Chapter 12 Reading Guide
Chapter 12 Link:[Link]/3ThyK00
Be able to answer the following questions:
o what extent did therise and collapseof ClassicalEmpires lead to religious syncretization (fusion
T
of multiple cultural traditions)?
The rise of classical empires caused culture syncretization because there was a higher amount of trade.
More people were traveling around, causing more of their culture to be shared. Many people turned to
Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism which were the three most popular religions at that time. Many people
also sought to blend the best of all three religions. Because so many nomads were traveling, many
epidemics were spread, which caused the fall of these Classical Empires. Also, many peasants who had just
converted were rioting against the rulers of their Empires. When these Classical Empires collapsed, many
nomadic religions were replaced with more popular options. In China, nomads turned to adopting standard
Chinese names. They married Chinese spouses and dressed differently.
o what extent did thecollapseof the Classical Empires(Gupta, Roman, Han and Teotihuacan)
T
represent a turning point in human history?
All of these empires caused a turning point in Human History for multiple reasons. First, many of these
empires had a firm grip on the opinions their people had. In the Roman Empire, the government wanted to
stamp out Christianity. They didn’t like the missionaries and Christian ideals. Therefore, not many people
were Christians in the Roman Empire. Once the Roman Empire fell, more people were able to adopt
Christian values. Also, there was a lot of chaos during the collapse of these powerful empires. In the Han
Dynasty, many peasants decided to revolt. People pronounced themselves as “War Lords” and caused
havoc in the region. There was no real government. The collapse also caused a bigger spread of the already
rampaging epidemic.
Trade Networks of the Hellenistic Era(234-236)
Describe each part of the Hellenistic Trade Networks with examples
The Monsoon System Overland Trade
● T raders learned the direction of the wind ● Historians think of this as the sink roads
in each season ○ Chinese high quality sink was one of the
● During the summer, the winds blow from main commodities exchanged
the southwest. ○ Took silk from China to Rome
● During the winter, they blow from the ● These routes linked most of Eurasia and North
northeast Africa
● This knowledge helped traders sail ● Example
safely in the Indian Ocean Basin. ○ The routes went from
● Example: ■ Han Capital (China)
○ Second century BCE ■ Taklamakan desert (Tarim Basin)
○ Hellenistic mariners learned the ● Very dangerous
monsoon system from Arabs and ● “He who enters does not
Indians come back out”
○ They were now able to establish ■ Splits into two branches
regular safe routes. ● Come back together at
Kashi
■ Bactria
● Branch at Taxila and north
India
■ North Iran
■ Syria
A
■ rabia
■ Turkey
■ Tyre
The Silk Roads(237-238)
Analyze the causes and effects of food distribution in the Islamic World, provide three examples.
Trade Good Where it originated Where it went ow did Geography
H
shape the trade?
Silk China entral Asia, Iran, Arabia, Roman
C ade it harder to
M
Empire, Egypt and North Africa trade because of the
different natural
obstacles in its way.
Spices India entral Asia, Iran, Arabia, Roman
C The harsh terrain
Empire, Egypt and North Africa caused long journeys
for many people.
Art Roman Empire entral Asia, Iran, Arabia, Roman
C
Empire, Egypt and North Africa
o what extent did therise and collapseof ClassicalEmpires lead to religious syncretization (fusion
T
of multiple cultural traditions)?
The rise of classical empires caused culture syncretization because there was a higher amount of trade.
More people were traveling around, causing more of their culture to be shared. Many people turned to
Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism which were the three most popular religions at that time. Many people
also sought to blend the best of all three religions. Because so many nomads were traveling, many
epidemics were spread, which caused the fall of these Classical Empires. Also, many peasants who had just
converted were rioting against the rulers of their Empires. When these Classical Empires collapsed, many
nomadic religions were replaced with more popular options. In China, nomads turned to adopting standard
Chinese names. They married Chinese spouses and dressed differently.