Decline of the Classical Civilizations

1
Decline of the Classical Civilizations

• AP WORLD

2
Fall of Classical Civs

• Between 200 and 600 CE all three classical
  civilizations collapsed
• Germanic invaders disrupt the Roman Empire
• The Huns invaded Rome
• Another Hun Group disrupted the Gupta Empire in
  India

3

• Han China/Roman Empire suffered from severe
  internal weaknesses well before the invasions
• By 100 CE Han China is in serious decline
• Han and Roman share many characteristics of
  decline

4

• Political ineffectiveness
• Inability to push back invaders
• Revolution/Civil War
• Daoists Yellow Turbans
• Peasant unrest
• Epidemics

5
China, post-classical

• China does revive itself towards the end of the
  6th century
• Sui Dynasty
• Tang Dynasty (618 CE)

6
India

• India was always a REGIONAL kingdom, whereas the
  Emperor shared power with local princes
• This control was declining by the mid-5th century
• Invasions
• Regional Princes, the Rajput, controlled the
  small states of India
• Indian Culture continues to evolve
• Affected by Muslim armies after 600 CE

7
Roman Decline

• After 180 CE, Roman fell into disrepair
• Corruption
• Declining population
• Declining tax revenue
• Disputes over succession to the throne
• Intervention of the army
• Plagues
• International trade
• Economic Decline

8
Roman Collapse

• DECLINE OF THE UPPER CLASS
• Influence
• Creativity
• Deadening effect of authoritarian rule
• Sole interest in luxury

9
In the West

• As conditions worsened, as economic life became
  more precarious
• Farmers clustered under the protection of large
  landowners
• Offer food, work, shelter, and SAFETY
• Local Stability, but weakened the power of the
  Emperor
• Cities SHRINK in size

10

• Diocletian (284-305 CE) tries to improve the
  Empire
• Improve administration
• Improve tax collection
• Worship Emperor as a GOD
• Persecute Christians

11

• Constantine (312-337 CE)
• Set up second Capital City in the EAST to
  regulate that side of the Empire more
  effectively Constantinople (the city of
  Byzantium)
• Adopts Christianity to help unify the empire

12

• Decline was exacerbated by the Germanic Invasions
  (which only totaled about 5 of the Population)
• BUTRome was so weakthey were successful
• The final Roman Emperor was displaced in 476 CE

13
Post-Classical Mediterranean

• Eastern portion of Empire Centered on
  Constantinople
• BYZANTINE EMPIRE
• Justinian (527-565 CE) tries to recapture
  heritage of Rome
• Justinians Code Codified Law
• Middle East Parthian and Sassanid empires serve
  as a bridge between Mediterranean World and the
  East

14

• North Africa Regional Kingdoms
• Coptic Church Egypt
• North African Christianity
• WESTERN EUROPE Middle Ages
• Feudalism
• Regional Kingdoms