Ending Classical Empires: The Problem of Decline

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Ending Classical EmpiresThe Problem of Decline
Fall
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Today

• The Silk Roads
• Comparing Han China and Rome
• Origins and Inherited Traditions
• Philosophies of Rule
• Continuities and Transitions
• The Problem of Decline and Fall

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Key Points

• Vibrant long-distance trade and contact between
  far-flung societies was a key characteristic of
  the classical period increased contact also
  quickened the pace of change in many regions
• Han China and the Roman empire provide an
  interesting model of comparison for legacies and
  transformative challenges
• Analyzing history in terms of rise and fall is
  intellectually dangerous better to speak of
  transitions, continuities, and transformations

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I. Chapter OverviewLong-Distance Trade on the
Silk Roads

• Think about influence of geography and climate

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What different kinds of people might one
encounter on the silk roads?
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Cross-Cultural ExchangesReligion and the Silk
Roads

• Buddhism
• Hinduism
• Christianity
• Manichaeism

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Cross-Cultural ExchangesDisease and the Silk
Roads
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Late Han Dynasty (c.220 CE)

• Reasons for internal shifts
• Factions among elites
• Distribution of land

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Late Han Dynasty (c.220 CE)

• Cultural Change in Post-Han China
• War and nomadic invasions
• Rise of Buddhism

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Late Roman Empire (c.450-500)

• Reasons for internal decay
• Internal factions opposition
• 3rd century Barracks emperors
• Size and management
• Invasions

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Late Roman Empire (c.450-500)

• Map of invasions at www.mhhe.com/bentley4

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Late Roman Empire (c.450-500)

• Cultural Changes
• Rise of Christianity
• Dissolving of imperial authority in the west
• Blending of Roman, Germanic,and Christian
  traditions

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Han China the Roman Empire Compared
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Anachronism

• A thing out of its time (ana chronos)

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Both emerged slowly from existing foundations
(political, social, economic, religious, etc.)

• Both emerged slowly from existing foundations
  (political, social, economic)
• Both look back as well as forward

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Han China (206 BCE 220 CE) drew on Qin and
earlier forbears, adapting ideas and institutions
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Roman Empire (c.27 BCE-c.500 CE) drew on
Etruscan, Republican, Hellenistic, and other
influences, adapting ideas and institutions
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Both states envisioned their scope as universal
the orbis terrarium (world-sphere) or
tianxia (all that is under heaven)
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Both states envisioned their scope as universal
the orbis terrarium (world-sphere) or
tianxia (all that is under heaven)
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To what extent would residents of Han China and
the Roman empire c. 220 have understood the
problems facing the other society?
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Q. Why Did Rome Fall?(scholars give 200 reasons)
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Q. Why Did Rome Fall?Problems with the question?
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To answer the question directly, lets break it
down. Whats Rome?
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. . . What do we mean by fall?
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. . . So if we dont know what we mean by Rome,
and fall is not a useful term. . . how can we
ask Why did Rome fall?
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. . . So if we dont know what we mean by Rome,
and fall is not a useful term. . . then Why
did Rome fall? is not a very good question
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Rome didnt fall, but its social, political,
and economic structures order did transform by
c.500 CE