Chapter 12 Notes 14/10/2007 12:23:00
Long-distance trade and the silk roads network
• Zhang Qian's mission to the west
o Held by Xiongnu for years
Told Han Wudi of possibility of establishing trade rela-
tions to Bactria
Han Wudi subdued Xiongnu, opening up region to safe
trade routes
o Trade networks of the Hellenistic era
Important developments of the classical era that re-
duced risks
Rulers invested in constructing roads and bridges
Large empires expanded until borders were closer
Trade networks of the Hellenistic world
Exchanges between India/Bactria in east and
Mediterranean basin in west
Ptolemies learned about the monsoon system in
Indian Ocean
Maritime trade included East Africa--Rhapta
o The silk roads
Trade routes
Overland trade routes linked China to Roman em-
pire
Sea lanes joined Asia, Africa, and Mediterranean
basin into one network
Trade goods
Silk and spices traveled west
Central Asia produced large horses and jade, sold
in China
Roman empire provided glassware, jewelry, art-
works, perfumes, textiles
The organization of long-distance trade
Merchants of different regions handled long-dis-
tance trade in stages
On the seas, long-distance trade was dominated
by different empires
Cultural and biological exchanges along the silk roads
Chapter 12 Notes
• The spread of Buddhism and Hinduism
o Buddhism in central Asia and China
First present in oasis towns of central Asia along silk
roads
Further spread to steppe lands
Foreign merchants as Buddhists in China, first century
B.C.E.
Popularity of monasteries and missionaries, fifth century
C.E.
o Buddhism and Hinduism in Southeast Asia
• The spread of Christianity
o Christianity in the Mediterranean basin
Missionaries, like Gregory the Wonderworker, attracted
converts
Christian communities flourished in Mediterranean basin
by late third century C.E.
o Christianity in Southwest Asia follows the trade routes
Sizable communities in Mesopotamia and Iran, second
century C.E.
Sizable number of converts in southwest Asia until the
seventh century C.E.
Their ascetic practices influenced Christian practices in
the Roman empire
Nestorians emphasized human nature of Jesus, fifth
century C.E.
Nestorian communities in central Asia, India, and China
by seventh century C.E.
• The spread of Manichaeism; best example of religion spread on silk
roads
o Mani and Manichaeism
Prophet Mani, a Zoroastrian, drew influence from Chris-
tianity and Buddhism
Dualism: perceived a cosmic struggle between light and
darkness, good and evil
Offered means to achieve personal salvation
Ascetic lifestyle and high ethical standards
Chapter 12 Notes
Differentiation between the "elect" and the "hearers"
o Spread of Manichaeism; appealed to merchants
Attracted converts first in Mesopotamia and east Medi-
terranean region
Appeared in all large cities of Roman empire, third cen-
tury C.E.
o Persecuted by Sasanids and Romans but survived in central
Asia
• The spread of epidemic disease
o Epidemic diseases
Common epidemics in Rome and China: smallpox,
measles, bubonic plague
Roman empire: population dropped by a quarter from
the first to tenth century C.E.
China: population dropped by a quarter from the first to
seventh century C.E.
o Effects of epidemic diseases
Both Chinese and Roman economies contracted
Small regional economies emerged
Epidemics weakened Han and Roman empires
China after the han dynasty
• Internal decay of the Han state
o Problems of factions and land distribution led to rebellions
o Generals usurped political authority; the emperor became a
puppet
By 220 C.E., generals abolished the Han and divided the
empire into three kingdoms
Nomadic peoples came in; China became even more di-
vided for 350 years
• Cultural change in post-Han China
o Gradual sinicization of nomadic peoples
o Withering of Confucianism in light of political instability
o Popularity of Buddhism; nomadic rulers embraced it
The fall of the Roman empire
• Internal decay in the Roman empire
Chapter 12 Notes
o The barracks emperors: series of generals seizing throne
(235-284 C.E.
o The emperor Diocletian (284-305 C.E.)
Divided the empire into two administrative districts
A co-emperor ruled each district with the aid of a
powerful lieutenant
o The emperor Constantine and new capital Constantinople
• Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman empire
o Germanic migrations from northern Europe to eastern and
northern part of Roman empire
Visigoths--settled agriculturalists; adopted Roman law
and Christianity
Roman authorities kept Germanic peoples on the bor-
ders as a buffer
o The Huns under Attila attacked Europe mid-fifth century C.E.
o The collapse of the western Roman empire
Under the Huns' pressure, Germanic peoples streamed
into the Roman empire
Established settlements in Italy, Gaul, Spain, Britain,
and north Africa
Germanic general Odovacer deposed the Roman emper-
or, 476 C.E.
Imperial authority survived in the eastern half of the
empire
• Cultural change in the late Roman empire
o Christianity most prominent survivor of the collapse of the
empire
With Constantine's Edict of Milan, Christianity became a
legitimate religion, 313 C.E.
Emperor Theodosius proclaimed Christianity the official
religion, 380 C.E.
St. Augustine harmonized Christianity with Platonic
thought
o The Church became increasingly institutionalized
Conflicting doctrines and practices among early Christi-
ans
Chapter 12 Notes
Established standardized hierarchy of church officials
The bishop of Rome, known as the pope, became spir-
itual leader
As Roman empire collapsed, Christianity served as a
cultural foundation