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Classical societies are characterized by high degrees of organization, having authority over large regions, and elaborate customs. There was also expansion over the silk roads, disease, goods, and religion.
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Theater: The Greeks are known for their dramatic literature preformed at annual theatrical festivals. The few works that exist today show complicated themes.
Philosophy: The three main Greek philosophers were Socrates, who encouraged reflection on ethics and morals, Plato, who questioned reality, and Aristotle, who valued logic
Family: The society was very patriarchal with women falling under the authority of male relatives.The only thing women could do was know small businesses. -
Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with Aryans
Challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires
Communication systems: Persian Royal Road and postal stations (Herodutus)
Commonwealth: law, justice, administration led to political stability and public works (like the Qanat)
Nomadic society; importance of family and clan relationships
Agriculture was the economic foundation
Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, banks, laws -
Roman expansion into Mediterranean basin, western Europe, down Nile to Kush
Well-engineered Roman roads; postal system
The pater familias: eldest male of the family ruled
as time went on women influenced family affairs and found loopholes to own property.
Slavery- one-third of the population
City Attractions: baths, pools, gymnasia, circuses, stadiums, amphitheaters had many Statues, pools, fountains, arches, temples, stadiums -
Trade with Persia, China, Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, southeast Asia, Mediterranean basin
Gender relations: patriarchal families, female subordination, child marriage
Development of caste system
With trade and commerce new social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared
These social groups functioned as sub castes or jati
Vaishyas and shudras saw unprecedented wealth
Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant -
Built an enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire
Continued to build roads and canals
Levied taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft industries
Imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt
Established Confucian educational system
Emphasized cultural unity
Invaded and colonized northern Vietnam and Korea
Taxes and land confiscations discouraged investment in manufacture and trade
Social tensions, caused by stratification between poor and rich
Problems of land distribution -
There was Influence from high quality manufacturing, not military might.
Theocracy: priests keep calendar and regulate when to plant/harvest
Connection to Olmecs: ball game, calendar, adapted symbols to writing
Religion: earth god, rain god and human sacrifice, Pyramid of the Sun is the largest single structure in Mesoamerica -
From Persia, toppled Parthians
Merchants brought in various crops from India and China
buffer states with Romans; standoff with Kushan
Conflicts with Rome, Byzantium, and Kush
Incorporated into Islamic empire -
There was a king, royal family, and a ruling class. The Maya kings were powerful warlords who were in charge of warfare and who were considered to be descended from the gods. Maya priests interpreted the movements of the gods, as represented by the sun, moon, stars, and planets, telling the people when to plant and do other daily tasks.The vast majority of Maya worked in basic agriculture, growing the corn, beans, and squash that still make up the staple diet in that part of the world.