Period 2- The Classical Era
600 B.C.E. – 500 C.E.
Unit 2 - The Classical Era
600 B.C.E. – 500 C.E.
Unit 1 – Pre-Classical Era
8,000 B.C.E. – 600 B.C.E.
Unit 3 – The Post-Classical Era
Unit 4 – The Early Modern Era
Unit 5 – The Modern Era
Unit 6 – Global Realignments
500 C.E. – 1450 C.E.
1450 C.E. – 1750 C.E.
1750 C.E. – 1900 C.E.
1900 C.E. – 1990s
Continuities from pre-Classical to the Classical
Pre-Classical
Classical
8,000 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.
600 – 500 C.E.
1. Societies continue to be agriculturally-based.
2. Social stratification continues to exist in each society.
3. The relationship between men and women continues to be patriarchal(dominated by men).
4. Monarchy (rule by a king) continues to be the dominant form of government.
1. The centralization and expansion of governments.
Changes that make the Classical Era unique from pre-Classical are known as the
Classical Era Themes.
2. The development of an inter-regional trade network. (aka The Silk Roads)
3. The creation of social, political & economic integration systems within empires.
What does it mean for a government to be centralized?
Societies become integrated when they are organized on a large-scale.
What are some examples of how Classical societies accomplish this integration?
The Classical Era �Socially
Social Stratification
Social Structure of the Empire
Social Structure of China
Social Structure in India
- places males at top as priests
- Mahabharata & Ramayana
The Classical Era �Politically
Persia & Political Centralization
Political Centralization
- capital at Persepolis
- satraps appointed
- “eyes and ears of the king”
- facilitated tax collection
Classical China
The Zhou Dynasty -
1,122 B.C.E. – 256 B.C.E.
The rise of the Zhou Dynasty justified the fall of the previous Shang Dynasty and the role of the Zhou as the new leader based on “the mandate of heaven”.
The Chinese Dynastic Cycle
Political Centralization
- legalism (agriculture & military)
- standardized laws, currencies,
weights & measures, script
- Han Wudi: imperial expansion
& administrative centralization
China’s Emperor – Image #1
Political Centralization in India
- Arthashastra
- built roads, collected taxes,
displayed Rock and Pillar Edicts
- size of bureaucracy led to the
fall of the empire
Classical India
Political Centralization
Classical India - Critical Thinking #1
Which specific caste may have taken issue with the policies of Ashoka? Explain your reasoning.
Classical India
Political De-centralization
- leaves local government and administration to regional leaders
- invasions by the nomadic White Huns & the usurping of power by regional leaders causes downfall.
Classical India – Critical Thinking #2
What factors account for the fact that large centralized empires did not “take hold” in India as they did in the previous two examples of Persia and China?
Classical Greece – Critical Thinking #1
How was Greece organized politically in the Pre-Hellenistic Era? How did this change in the Hellenistic Era with the rise of the Macedonians?
Classical Greece Politically
The Persian Wars
a. the result of extending Greek influence
b. brings about the creation of the Delian League
1. political & economic competition resulted in
the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and
Athens.
The Hellenistic Era
- Alexander of Macedon rises to power.
- Conquers Persia and reaches India in
4th century B.C.E.
- The Persian administrative model is adopted.
Political continued - The Hellenistic Era
Classical Athens and Han China:
How Great Were the Differences?
Introductory Paragraph
Contextualization Statement
Thesis Statement
2-3 Categories
Contextualization Statement Example
The Classical Era marked a period of time when geographic regions began to organize themselves in complex ways. Multiple empires, along with other examples, developed their political identities and overall organization of their respective societies.
Classical Greece & Han China Categories:
1. Form of government
2. Role of the individual
3. Patriarchal social structure
Classical Greece & Han China Categories:
Form of government
Documents: E – Government in Athens
H – Pericles’ Good Citizen
G – Han successful govt.
J – Confucius – Individual & State
Classical Greece & Han China Categories:
Role of the individual
Documents: H - Pericles’ Good Citizen
J - Confucius – Individual & State
K – Discus thrower
L – Chinese Landscape
Classical Greece & Han China Categories:
Patriarchal social structure
Documents: K - Discus thrower
Q – Athenian Women
R – Admonitions for Women
Thesis Statement Example
Pre-Hellenistic Greece and the Han Dynasty of China developed in this fashion. Both Classical Greece and Han China observed a patriarchal social structure while differing in their form of political bureaucracies. These Classical examples also had their own view on the role of the individual within society.
Pre-Hellenistic Greece and the Han Dynasty of China developed in this fashion. Both Classical Greece and Han China observed a patriarchal social structure while differing in their form of political bureaucracies. These Classical examples also had their own view on the role of the individual within society.
The Classical Era marked a period of time when geographic regions began to organize themselves in complex ways. Multiple empires, along with other examples, developed their political identities and overall organization of their respective societies.
