1 expanding networks of exchange and encounter 1200 bce – 500 ce

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Expanding NetworksExpanding Networksof Exchange and of Exchange and

EncounterEncounter1200 BCE – 500 CE1200 BCE – 500 CE

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Population Population GrowthGrowth

Expanding Expanding Networks of Networks of ExchangeExchange

Let’s focus on two key developments

of this era.

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•• B/W 1000 BCE B/W 1000 BCE and 1 CE world and 1 CE world population rose population rose from @ 120 to @ from @ 120 to @ 250 million. 250 million.

• • due to an due to an acceleration in the acceleration in the raterate of growth of growth

Population Growth Population Growth

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Afroeurasia- invention of Afroeurasia- invention of iron iron enabled farmers to clear/ cultivate enabled farmers to clear/ cultivate millions of acres never before millions of acres never before used for farming- hoes, spades, used for farming- hoes, spades, plowsplows

Farming and pastoral nomadism Farming and pastoral nomadism replaced hunting/gathering in replaced hunting/gathering in some regions. People moved into some regions. People moved into previously uninhabited areas.previously uninhabited areas.

Improved kinds of crops produced more food per acre.Improved kinds of crops produced more food per acre.

Horses/camels began to be used more as work animals; farms more Horses/camels began to be used more as work animals; farms more productive.productive.

living closer in denser populations. led to build-up of natural immunities living closer in denser populations. led to build-up of natural immunities to local infectious diseases; left people vulnerable to epidemics caused to local infectious diseases; left people vulnerable to epidemics caused by diseases new to region.by diseases new to region.


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Over time, the clearing of Over time, the clearing of forests led to soil erosion, forests led to soil erosion, shortages of wood for fuel, shortages of wood for fuel, and the extinction of some and the extinction of some local animal and plant species.local animal and plant species.

#1#1Deforestation!Deforestation!

Population GrowthPopulation GrowthConsequences Consequences

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As populations grew and As populations grew and communities grew larger, communities grew larger, more complex, and closer more complex, and closer together, organization became together, organization became more important. New political, more important. New political, social, and economic systems social, and economic systems emerged.emerged.

Brahmin

Kshatriya

Vaishya

Sudra

Untouchable

The Indian Caste SystemThe Indian Caste System

#2 More

complex societies!


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#3#3Collective Collective learning learning

increased!increased!


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#4More people

began living in large cities!

Population GrowthPopulation GrowthCities Cities

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AlexandriaAlexandria

• • Founded by Alexander Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCEthe Great in 331 BCE

• • Important trade center Important trade center

• • Its library home to many Its library home to many famous scholarsfamous scholars

There were not only Greeks and There were not only Greeks and Italians, but also Syrians, Libyans, Italians, but also Syrians, Libyans, Cilicians and yet others from farther Cilicians and yet others from farther countries—Ethiopians, Arabs, as countries—Ethiopians, Arabs, as well as Bactrians, Scythians, well as Bactrians, Scythians, Persians, and a few Indians.Persians, and a few Indians.

A Greek orator A Greek orator writing about writing about

AlexandriaAlexandriaThe Pharos Lighthouse in AlexandriaThe Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria

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Chang’an (Xian)Chang’an (Xian)

• • Capital of China during Capital of China during the Han dynastythe Han dynasty

• • Located at the eastern Located at the eastern end of the end of the SILK ROADSILK ROAD

• • Merchants and diplomats Merchants and diplomats brought trade goods and brought trade goods and new ideasnew ideas

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PersepolisPersepolis

• • Founded in the 6th Founded in the 6th century BCE by Darius century BCE by Darius II

• • Capital of the Capital of the Achaemenid Empire of Achaemenid Empire of PersiaPersia

• • Destroyed by Destroyed by Alexander the Great in Alexander the Great in 330 BCE330 BCE

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RomeRome

Not without good reason did gods Not without good reason did gods and men choose this spot as the and men choose this spot as the site of a city.site of a city.

