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

2. Key Concept 2.1

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Hindu Art & Architecture

16. Buddhist Art & Architecture

17. Christian Art & Architecture

18. Greco-Roman Art & Architecture

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. Key Concept 2.2

25. 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

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

27. East Asia
Qin Dynasty
Han Dynasty

28. South Asia
Mauryan Empire
Gupta Empire

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

31. Mesoamerica
Teotihuacan
Maya city-states

32. Andean South America
Moche

33. North America
Chaco
Cahokia

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

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

39. 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

40. 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

41. Key Concept 2.3

42. 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

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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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