1. Classical Era Review
Chapters 2-5

2. “Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”
Theodore I. Rubin

3. Comparison Practice List facts & ideas that relate to the question.
Identify similarities & differences in this list of facts.
Write a statement of direct comparison for 1 similarity
Write a statement of direct comparison for 1 difference
List the reason for either the similarity or difference.

4. Example Questions
Compare the social structures of two of the following societies:
China India Mediterranean
Compare the role of trade in Indian and Mediterranean civilization.
Compare the role of technology in Chinese and Mediterranean civilization.
Compare the administration of government in Han China and the Roman Empire.

5. Example Questions
Compare the decline of two of the following civilizations:
Han China Gupta India Roman Mediterranean
Compare the spread of Buddhism & Christianity during the classical age.

6. Foundations Period Review
8000 BCE – 1200 BCE: Ancient Era
Major characteristic or development of period?
1200 BCE – 600 CE: Classical Era
Major civilizations?
Sub-period = 200 CE – 600 CE: Decline

7. Periodization
Analyze the guided timeline at the start of your Chapter 4 reading notes.
What trends or themes do you notice?
Does the timing of any of the events/empires surprise you? Why?

8. Classical Periodization events? accuracy? trends?
600 BCE – 200 BCE
200 BCE – 0
0 – 200 CE
200 CE – 600 CE
Vedas
Caste system
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Buddhism
Rationalism
Maurya
Zhou
Qin
Greece
Civil Service Exams
Indian regionalism
Han
Hellenistic empires
Roman Republic
Expansion of trade
Indian regionalism
Han decline
Roman Empire
Pax Romana
Spread of Buddhism
Spread of Christianity
Gupta
China w/o political order
Roman Empire in decline

9. Classical China Civ w/ largest territory & population Dynasties
Zhou: unified language, Mandate of Heaven
Qin: peace & order, infrastructure
Han: cultural flowering, professional bureaucracy, decline = dynastic cycle

10. Classical China Philosophies Foundations of exchange established
Confucianism: role, obligation, order
Daoism: harmony, balance, avoid excess
Legalism: rule by law, harsh punishments
Buddhism: suffering, end desire, reincarnation
Foundations of exchange established
Silk Road necessary b/c of quality of Chinese goods & technology

11. Classical India
Centralized gov’t exception rather than rule – regional gov’t = less political focus
Mauryan: largest empire
Gupta: period of cultural flowering
Culture & religion become emphasis of Indian society
Hinduism & Caste System
Buddhism

12. Classical India
Regional govt & beliefs of Hinduism lead to cultural diversity
Language, religious beliefs
Indian Ocean fuels economy based on trade & spread Indian influence

13. Classical Mediterranean
Two centers of civilization
Greece: then shifts to …
Rome: became extensive empire throughout Europe & N Af
Known for political innovations
Democracy & republic
Administration not as innovative as theory
Result of lack of world religion

14. Classical Mediterranean
Decline was catastrophic
Economic deterioration, population lost, nomadic invasion
Ends civ in region, allows Christianity to grow
Culture based on rationality w/ greatest advances in art & architecture
Economy based on slavery, commercial agriculture, & trade on sea