three kingdoms
Nomadic peoples come in-> divides China further for 350 years
Cultural Changes
Sinicization- process through which non-Han Chinese societies (nomadic peoples) come under the influence of the dominant Han Chinese state and society
Confucianism loses credibility with political instability
Popularity of Buddhism-> nomadic rulers are down

8. Fall of the Roman Empire
Internal Decay
Barracks emperors- series of general seize the throne from CE
Emperor Diocletian ( CE)
Divided empire into two districts-> co-emperor rules each district with aid of powerful lieutenant
Emperor Constantine
New capital at Constantinople

9. Fall of the Roman Empire
Germanic Invasions
Germanic migrations from Northern Europe to Eastern and Northern part of Roman Empire
Visigoths- Scandinavian and Russian nomads who moved into northern China
Adopted Roman law and Christianity
Romans keep Germanic peoples as buffer
The Huns attack Europe (mid-5th century CE) by warrior king Attila

10. Fall of the Roman Empire
Collapse of Western Roman Empire
Hun’s force Germanic peoples into Roman Empire
Established settlements in Italy, Gaul, Spain, Britain, and north Africa
Germanic general deposes Roman emperor, 476 CE
Imperial authority continues in Eastern half

11. Cultural Changes Christianity survives
Edict of Milan makes Christianity legit, 313 CE
Emperor Theodosius proclaims Christianity official religion, 380 CE
St. Augustine harmonizes Christianity with Plutonic thought
Church becomes institutionalized
Conflicting doctrines and practices among Christians
Standardized hierarchy of church officials
Bishop of Rome, Pope, becomes spiritual leader
Roman empire collapses
Christianity as cultural foundation