The Ancient City of Rome
Period 2: 600B.C.E. - 600 C.E.
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Use these analysis sheets when watching Crash Course World History.
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We'll use SPICE Charts to compare different civilizations throughout the unit/year.
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Unit 2 Readings:
Key Concepts of Period 2:
Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies, c. 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.
2.1 Development & Codification of Religious/Cultural Traditions
I. Codifications and further developments of existing religious traditions provided a bond among the people and an ethical code to live by.
A. The association of monotheism with Judaism was further developed with the codification of the Hebrew Scriptures, which also reflected the influence of Mesopotamian cultural and legal traditions. The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman empires conquered various Jewish states at different points in time. These conquests contributed to the growth of Jewish diasporic communities around the Mediterranean and Middle East.
B. The core beliefs outlined in the Sanskrit scriptures formed the basis of the Vedic religions-later known as Hinduism-which contributed to the development of the social and political roles of a caste system and in the importance of multiple manifestations of Brahma to promote teachings about reincarnation.
II. New belief systems and cultural traditions emerged and spread, often asserting universal truths.
A. The core beliefs about desire, suffering, and the search for enlightenment preached by the historic Buddha and recorded by his followers into sutras and other scriptures were, in part, a reaction to the Vedic beliefs and rituals dominant in South Asia. Buddhism changed over time as it spread throughout Asia-first through the support of the Mauryan Emperor Ashok, and then through the efforts of missionaries and merchants, and the establishment of educational institutions to promote its core teachings.
B. Confucianism’s core beliefs and writings originated in the writings and lessons of Confucius and were elaborated by key disciples who sought to promote social harmony by outlining proper rituals and social relationships for all people in China, including the rulers.
C. In the major Daoist writings, the core belief of balance between humans and nature assumed that the Chinese political system would be altered indirectly. Daoism also influenced the development of Chinese culture.
Examples of Influence of Daoism on the development of Chinese Culture:
Medical Theories/Practices
Poetry
Metallurgy
Architecture
D. Christianity, based on the core beliefs about the teachings and divinity of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded by his disciples, drew on Judaism and initially rejected Roman and Hellenistic influences. Despite initial Roman imperial hostility, Christianity spread through the efforts of missionaries and merchants through many parts of Afro-Eurasia, and eventually gained Roman imperial support by the time of Emperor Constantine.
E. The core ideas in Greco-Roman philosophy and science emphasized logic, empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchy.
III. Belief systems affected gender roles. Buddhism and Christianity encouraged monastic life and Confucianism emphasized filial piety.
IV. Other religious and cultural traditions continued parallel to the codified, written belief systems in core civilizations.
A. Shamanism and animism continued to shape the lives of people within and outside of core civilizations because of their daily reliance on the natural world.
B. Ancestor veneration persisted in many regions.
Examples of regions where ancestor veneration persisted:
Africa
The Mediterranean Region
East Asia
The Andean Areas
V. Artistic Expressions, including literature and drama, architecture, and sculpture, show distinctive cultural developments.
A. Literature and drama acquired distinctive forms that influenced artistic developments in neighboring regions and in later time periods.
Examples of literature and drama:
Greek Plays
Indian Epics
B. Distinctive architectural styles developed in many regions in this period.
Examples of regions where distinctive architectural styles developed.
India
Greece
The Roman Empire
Mesoamerica
C. The convergence of Greco-Roman culture and Buddhist beliefs affected the development of unique sculptural developments.
A. The association of monotheism with Judaism was further developed with the codification of the Hebrew Scriptures, which also reflected the influence of Mesopotamian cultural and legal traditions. The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman empires conquered various Jewish states at different points in time. These conquests contributed to the growth of Jewish diasporic communities around the Mediterranean and Middle East.
B. The core beliefs outlined in the Sanskrit scriptures formed the basis of the Vedic religions-later known as Hinduism-which contributed to the development of the social and political roles of a caste system and in the importance of multiple manifestations of Brahma to promote teachings about reincarnation.
II. New belief systems and cultural traditions emerged and spread, often asserting universal truths.
A. The core beliefs about desire, suffering, and the search for enlightenment preached by the historic Buddha and recorded by his followers into sutras and other scriptures were, in part, a reaction to the Vedic beliefs and rituals dominant in South Asia. Buddhism changed over time as it spread throughout Asia-first through the support of the Mauryan Emperor Ashok, and then through the efforts of missionaries and merchants, and the establishment of educational institutions to promote its core teachings.
B. Confucianism’s core beliefs and writings originated in the writings and lessons of Confucius and were elaborated by key disciples who sought to promote social harmony by outlining proper rituals and social relationships for all people in China, including the rulers.
