1. C 12: Cross Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads
Hellenistic era as stage for
Silk Road Boom?
Why safe to travel now
during the Classic Era?
The Silk Road: 200 BCE – 300 CE

2. Products?

3. From East Asia: From South Asia: From Central Asia:
Ginger, cinnamon, silk
From South Asia:
Pepper, sesame oil
From Central Asia:
Horses, jade
From South East Asia:
Clove, nutmeg, mace
From the
Mediterranean:
Glassware, jewelry,
Textiles, pottery

4. Effects of this Boom in Trade:
Economic activities become more sophisticated and productive
cultural exchange (art, language, religion)/ role of oasis towns
spread of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity
Manichaeism (Best example of religious syncretism along Silk Road)
spread of disease weakened Han and Roman empires in particular
reduction in trade with collapse
Manichaeism
Elements of: Zoroastrianism (Zarathustra), Christianity (Jesus) and
Buddhism (Buddha)
Prophet Mani ( CE): a prophet for all of humanity
Dualism and cosmic struggle (strong rationale for presence of good and evil)
Personal salvation
Strong missionary component
Ascetic lifestyle (no marriage, no sex, no alcohol)
High ethical standards
Manichaeism Priests (3rd – 7th CE)

5. Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity:
200 BCE -400 CE

6. Collapse of the Han Empire

7. Collapse of the Roman Empire

8. Epidemics in the Han and Roman Empires

9. Collapse of the Han Dynasty: Internal Decay and External Pressures
Spread of Epidemic Disease
Sets the Stage……
Internal Decay:
Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figure
Marriage alliances led to
conflict
Continued problem of land distribution
disease
Yellow Turban Uprising 184CE
200 CE Han Dynasty abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms
External Pressures:
Immigration of northern nomads increases

10. Collapse of the Han Dynasty:
Internal Decay and External Pressures
Effects?
sinicization of nomadic peoples
(adoption of sedentary lifestyle, adoption of Chinese names, dress, intermarriage
rise in Buddhism and Daoism (Confucianism loses credibility: WHY?)
disintegration into regional states

11. Collapse of the Roman Empire: Internal Decay and External Pressures
Tetrarchs?
Role of Constantine?
Constantine r CE
Barracks Emperors
Epidemics
Disintegration of Imperial Economy
Regional Self Sufficiency favored
Diocletian r CE

13. External Pressures:
Nature of barbarian
relationship with Roman
Empire during times of
stability?
Visigoths sacked
Rome 410CE
Attila the Hun
(Died 453CE)
Germanic nomads
Establish Germanic
Emperor in 476 CE
(Odovacer)
Germanic invasions and the fall of the
Western Roman empire: CE

14. Effects?
Roman Empire survives another
1000 years as the Byzantine Empire
nomadic groups build successor
states in the West
Christianity survives
Edict of Milan 313 CE?
Constantine’s Conversion
Council of Nicea 325 CE?
(Consensus on doctrine)
Emperor Theodosius proclaimed
Christianity the official religion of
the Roman empire
pope as spiritual leader of
church in the West