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Classical Civilizations:

Classical Civilizations:. An Introduction. Two Themes of the Classical Age. Territorial Expansion Reasons: experience gained from earlier societies and better use of iron tools and weapons Creation of values and institutions to internally tie territories together

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Classical Civilizations:

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  1. Classical Civilizations: An Introduction

  2. Two Themes of the Classical Age • Territorial Expansion • Reasons: experience gained from earlier societies and better use of iron tools and weapons • Creation of values and institutions to internally tie territories together • Internal trade so different areas could specialize • Ideas and artistic styles provided common beliefs and expressions • Political integration melded disparate territories into a single empire

  3. Beliefs and institutions continued to influence their region long after the classical period was over. • Greek science • Chinese bureaucracy

  4. Geography of the Classical Period • Four major centers of classical civilization • China • India • The Middle East (Persia) • Mediterranean Basin • Each area influenced adjacent regions

  5. Global Connections • Trade opportunities increased as a result of contacts between societies • Silk Roads • Indian Ocean Basin • Mediterranean Basin • Along with products, ideas were exchanged

  6. Classical China Thesis: China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system in which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole.

  7. Introduction • Isolated • Couldn’t learn from other cultures • Rare invasions • Distinctive identity • Relatively little internal chaos with decline of the Shang dynasty

  8. Patterns in Classical China • Pattern of rule 1. Dynasty, family of kings, created strong politics and economy 2. Dynasty grew weak, taxes declined 3. Social divisions increased 4. Invasion or internal rebellion 5. Another dynasty emerged – general, invader, peasant rebel

  9. Dynasties • Zhou • Ruled with local princes – alliance system • Successful in agricultural communities (like manor system in Europe); Princes received land for troops/tax • Eventually local leaders ignored central government

  10. Contributions • Extended territory to “Middle Kingdom” – wheat north/ rice south • Mandate of Heaven • Greater cultural unity: standardized language (Mandarin) • Confucius

  11. Period of the Warring States (402 – 201 BCE) • Followed the Zhou dynasty’s fall • Philosophy of Confucius

  12. Qin Dynasty – China’s namesake • Qin Shi Huangdi – first emperor; brutal leader • Undid power of regional leaders • Officials selected from nonaristocratic groups – allegiance • Extended territory south • Built Great Wall • Burned books, attacked culture

  13. Innovations • National census – tax and labor service • Standardized coins, weights, measures • Uniform written language • Irrigation projects promoted manufacturing – silk

  14. Downfall • High taxes, attacks on intellectuals • Killed men, punished brutally • Died in 210 BCE – revolts broke out

  15. Han Dynasty • Kept centralized power of Qin, but reduced repression • Extended borders; opened trade to India, Mediterranean • Wu Ti – period of peace (like PaxRomana) • Advancements: supported Confucianism; formal training for civil servants • Invasions by Huns led to decline

  16. Political Institutions • Strong central government • Qin stressed unquestioned central authority • Han expanded bureaucracy

  17. Political framework • Strong local units remained, but power diminished. Relied on patriarchal families. Ancestor worship linked families. • Single law code • Universal tax system • Central authority appointments (not based on local government nominations) • Delegation done to emperor’s ministers

  18. Huge bureaucracy • Civil service tests based on Confucianism • Scholar bureaucrats

  19. Government traditions • Not heavily militaristic • Promoted intellectual life (except Qin) • Active in economy – organized production of salt; sponsored public works (canals/irrigation)

  20. Intellectual • Five Classics: speeches, songs, poems, etiquette, political materials • Art: calligraphy, pottery, carved jade • Science: calculated motion of planets 1500 years before Copernicus

  21. Class • Social status passed from one generation to the next • Upper class literate, wealthy, cultured; Mandarins were educated bureaucrats and landowning aristocracy • Landowners – 2%; rest were peasants • Property owned communally

  22. Trade • Luxury items – silk, jewelry, leather goods, furniture • Silk roads

  23. Technological advance • Ox-drawn plow/collar for animals • Iron mining • Water powered mills • Paper invented

  24. Family Life • Father unquestioned leader • Women gained power through sons/mother-in-laws to women brought in • Power to oldest son; boys over girls

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