C. In the major Daoist writings, the core belief of balance between humans and nature assumed that the Chinese political system would be altered indirectly. Daoism also influenced the development of Chinese culture.
Examples of Influence of Daoism on the development of Chinese Culture:
Medical Theories/Practices
Poetry
Metallurgy
Architecture
D. Christianity, based on the core beliefs about the teachings and divinity of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded by his disciples, drew on Judaism and initially rejected Roman and Hellenistic influences. Despite initial Roman imperial hostility, Christianity spread through the efforts of missionaries and merchants through many parts of Afro-Eurasia, and eventually gained Roman imperial support by the time of Emperor Constantine.
E. The core ideas in Greco-Roman philosophy and science emphasized logic, empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchy.
III. Belief systems affected gender roles. Buddhism and Christianity encouraged monastic life and Confucianism emphasized filial piety.
IV. Other religious and cultural traditions continued parallel to the codified, written belief systems in core civilizations.
A. Shamanism and animism continued to shape the lives of people within and outside of core civilizations because of their daily reliance on the natural world.
B. Ancestor veneration persisted in many regions.
Examples of regions where ancestor veneration persisted:
Africa
The Mediterranean Region
East Asia
The Andean Areas
V. Artistic Expressions, including literature and drama, architecture, and sculpture, show distinctive cultural developments.
A. Literature and drama acquired distinctive forms that influenced artistic developments in neighboring regions and in later time periods.
Examples of literature and drama:
Greek Plays
Indian Epics
B. Distinctive architectural styles developed in many regions in this period.
Examples of regions where distinctive architectural styles developed.
India
Greece
The Roman Empire
Mesoamerica
C. The convergence of Greco-Roman culture and Buddhist beliefs affected the development of unique sculptural developments.
2.2 The Development of States and Empires
I. The number and size of key states and empires grew dramatically by imposing political unity on areas where previously there had been competing states.
Examples of key states and empires:
Southwest Asia: Persian Empires:
Achmaemenid
Parthian
Sassanid
East Asia: Qin and Han Empire
South Asia: Maurya and Gupta Empires
Mediterranean Region: Phoenicia and its colonies, Greek City States and colonies, and Hellenistic and Roman Empires
Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan, Maya City-States
Andean South America: Moche
II. Empires and states developed new techniques of imperial administration based, in part, on the success of earlier political forms.
A. In order to organize their subjects, the rulers created administrative institutions in many regions.
Examples of Administrative Institutions:
Centralized Governments
Elaborate Legal Systems and Bureaucracies.
Examples of regions where rulers created administrative institutions:
China
Persia
Rome
South Asia
B. Imperial governments projected military power over larger areas using a variety of techniques.
Examples of Techniques:
Diplomacy
Developing Supply Lines
Building Fortifications, Defensive Walls, and Roads
Drawing new groups of military officers and soldiers from the local populations or conquered peoples.
C. Much of the success of the empires rested on their promotion of trade and economic integration by building and maintaining roads and issuing currencies.
III. Unique social and economic dimensions developed in imperial societies in Afro-Eurasia and the Americas.
A. Cities served as centers of trade, public performance of religious rituals, and political administration for states and empires.
Examples:
B. The social structure of empires displayed hierarchies that included cultivators, laborers, slaves, artisans, merchants, elites, or caste groups.
C. Imperial societies relied on a range of methods to maintain the production of food and provide rewards for the loyalty of the elites.
Examples of such methods:
D. Patriarchy continued to shape gender and gamily relations in all imperial societies of this period.
IV. The Roman, Han, Persian, Mauryan, and Gupta empires created political, cultural, and administrative difficulties that they could not manage, which eventually led to their decline, collapse, and transformation into successor empires or states.
A. Through excessive mobilization of resources, imperial governments caused environmental damage and generated social tensions and economic difficulties by concentrating too much wealth in the hands of elites.
Example of environmental damage:
B. External problems resulted from security issues along their frontiers including the threat of invasions.
Examples of external problems:
Examples of key states and empires:
Southwest Asia: Persian Empires:
Achmaemenid
Parthian
Sassanid
East Asia: Qin and Han Empire
South Asia: Maurya and Gupta Empires
Mediterranean Region: Phoenicia and its colonies, Greek City States and colonies, and Hellenistic and Roman Empires
Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan, Maya City-States
Andean South America: Moche
II. Empires and states developed new techniques of imperial administration based, in part, on the success of earlier political forms.
A. In order to organize their subjects, the rulers created administrative institutions in many regions.
Examples of Administrative Institutions:
Centralized Governments
Elaborate Legal Systems and Bureaucracies.
