The End of the Classic Era

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The End of the Classic Era
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Religion

• By 650 Christianity had spread through The
  Mediterranean and Europe. Buddhism was
  established in East Asia. Hinduism still reigned
  in South Asia. Islam was born in the Middle East
  and would soon spread to Europe, Asia and Africa.

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Han dynasty

• Popular uprisings had to be put down by the army.
  The generals then established rule over Chinas
  regions, acting as warlords. (208 AD)
• Nomads invaded from the north

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• It was at this time Buddhism grew among the
  people. Monks traveled to India to study sacred
  texts.

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The Gupta Empire (India)

• By 500 BC the Huns controlled large areas of
  Northern India. Unified defense was hard because
  vassals still controlled many areas.
• By 550 the Guptas were gone.

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• The caste system remained strong.
• Trade remained strong as well until Islamic
  armies gained control of the Northwest and cut
  off Indian Ocean trade routs. (600s)

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The Roman Empire (350 450AD)

• Population decreased, the armys population
  decreased, and taxes were harder to collect,
  especially on the frontier.
• Without expansion there was no new source of
  wealth

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• Many times the army operated on its own and
  involved itself in disputes over emperor
  succession.
• Plague also swept over the empire, spread by
  trade.
• .

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• All of these factors combined to ruin Rome.
• Small pockets of farmers rallied around
  landowners or generals for protection in some
  regions.
• Many estates produced all their own goods, and
  had their own army.

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• North Africa and The Middle East devolved into
  regional kingdoms until unified by Islam
• Eastern Europe preserved Hellenistic culture in
  the form of the Byzantine Empire.
• Western Europe descended into a land of crude
  regional kingdoms. Civilization was reduced.

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Buddhism and Christianity.

• Both moved away from their regions of origin.
  Both were altered through cultural blending.
  Both stressed inner spirituality and a rejection
  of the material world. Both versions had a
  heaven and a savior.

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• Christianity was more structured.