Livy, a Roman historianLivy, a Roman historian

• • Political and economic Political and economic hub of the Roman hub of the Roman EmpireEmpire

• • World’s largest city in World’s largest city in Big Era Four, with nearly Big Era Four, with nearly one million residentsone million residents

• • Elaborate water and Elaborate water and sewer systems made sewer systems made Rome livable despite its Rome livable despite its sizesize

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• • Major city of the Major city of the Americas located in Americas located in the valley of Mexicothe valley of Mexico

• • From 400 to 600 CE, a From 400 to 600 CE, a thriving commercial thriving commercial and agricultural center and agricultural center with 200,000 residentswith 200,000 residents

• • The Pyramid of the The Pyramid of the Sun covered as much Sun covered as much ground as the pyramid ground as the pyramid of Khufu in Egyptof Khufu in EgyptThe Pyramid of the Sun, The Pyramid of the Sun,

TeotihuacanTeotihuacan

TeotihuacanTeotihuacan

Photo: University of Arizona

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Over time, deforestation led Over time, deforestation led to soil erosion, shortages of to soil erosion, shortages of wood for fuel, and the wood for fuel, and the extinction of some local extinction of some local animal and plant species.animal and plant species.

When communities grew When communities grew larger, more complex, and larger, more complex, and closer together, new political, closer together, new political, social, and economic social, and economic systems became necessary.systems became necessary.

Collective learning increased, further fueling advances in technology.Collective learning increased, further fueling advances in technology.

Although the vast majority of people still inhabited rural farming Although the vast majority of people still inhabited rural farming villages, more people than ever before began living in large cities.villages, more people than ever before began living in large cities.

In Summary:In Summary:


Brahmin

Kshatriya

Vaishya

Sudra

Untouchable

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RoutesRoutes c 300 BCE to 300 CE, merchants, shippers, c 300 BCE to 300 CE, merchants, shippers, sea captains, empire-builders extended & sea captains, empire-builders extended & strengthened trade routes across Afroeurasia strengthened trade routes across Afroeurasia and Americas.and Americas.

EmpiresEmpires Empires required networks of military & Empires required networks of military & political communication - encouraged various political communication - encouraged various interactions over long distances.interactions over long distances.

WritingWriting Alphabetic writing systems in Afroeurasia, Alphabetic writing systems in Afroeurasia, people could communicate faster & easier. people could communicate faster & easier.

ReligionsReligions World religions— Hinduism, Judaism, World religions— Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity—stimulated Buddhism, and Christianity—stimulated cultural interchange.cultural interchange.

Disease Epidemic diseases spread along networks Disease Epidemic diseases spread along networks influencing empires in various ways.influencing empires in various ways.

Expanding NetworksExpanding Networks

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In the Americas...In the Americas...

The Olmec of Mexico developed extensive The Olmec of Mexico developed extensive trade networks that extended hundreds of trade networks that extended hundreds of miles from Olmec territory. They imported miles from Olmec territory. They imported jade and other raw materials for their crafts. jade and other raw materials for their crafts. Their exports included pottery and Their exports included pottery and sculpture.sculpture.

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: RoutesRoutes

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The The SILK ROADSILK ROAD, , Persian Royal Persian Royal Road, Roman Road, Roman

roads, and roads, and shipping routes shipping routes

combined to form combined to form extensive extensive

interregional interregional networks of networks of exchange in exchange in Afroeurasia.Afroeurasia.


A wide variety of A wide variety of goods flowed along goods flowed along these networks… these networks…

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On the map are some of the On the map are some of the goods traded along the goods traded along the Afroeurasian networks.Afroeurasian networks.

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An empire is a state that unites many territories and diverse peoples under one

ruler or government.

• A number of large states, or empires, A number of large states, or empires, appeared in this period.appeared in this period.

• Empire-builders had to move troops and Empire-builders had to move troops and supplies, dispatch messages, gather supplies, dispatch messages, gather intelligence, and collect taxes.intelligence, and collect taxes.

• required good systems of communication and required good systems of communication and transport by land and sea.transport by land and sea.

• created mainly to serve the empire’s created mainly to serve the empire’s government and army.government and army.

• also served as highways of commerce, also served as highways of commerce, cultural exchange, and migration.cultural exchange, and migration.


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Instead, they traded with farmers and Instead, they traded with farmers and city-dwellers for food and other goods.city-dwellers for food and other goods.

By 1000 BCE, pastoralists controlled By 1000 BCE, pastoralists controlled networks of exchange throughout Inner networks of exchange throughout Inner Eurasia .Eurasia .

Domestication of the horse, ox, and camel Domestication of the horse, ox, and camel made humans more mobile.made humans more mobile.

