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Cross-Cultural Exchanges Chapter 12
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Long-Distance Trade and the Silk Roads Network LD trade was risky: bandits, pirates -> high costs 2 developments: roads/bridges and empires Hellenistic empires: more trade due to colonies – monsoon winds = access to Indian Ocean Basin – Maritime trade required military forces, construction, bureaucracy
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Hellenistic Trade Costs paid off by stimulating economy and tax revenue Caravans and ships carried goods from China to Mediterranean, linking empires, as well as smaller societies – Overland routes = Silk Roads Traded manufactured goods, agricultural commodities, slaves – Silk, spices, cotton, horses, glassware, art, jewelry, olive oil, wine
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The Organization of LD Trade Few travelled far distances (e.g., Roman trading posts in India) Travelled to cities with markets, bought/sold, returned home, etc.
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Cultural and Biological Exchanges Merchants, missionaries, and travelers carried beliefs, values, and religions with them Buddhism: spread by merchants into C Asia (esp. in oasis towns, where monasteries were built), by nomads into E Asia (Chinese began to convert by 5 th century CE), and by mariners into SE Asia Hinduism: along with other Indian elements, spread into SE Asia by mariners and was used by leaders to build power
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Cultural & Biological Exchanges (cont.) Christianity: – 1 st century CE: persecution by Romans, but spread along roads and sea lanes – 2 nd -3 rd centuries: became popular, Christian communities throughout the Empire Spread into SW Asia to India – not dominant, but influenced Med. With practices of asceticism and abstinence – By 5 th century: Med and SW Asian Christianity diverged (Nestorians)
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Cultural & Biological Exchanges (cont.) Manichaeism: – Mani = Zoroastrian prophet from Babylon – Combined Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Christianity – Good vs. evil, rejection of worldly pleasures, personal salvation – “the elect” and “the hearers” – strict moral code – Appealed to merchants, spread in Sasanid and Roman Empires, but faced persecution in both
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Cultural & Biological Exchanges (cont.) Infectious diseases also spread along trade routes (e.g., small pox, measles, bubonic plague) Infected populations with no inherent or acquired immunity – Especially bad in Rome and Han China -> population decrease -> decrease in trade, contracting of economies, move toward regional self-sufficiency
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Fall of Han Dynasty Internal decay: factions, land distribution issues (-> peasant rebellions) Generals (-> warlords) fought for power, set up puppet emperor 220 CE: abolished dynasty – split into 3 large kingdoms
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Post-Han Culture Change Disorder: warring kingdoms, nomadic invasions, destruction of Han heartland and capitals 2 major changes: – Nomads adopted many elements of Chinese culture – Confucianism lost credibility: many turned to Daoism (became religion) or Buddhism (brought in by nomads)
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The Fall of Rome Combination of internal and external issues Internal: factions/opposition to the emperor, unmanageable size – Diocletian divided empire in 2 (with co-emperors and other leaders), took control of armies, economic reforms (spent less, strengthened currency, decreased inflation -> stabilized econ.) – But, once he retired -> civil war
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Constantine 340 CE: moved capital from Rome to Constantinople and reunified E and W But, with econ. problems, it was difficult to govern and W part fell to invaders
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Germanic Invaders Settled along borders of the Roman Empire (buffer societies) – Mid-5 th century: Attila the Hun (Turkic) invades and attacks Germanic groups – Forced Germanic groups to migrate into Roman Empire to seek refuge – est’d settlements – 410 CE: Visigoths sacked Rome – 476 CE: imperial authority ended in west (but, continued in east as the Byzantine Empire) Germanic groups built kingdoms (incorporated Roman elements) -> Medieval Europe
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Christianity and Rome 312 CE: Constantine’s conversion -> Edict of Milan 380 CE: Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of Rome Converts increased, esp. among elites St. Augustine of Hippo tried to reconcile Christianity with Greco-Roman philosophy -> intellectualized
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Institutional Church Standardized: hierarchy of officials (5 top bishops/patriarchs – eventually, pope in Rome emerges as leader of W. Christianity), bishops over dioceses 325 CE: Council of Nicaea (ironed out beliefs) Missionary campaigns
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