Declines


 * Decline of Rome China and India**


 * All**
 * between 200-600 C.E.**
 * Reason: outside invasions, growing incursions by groups from central Asia, nomadic expansion, internal problems**


 * China**


 * From 100 C.E.
 * End of Confucian Intellectual
 * Central government control destroyed
 * corrupted bureaucrats
 * Intra-city ruling by own beliefs and high taxes to outrageous for the people creating social unrest
 * Revolutionary movement by Daoist groups (yellow turbans)...Fail
 * Imperial court comes into civil war
 * spreading of new epidemics killing many
 * Outer interaction with Buddhism creates rise and fall of empires over the 3 century decline


 * India**


 * Similar to China's decline yet less drastic
 * Gupta empire control on executive leaders weaken (5th century)
 * Invasions by nomadic Hun tribe effects northern portions which then integrated itself within warrior caste systems forming new regional groups and divisions
 * little Political expansion with the state
 * Conversion from Buddhism to Hindu
 * War of Arab armies fighting for Allah (muhammad) hits northern India by 7th century creating new converts
 * intellectual interest decline in order to protect religion from new converts
 * tension within trade systems due to change in intellectual values such as language and text hurting economic fundamentals


 * Rome**

-Political confusion creating weak emperors and problems of succession: intervention by the army increases confusion \ Economic: - less people+ less money+ economic strife - no money to pay troops... defense weakens which created increase in taxes -trade and production decline
 * start around 180 C.e.
 * population decrease: plagues from international trade with no created resistance, less produced offsprings ( anyone else feel as if we are retreating back to new civilization ways???)
 * struggles in creating sufficient armies
 * political manifestation
 * Tax collection increase weighing hard upon the society creating enemies against government and decrease in pop.
 * Human symptoms: persuasive despondency over futility of this life and despair at the belief of no after life (book)
 * Political and economical shift:


 * "Upper-class becomes more pleasure seeking, turning away from political diversion and economic vigor" (book)
 * Decay in Culture life focusing more on the witting of textbooks than in the works of the arts, sciences, and math, and other forms of literary style
 * Imperial decline pushes for landlord protection decreasing political and economical authority
 * In hopes of reviving the empire importance increased in religion however the religious division only increased inter state division
 * Germanic Invasion
 * No foundations to fall back upon during decline making it almost impossible to bring its self back such as India and China
 * people have contemplated that Rome did not fall due to its division within the Mediterranean giving it a chance to come back


 * The New Religious Map**


 * **Basing from 200-600 C.E.**
 * **These increase in religion may have came some time after any of the falls of empires (above) after the decrease in population and political instability it is said that they were in search of a new hope and solace**
 * **In all these new religions gave the beliefs of life after and divine power which helped core shaping many nations giving them share in general features**
 * **The beginnings of ultimate converts**


 * Hinduism, Buddhism, and Doaism**

- popular appeal after Gupta empire due to their practices in the religion -Bodhisattvas- the hope of containing Nirvana through meditation while continuing to be a saint on earth---bordered aspects of salvation -shift form ethics to emotional cult stressing salvation -spread increasingly in China after Han fall - Buddha(divine savior) -Major impact on women in China societies stating that women **along with men** had souls -problems with Confucian system on ideas of afterlife and women support (threat?)
 * Hinduism: "retained its belief in reincarnation and its combination of spiritual interest in union with divine essence and extensive rituals and ceremonies"
 * Buddhism: division of faithful and those who abandoned earthly life materials in favor of spiritual dedication (prayers and rituals, in relativity of Hinduism)


 * Daoism**


 * "reacted to Buddhism emphasizing practical benefits obtainable to magic"


 * Christianity**


 * started from Middle East moving westward
 * one of the two largest faiths worldwide
 * similarities to Buddhism on the aspects of salvation and guidance of saints
 * emphasis on church org. copying roman structure
 * Premium on missionary activity and widespread conversions
 * stressed the truth of its nature and was intolerant of competing beliefs. (confidence)
 * Birth of Jesus christ son of God sent down to spread word of god (Messiah)
 * Spread message of **Supreme** and only **god** with the help of his deciples with the use of the Bible holy scriptures (messages from god himself written down on scrolls then transfered and translated many times and many languages over hundreds/thousands of years)
 * Sought for classical culture changes beyond its central religious message
 * Stressed importance of classical values ( no sex before marriage)


 * The Spread of the Major Religions**


 * Islam was the vital result of changes in classical civ. brought on by attack of decay
 * Religious civility between each religion even if there were hatred with the difference of beliefs
 * Help spread through trade and merchants
 * Helped the entwining of many nations


 * **Syncretism** (within all)