About 3000 BCE, people in the steppes of About 3000 BCE, people in the steppes of Inner Eurasia began to take up Inner Eurasia began to take up pastoralism. Because they moved with pastoralism. Because they moved with their herds, they typically did not grow their herds, they typically did not grow crops.crops.


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The Romans built an The Romans built an extensive network of extensive network of roads. Over 50,000 roads. Over 50,000 miles of paved roads, miles of paved roads, tracks, and trails tracks, and trails radiated from the Forum radiated from the Forum in the center of Rome to in the center of Rome to all parts of the empire.all parts of the empire.

Roman RoadsRoman Roads


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Built primarily to speed Built primarily to speed troops and supplies troops and supplies

used for commercial used for commercial purposespurposes

Constructed by skilled Constructed by skilled engineers, the roads were engineers, the roads were strong enough to support strong enough to support half-ton wagons and wide half-ton wagons and wide enough to allow two-way enough to allow two-way traffic.traffic.


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Between 300 BCE and Between 300 BCE and 300 CE, long periods of 300 CE, long periods of stability and prosperity in stability and prosperity in states throughout states throughout Afroeurasia stimulated Afroeurasia stimulated interest in long distance interest in long distance trade. trade.

Intercontinental Intercontinental communication and the communication and the exchange of goods, exchange of goods, became regular, became regular, organized, and protected organized, and protected by large empires.by large empires.


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The The SILK ROADSSILK ROADS - network of roads, - network of roads, tracks, and trails across Inner Eurasia, tracks, and trails across Inner Eurasia, part of Great Arid Zone, belt of dry part of Great Arid Zone, belt of dry country extending across Afroeurasiacountry extending across Afroeurasia


Great Arid ZoneInner Eurasia

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The Silk Roads carried The Silk Roads carried shipments of Chinese shipments of Chinese

silk but also many other silk but also many other goods.goods.


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On the Silk Roads, goods On the Silk Roads, goods changed hands many times. changed hands many times. Parthians, Indians, Kushans, Parthians, Indians, Kushans, Uighurs, and others acted as Uighurs, and others acted as middlemen, selling and middlemen, selling and bartering goods, and taking bartering goods, and taking profits. profits.

Caravans passing west carried silk, Caravans passing west carried silk, porcelain, jade, bronze, and spices. porcelain, jade, bronze, and spices.

Those traveling east shipped gold and Those traveling east shipped gold and silver coins, ivory, gemstones, silver coins, ivory, gemstones, glassware, and carpets.glassware, and carpets.


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Sea routes ran down the Sea routes ran down the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Persian Gulf, across the Arabian Sea and across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and through Bay of Bengal, and through the Straits of Malacca to the the Straits of Malacca to the South China Sea. South China Sea.

Chinese Chinese ShipShip

Roman Roman ShipShip

Indian Indian ShipShip


These sea lanes often linked These sea lanes often linked up with overland routes, up with overland routes, facilitating travel, trade, and facilitating travel, trade, and the exchange of ideas the exchange of ideas across Afroeurasia.across Afroeurasia.

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Empires had formed in Afroeurasia as Empires had formed in Afroeurasia as early as the 3early as the 3rdrd millennium BCE. Although millennium BCE. Although many claimed vast territories, most did many claimed vast territories, most did not survive for long.not survive for long.

In the 4th century BCE, Alexander the In the 4th century BCE, Alexander the Great amassed an empire that stretched Great amassed an empire that stretched from Greece to India. Upon his death, from Greece to India. Upon his death, however, the empire fragmented.however, the empire fragmented.

The later centuries of this era saw the The later centuries of this era saw the rise of new empires that both dominated rise of new empires that both dominated huge expanses of land and remained huge expanses of land and remained unified for a long time. The unified for a long time. The Largest of these were the Han and Largest of these were the Han and Roman empires.Roman empires.

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: EmpiresEmpires

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Large Empires of AfroeurasiaLarge Empires of Afroeurasia500 BCE - 500 CE500 BCE - 500 CE

Rome

Kush

Parthian/Xiongnu

Han

Kushana

Maurya/ Gupta

Byzantium

Sassanid

Axum

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• Alphabetic writing systems appeared Alphabetic writing systems appeared in the later second millennium BCE. in the later second millennium BCE. These systems used a small number These systems used a small number of symbols, or letters, to represent of symbols, or letters, to represent sounds.sounds.

• Letters could be arranged in Letters could be arranged in countless ways to form words.countless ways to form words.

