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The Neolithic Revolution caused a major change in how humans lived:
- Food supply became stable, creating surpluses
- Better ability to store food for times of scarcity
- Humans moved away from nomadic and hunter-foraging societies and transitioned to an agricultural lifestyle
- With food source stable, humans focused on developing other aspects of civilization (government, religion, city-building, building military, technology)Regional trade between civilizations begins, aided by development of wheel
- Trade included not only goods and services but ideas/technology/spread of belief systems
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Hammurabi’s code brought order to Babylon in Mesopotamia:
- Early law systems reflected attitudes on social hierarchies (class systems)
- Code establishes gender inequality in Babylonian society (Patriarchal society)
- Law code influences development of writing systems and record keeping systems
- Code includes 282 laws, including brutal punishments
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The development of iron tools and weapons impacted civilizations:
- The Hittites first develop iron weapons, transforming their society into a power in Mesopotamia
- Iron helps development of new weapons and new modes of transportation (chariot)
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Multiple belief systems developed between 600 BCE and 600 CE:
- Hinduism developed in India; important beliefs include dharma, karma, and reincarnation (the rebirth of one’s soul)
- Confucianism not a religion but a philosophy that focuses on social cohesion and keeping order in society
- Daoism emphasizes human balance with nature (Yin and Yang)
- Buddhism spreads throughout Asia along the Silk Road
- Christianity develops after crucifixion of Jesus; eventually becomes official religion of the Roman Empire
- Hostility continues to in to Constantinople
- The Mayans, Romans, and Mauryans are examples of classical governments using religion in order to legitimize their authority by forcing every citizen in empire to follow the state chosen religion
- Romans – Christianity, but only after Edict of Milan. Before edict, Romans hostile towards Christianity
- After split of Roman empire, Christianity still faces hostility in Constantinople
- Mauryans – Buddhism
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Classical Empires all eventually declined and fell apart due a variety of reasons that include:
- Gupta – Attacked by the Huns and empire is weakened by attempts to keep Huns out.
- Han – Xin dynasty takes control of China, successfully using the belief in the “Mandate of Heaven” to undermine the Han dynasty. Han never recovers
- Greeks – Wars between Athens and Sparta leave both city-states weakened. Macedonians able to capitalize and take over city-states. Alexander the Great’s death leaves Macedonians open to attacks by Romans.
- Roman empire – Empire becomes too large for one emperor. Split empire in to two piece in an attempt to keep empire alive. Eventually Western Roman Empire cannot hold off attacks and invasions from groups such as the Goths and Vandals.
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Classical Empires developed political systems and transportation networks to keep their empires organized and to govern their subjects effectively:
- Democracy – Begins in Athens during the rule of Pericles. Allows citizens to participate in government (voting!)
- Diplomacy – The skill of managing international relations. Leaders of governments send “diplomats” or ambassadors to other countries to manage relationships between countries/empires
- Bureaucracy – Hierarchy in government. Elected officials divide leadership responsibilities in to departments to better manage government. Leaders appoint unelected officials to run government departments (finance, generals, etc.)
- Royal Road – Road built by Persians to help connect empire together and to make trade and exchange of other items (communication, mail, letters, ideas, technology) easier
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Difference between Centralized Government and De-centralized government:
- A central government is the supreme political authority of a state/nation/country.
- Central government uses a bureaucracy to organize the government
- A decentralized government lets power be dispersed throughout the system, letting government organizations govern themselves at a local level
- Lack of central governments in Europe and Asia lead to the use of “feudalism” by kings to protect countries
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The Mongols:
- Pastoral nomads who begin expansion in 11th Century, led by Genghis Khan
- Skilled militaristic fighters who use speed/horses/bow and arrow
- Feared reputation for brutal fighting tactics
- Smartly chose administrators from lands they conquer to resume the style of governments of territories they conquered
- Marco Polo visits the court of Kublai Khan during China’s Yuan Dynasty
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Feudalism:
- Political and economic system used in Europe and Asia when central governments not as strong
- Kings/Nobles/Knights/Serfs make up 4 levels of feudalism in Europe
- Kings give land to Nobles in exchange for loyalty/providing knights
- Nobles give land to knights in exchange for military service
- Knights give land to serfs to farm in exchange for protection
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Development of Large Global Empires:
- Voyages of Chinese explorer Zheng He attract attention of European traders
- European nations desire to trade with China, begin trading their goods in China
- Europeans use improved ship design to become improved traders
- Nations, such as Portugal, want to establish trading forts throughout India Ocean/Pacific Ocean, rather than conquer large areas of territory, and create a monopoly over a market
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Impact of Triangle Trade:
- European explorers desire a faster route to East Asia, including finding a Northwest Passage
- After European discovery of New World (Western Hemisphere) Europeans focus on developing colonies in the Americas
- Europeans desire new products from the Americas, including sugar, leading to development of plantation style agriculture that becomes popular in Western Hemisphere
- Europeans subjugate indigenous Native Americas also known as “Amerindians”; European disease ends up decimating Native population
- Mixing of Europeans and Amerindians creates new racial classifications; Spanish also conduct missionary activity in Americas in order to spread Christianity
- European countries become wealthy due to Triangle trade as economy boosted from new colonies and products
- African nations impacted negatively, as different African tribes work to capture other tribes to sell men to Europeans
- Unequal gender distribution in Africa as majority of men are sent via the Middle Passage to the Americas
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