Decline Decline Decline Decline Decline Decline Decline Decline

of Classical Empiresof Classical Empiresof Classical Empiresof Classical Empiresof Classical Empiresof Classical Empiresof Classical Empiresof Classical Empires

The Roman Empire, Han China The Roman Empire, Han China

and Gupta Indiaand Gupta India

Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?

Internal factorsInternal factors Demographic shiftsDemographic shifts

Effect on tax base, tradeEffect on tax base, trade

Size of empire?Size of empire?

Corruption and moral decay?Corruption and moral decay?

Political instabilityPolitical instability Succession issuesSuccession issues

Fighting among elitesFighting among elites

Loss of central control over regional governors, elitesLoss of central control over regional governors, elites

Taxation and other government policiesTaxation and other government policies Effect on relations between social classes?Effect on relations between social classes?

Lack of cultural cohesionLack of cultural cohesion New values?New values?

Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?Why did empires decline?

External factorsExternal factors

InvasionsInvasions

Shifting trade routesShifting trade routes

Roman EmpireRoman EmpireRoman EmpireRoman EmpireRoman EmpireRoman EmpireRoman EmpireRoman Empire

INTERNAL:INTERNAL: Population declinePopulation decline

Effect on army, tax base?Effect on army, tax base?

Size of empireSize of empire Split into East and WestSplit into East and West

Disparities in wealthDisparities in wealth

Costs of defenseCosts of defense

Quality of rulers declinedQuality of rulers declined Violence and instabilityViolence and instability

Barracks EmperorsBarracks Emperors

Shift in values?Shift in values? PatriciansPatricians

Christianity?Christianity?

Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2Roman Empire, pt. 2

EXTERNAL:EXTERNAL: InvasionsInvasions

GothsGoths

Alaric sacked Rome Alaric sacked Rome 410 CE410 CE

HunsHuns

Pushed Gothic tribes into boundaries of Roman EmpirePushed Gothic tribes into boundaries of Roman Empire

Pope Pope not emperor not emperor stopped destruction of Rome!stopped destruction of Rome!

RESULT:RESULT: Empire split in twoEmpire split in two

Last Western Emperor deposed 476 CE . . .Last Western Emperor deposed 476 CE . . .

After the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of RomeAfter the Fall of Rome

Christian Church (and pope) only Christian Church (and pope) only

authority in Western half of empireauthority in Western half of empire

Monasteries = refuge, places of learningMonasteries = refuge, places of learning

Formal hierarchy of Church grewFormal hierarchy of Church grew

Territory in western half fragmentedTerritory in western half fragmented

Ruled by Germanic tribesRuled by Germanic tribes

Did all Roman culture die out?Did all Roman culture die out?

After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2After Rome, pt. 2

Byzantine Empire in eastern halfByzantine Empire in eastern half

Continued Continued caesaropapismcaesaropapism

Remained urbanizedRemained urbanized

Began losing territory after 650 CE to MuslimsBegan losing territory after 650 CE to Muslims

Economy became localized, depressedEconomy became localized, depressed

FeudalismFeudalism

LongLong--distance trade declineddistance trade declined

Effect on cities?Effect on cities?

Population?Population?

Han Dynasty Han Dynasty Han Dynasty Han Dynasty Han Dynasty Han Dynasty Han Dynasty Han Dynasty -------- ChinaChinaChinaChinaChinaChinaChinaChina

INTERNAL:INTERNAL: Poor central leadershipPoor central leadership

Allowed court infighting (imperial relatives, eunuchs, scholar bAllowed court infighting (imperial relatives, eunuchs, scholar bureaucrats)ureaucrats)

Landowners and regional officials ignored govt.Landowners and regional officials ignored govt. Exploited peasants Exploited peasants rebellionsrebellions

Yellow Turbans (184 CE)Yellow Turbans (184 CE)

Developed own armiesDeveloped own armies

Population declinesPopulation declines Occurred only at end of dynastyOccurred only at end of dynasty

Size of empireSize of empire

EXTERNALEXTERNAL Invasion by Huns only at very end Invasion by Huns only at very end already weakalready weak

220 CE: Last Han emperor deposed . . .220 CE: Last Han emperor deposed . . . Territory divided into 3 regional kingdoms among warlordsTerritory divided into 3 regional kingdoms among warlords

Nomads conquered territoryNomads conquered territory

After the HanAfter the HanAfter the HanAfter the HanAfter the HanAfter the HanAfter the HanAfter the Han

Philosophies/religionsPhilosophies/religions Buddhism gained ground (after 300 CE)Buddhism gained ground (after 300 CE)

Came through nomads/trade routesCame through nomads/trade routes

Why was it appealing?Why was it appealing?

Confucianism lost legitimacy (but didnConfucianism lost legitimacy (but didnt disappear)t disappear) Why?Why?

Daoism gained groundDaoism gained ground

No central political authorityNo central political authority Wars and nomadic invasionsWars and nomadic invasions

Effect on cities?Effect on cities?

Population declinePopulation decline Plague, faminePlague, famine

SinicizationSinicization of nomadic peoplesof nomadic peoples

Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and Attempts to reform and

stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .stave off disaster . . .

RomeRome

Diocletian (284Diocletian (284--305 CE)305 CE)

ConstantineConstantine

(312(312--327 CE)327 CE)

ChinaChina

Wang Wang MangMang (9(9--23 CE)23 CE)

MauryanMauryanMauryanMauryanMauryanMauryanMauryanMauryan Empire Empire Empire Empire Empire Empire Empire Empire -------- IndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndia

ChandraguptaChandragupta and and AshokaAshoka built well built well organized, bureaucratized govt.organized, bureaucratized govt.

After After AshokaAshoka

Army, bureaucracy salaries = expensiveArmy, bureaucracy salaries = expensive

Inflation Inflation debased currencydebased currency

Poor leadersPoor leaders

Empire ended 185 BCEEmpire ended 185 BCE

Gupta Empire Gupta Empire Gupta Empire Gupta Empire Gupta Empire Gupta Empire Gupta Empire Gupta Empire -------- IndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndiaIndia

Regional kingdoms followed end of Regional kingdoms followed end of MauryansMauryans

INTERNAL:INTERNAL: Political decentralization Political decentralization vassals ruledvassals ruled

Difficult to fight off invadersDifficult to fight off invaders

Quality of leadersQuality of leaders

EXTERNAL:EXTERNAL: Invasion by White HunsInvasion by White Huns

Costs of defense HUGECosts of defense HUGE

Last Gupta king deposed 550 CELast Gupta king deposed 550 CE

But wealth continued = TRADE!But wealth continued = TRADE!

Caste system, Caste system, religionreligion kept society togetherkept society together