• The Phoenicians were among the first to devise an alphabet. The Phoenicians were among the first to devise an alphabet.

• Because they were sailors and merchants, the idea of alphabetic Because they were sailors and merchants, the idea of alphabetic writing spread wherever the Phoenicians traveled.writing spread wherever the Phoenicians traveled.

• During the first millennium BCE alphabetic writing spread from the During the first millennium BCE alphabetic writing spread from the Mediterranean region to India.Mediterranean region to India.

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: WritingWriting Cool!Cool!

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2800 BCE 1900 BCE 500 BCE 1 CE 500 CE

Hinduism

Judaism

Buddhism

ChristianityReligions that Spread During Big Era Four

?

1200 BCE

BuddhismBuddhism

HinduismHinduism

ChristianityChristianity

JudaismJudaism

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: ReligionsReligions

What is a world religion? It’s a belief system that

embraces people of differing languages and

cultural traditions. Religions that spread

during this period were:

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Growth of World Growth of World ReligionsReligions

HinduismFrom lstmillennium BCE

BuddhismFrom 5th century BCE

ChristianityFrom 1st century CE

JudaismCommunitiesscattered widely inSW Asia, N. Africa, Europe, especially from the first cent CE.

Outline Map: Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002

Spread via Silk Road and other routes

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When people carried a When people carried a new religion from place new religion from place to place, they also often to place, they also often took alongtook along

•A writing system (This was A writing system (This was useful in teaching holy scripture.)useful in teaching holy scripture.)

•Trade goods (Religion was a Trade goods (Religion was a basis of trust among merchants.)basis of trust among merchants.)

•Art styles (Religious ideas were Art styles (Religious ideas were often expressed in painting, often expressed in painting, sculpture, and architecture.)sculpture, and architecture.)

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: ReligionsReligions

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• Role of trade routes in spread of Role of trade routes in spread of pathogenspathogens

• Limited data, but trends in Limited data, but trends in demographics reasonably cleardemographics reasonably clear

• Smallpox, measles, bubonic plagueSmallpox, measles, bubonic plague• Effect: Economic slowdown, move to Effect: Economic slowdown, move to

regional self-sufficiencyregional self-sufficiency

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: DiseaseDisease

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Epidemics in the Han and Roman EmpiresEpidemics in the Han and Roman Empires

0102030405060

c. 0CE

c.200CE

c.400CE

c.600CE

Chinese Population, 0-600 CE

Millions

0102030405060

c. 0 CE c. 200CE

c. 400

Roman Population, 0-400 CE

Millions

Expanding Networks: Expanding Networks: DiseaseDisease

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Expanded networks of exchange Expanded networks of exchange allowed people, goods, ideas & allowed people, goods, ideas & disease to move 1000’s of miles. disease to move 1000’s of miles. The development of alphabetic The development of alphabetic writing systems speeded up the writing systems speeded up the transfer of information. Also, transfer of information. Also, people who met, shared ideas, and people who met, shared ideas, and conducted business with one conducted business with one another helped spread new world another helped spread new world religions across Afroeurasia.religions across Afroeurasia.

Expanding Networks Expanding Networks of Exchangeof Exchange

Population growth was linked Population growth was linked to the expansion of agriculture. to the expansion of agriculture. Increases in population density Increases in population density and job specialization in and job specialization in farming communities led to the farming communities led to the creation of more and larger creation of more and larger cities.cities.

Population Population GrowthGrowth

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Themes of Classical Era 500 BCE-600 CE: Themes of Classical Era 500 BCE-600 CE: Internal Development, Interregional Spread Internal Development, Interregional Spread

of Ideas & Collapse of Empiresof Ideas & Collapse of Empires

• high degrees of internal organization, • extended their authority over extremely large

regions • created influential cultural traditions. • long-lasting influence on world history.• development of interregional land and sea

trade routes & the spread of common beliefs and traditions.

• Internal problems/external invasions

Empire: larger than a kingdom in terms of territory

and assembled by conquest or threat

of use of force

Classical society-

societies whose structure

influenced subsequent

societies long after the original one disappeared

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So many developments in this time period! Hmmm… I wonder what will happen

next. Stay tuned for the

Post-Classical Era!

1 expanding networks of exchange and encounter 1200 bce – 500 ce

Documents

population growthconsequences

economic systems

diseases new

encounter1200 bce

century bce

people vulnerable

ce world population

bce important trade