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The Downfall of Classical Empires: Epidemics, Internal Decay, and Cultural Transformations

This unit explores the decline of major classical empires, particularly the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire, focusing on the impact of epidemic diseases like smallpox, measles, and the bubonic plague. Both empires faced significant population drops and economic contractions due to these epidemics. Internal decay characterized the downfall of these states, with issues such as factionalism and military usurpation leading to fragmentation. The rise of Christianity in Rome and the gradual influence of Buddhism in China during this period reflect significant cultural changes following the collapse of these empires.

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The Downfall of Classical Empires: Epidemics, Internal Decay, and Cultural Transformations

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  1. Imperial Downfall & Periodization Unit 1 Foundations, 8,000 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.

  2. End of Empires

  3. The Spread of Epidemic Diseases • Epidemic diseases • Common epidemics in Rome and China: smallpox, measles, bubonic plague • Roman empire: population dropped by a quarter from the 1st to 10th cen. • China: population dropped by a quarter from the 1st to 7th century C.E. • Effects of epidemic diseases • Both Chinese and Roman economies contracted • Small regional economies emerged • Epidemics weakened Han and Roman empires

  4. The Fall of the Han • Internal decay of the Han state • Problems of factions and land distribution led to rebellions • Generals usurped political authority; the emperor became a puppet • By 220 C.E., generals abolished the Han and divided the empire into three kingdoms • Nomadic peoples came in; China became even more divided for 350 years

  5. The Fall of Rome • Internal decay in the Roman empire • The barracks emperors: series of generals seizing throne (235-284 C.E. • The emperor Diocletian (284-305 C.E.) • Divided the empire into two administrative districts • A co-emperor ruled each district with the aid of a powerful lieutenant • The emperor Constantine and new capital Constantinople

  6. Cultural Changes, Post-Empires • Rome • Christianity most prominent survivor of the collapse of the empire • Christianity became a legitimate religion, 313 C.E. • Emperor Theodosius: Christianity the official religion, 380 C.E. • The Church became increasingly institutionalized • Conflicting doctrines and practices among early Christians • Established standardized hierarchy of church officials • Bishop of Rome, known as the pope, became spiritual leader • Christianity served as a cultural foundation • Han • Gradual Sinicizationof nomadic peoples • Withering of Confucianism in light of political instability • Popularity of Buddhism; nomadic rulers embraced it

  7. Periodization

  8. What is Periodization • attempt to categorize or divide time into named blocks • descriptive abstraction that provides a useful handle on periods of time with relatively stable characteristics • determining the precise beginning and ending to any "period" is often a matter of debate

  9. Why is this end of the 1st Unit • End of several Classical Empires • Rome, Han, Gupta • Rise and expansion of Religious movements • Movements of peoples

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