Examples of regions where rulers created administrative institutions:
China
Persia
Rome
South Asia
B. Imperial governments projected military power over larger areas using a variety of techniques.
Examples of Techniques:
Diplomacy
Developing Supply Lines
Building Fortifications, Defensive Walls, and Roads
Drawing new groups of military officers and soldiers from the local populations or conquered peoples.
C. Much of the success of the empires rested on their promotion of trade and economic integration by building and maintaining roads and issuing currencies.
III. Unique social and economic dimensions developed in imperial societies in Afro-Eurasia and the Americas.
A. Cities served as centers of trade, public performance of religious rituals, and political administration for states and empires.
Examples:
- Persepolis
- Chang’an
- Pataliputra
- Athens
- Carthage
- Rome
- Alexandria
- Constantinople
- Teotihucacan
B. The social structure of empires displayed hierarchies that included cultivators, laborers, slaves, artisans, merchants, elites, or caste groups.
C. Imperial societies relied on a range of methods to maintain the production of food and provide rewards for the loyalty of the elites.
Examples of such methods:
- Corvee
- Slavery
- Rents and tributes
- Peasant Communities
- Family and household production
D. Patriarchy continued to shape gender and gamily relations in all imperial societies of this period.
IV. The Roman, Han, Persian, Mauryan, and Gupta empires created political, cultural, and administrative difficulties that they could not manage, which eventually led to their decline, collapse, and transformation into successor empires or states.
A. Through excessive mobilization of resources, imperial governments caused environmental damage and generated social tensions and economic difficulties by concentrating too much wealth in the hands of elites.
Example of environmental damage:
- Deforestation
- Desertification
- Soil Erosion
- Silted Rivers
B. External problems resulted from security issues along their frontiers including the threat of invasions.
Examples of external problems:
- Between Han China and Xiongnu
- Between the Gupta and the White Huns
- Between the Romans and their Northern and Eastern neighbors.
2.3 Emergence of Transregional Networks
of Communication & Exchange
I. Land and water routes became the basis for transregional trade, communication, and exchange networks in the Eastern Hemisphere.
A. Many factors, including the climate and location of the routes, the typical trade goods, and the ethnicity of people involved, shaped distinctive features of a variety of trade routes.
Required Examples of trade routes:
II. New technologies facilitated long-distance communication and exchange.
A. New technologies permitted the use of domesticated pack animals to transport goods across longer routes.
Examples of a new technology:
Examples of domesticated pack animals:
B. Innovations in maritime technologies, as well as advanced knowledge of the monsoon winds, stimulated exchanges along maritime routes from East Africa to East Asia.
Examples of maritime innovations:
III. Alongside the trade in goods, the exchange of people, technology, religious and cultural beliefs, food crops, domesticated animals, and disease pathogens developed across far-flung networks of communication and exchange.
A. The spread of crops, including rice and cotton from South Asia to the Middle East, encouraged changes in farming and irrigation techniques.
Example:
B. The spread of disease pathogens diminished urban populations and contributed to the decline of some empires.
Examples of the effects of the spread of disease on empires:
C. Religious and cultural traditions were transformed as they spread.
Examples of transformed religious and cultural traditions:
A. Many factors, including the climate and location of the routes, the typical trade goods, and the ethnicity of people involved, shaped distinctive features of a variety of trade routes.
Required Examples of trade routes:
- Eurasian Silk Roads
- Trans-Saharan Caravan Routes
- Indian Ocean Sea Lanes
- Mediterranean Sea Lanes
II. New technologies facilitated long-distance communication and exchange.
A. New technologies permitted the use of domesticated pack animals to transport goods across longer routes.
Examples of a new technology:
- Yokes
- Saddles
- Stirrups
Examples of domesticated pack animals:
- Horses
- Oxen
- Llamas
- Camels
B. Innovations in maritime technologies, as well as advanced knowledge of the monsoon winds, stimulated exchanges along maritime routes from East Africa to East Asia.
Examples of maritime innovations:
- Lateen Sail
- Dhow
III. Alongside the trade in goods, the exchange of people, technology, religious and cultural beliefs, food crops, domesticated animals, and disease pathogens developed across far-flung networks of communication and exchange.
A. The spread of crops, including rice and cotton from South Asia to the Middle East, encouraged changes in farming and irrigation techniques.
Example:
- The qanat system
B. The spread of disease pathogens diminished urban populations and contributed to the decline of some empires.
Examples of the effects of the spread of disease on empires:
- The Roman Empire
- The Chinese Empire
C. Religious and cultural traditions were transformed as they spread.
Examples of transformed religious and cultural traditions:
- Christianity
- Hinduism
- Buddhism