Classical Rome Politically
A. Etruscan Kings rule Rome 11th – 6th century B.C.E.
The Romans overthrow the Etruscan kings.
- The Republican Era begins – 509 B.C.E.
- Two Consuls & a senate
In 27 B.C.E. Octavian becomes Emperor and takes the name Augustus Caesar.
Rome becomes an Empire 27 B.C.E. – 476 C.E.
The Classical Era �Culturally
Belief System in Persia
Religion in the Persian Empire
The Period of the Warring States 403 – 321 B.C.E.
This period of chaos and civil war coincides with a time of cultural development known as
The Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy
Belief Systems in China
The Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy
The Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Belief Systems of China
The Golden Age of Philosophy
- values (respect, benevolence,
filial piety all develop junzi)
- disengagement from the world & introspection
Belief Systems of China
Ancestral Worship
- the veneration of ancestors
- secular nature of society
- oracle bones
- mandate of heaven
Belief Systems in India
Hinduism
- Aryans recognize 4 main castes
- practices of early Brahmins
Belief Systems in India
Belief Systems in India
Buddhism
- The Four Noble Truths
- The Eightfold Path - dharma
Belief Systems in India
Representations of the Buddha – Image #1
Footprints of the Buddha
The Swastika
su = good asti = to be and ka = making
Image #2
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Document-Based Question
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
-
-
-
- Acceptance or utilized Buddhist beliefs
Documents: #1 Four Noble Truths
#3 The Disposition of Error
#2 Chinese Scholar
#5 Buddhist Scholar
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
- Rejection or opposition to the faith
Documents: #4 Chinese Scholar
#6 Tang Emperor Wu
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
- Indifference to Buddhism
Documents: #3 – disposition of error
#4 - Chinese Scholar
#5 – respect for all
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
Buddhism to China – 7th doc.
The image to the right, created by Wang Shugu, contains three historical figures: Laozi, Confucius, and the Buddha as a child.
Consider our recent DBQ topic
1. Place the image into one of your three categories and provide an explanation.
2. Source this document using the HAPPY analysis approach.
DiGiulio’s Categories & Groupings
- Embracing the belief
Documents: #2 Chinese Scholar
#3 The Disposition of Error
#5 Buddhist Scholar
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
- Skepticism and indifference
Documents: #3 – disposition of error
#5 – respect for all
#1 Four Noble Truths
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
- rejection of the belief system
Documents: #4 - Chinese Scholar
#6 - Tang Emperor Wu
Chinese Reaction to the Spread of Buddhism Categories:
Spread of Buddhism to China Thesis Statement
Along with commercial activity, a devoted monastic order of Buddhists diffused the Buddhist philosophy to East Asia. The Chinese met this newly introduced philosophy with a variety of responses. Some Chinese embraced this belief system as an equivalent to their own native beliefs. Another reaction includes one of skepticism and indifference toward the faith. Yet a third reaction includes outright rejection as a system for the Chinese to be weary of.
This process was true with respect to Buddhism. Along with commercial activity, a devoted monastic order of Buddhists diffused the Buddhist philosophy to East Asia. The Chinese met this newly introduced philosophy with a variety of responses. Some Chinese embraced this belief system as an equivalent to their own native beliefs. Another reaction includes one of skepticism and indifference toward the faith. Yet a third reaction includes outright rejection as a system for the Chinese to be weary of.
During the Classical Era, belief systems and religions of salvation spread from their places of origin to various other parts of the world. A vast network of trade served as the framework for the diffusion of these beliefs and religions.
This process was true with respect to Buddhism. Along with commercial activity, a devoted monastic order of Buddhists diffused the Buddhist philosophy to East Asia. The Chinese met this newly introduced philosophy with a variety of responses. Some Chinese embraced this belief system as an equivalent to their own native beliefs. Another reaction includes one of skepticism and indifference toward the faith. Yet a third reaction includes outright rejection as a system for the Chinese to be weary of.
During the Classical Era, belief systems and religions of salvation spread from their places of origin to various other parts of the world. As different beliefs and religions were created, people reacted to them in various ways.
The Classical Era �Economically
Trade Networks of the Classical Age
Mediterranean
Silk Roads
Indian Ocean
Emergence of Silk Roads
Zhang Qian
Journey of Zhang Qian under orders of Han Wudi
Zhang Qian will travel to Bactria in search of allies against Xiongnu. He will not get allies but will see many Chinese goods for sale in markets in Bactria. This will set the ground work for Silk Roads.
Han Dynasty
Kushan Empire
Parthian Empire
Roman Empire
Stabilized Regional Trade
The Bactrian Camel
Streamlined Verizon of Silk Roads
Tools of long distance trade
Yokes Saddles Stirrups
Development of Trade Networks
Economics of the Empire
- trade with Egypt and India
- standardized coinage
- agricultural basis of society
Economics of Classical India
- Ashoka built irrigation canals
- monsoon system facilitates trade
Economics of the Classical China
- silk , metallurgy
- agricultural basis of society