The Classical Period: Movements of People

The Classical Period: Movements of People

Movements of PeopleCommon themes for the classical

civilizations include ◦territorial expansion◦ efforts to integrate the peoples of

the new territories

◦Ex. Southeast Asia gained access to civilization during the classical period mainly through its contacts with India.

Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-

Sahara refers to the area/land below the Sahara desert.

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Sub-Saharan Africa1000 B.C.E-independent kingdom

of Kush flourished along the upper Nile.◦Possessed a form of writing derived

from Egyptian hieroglyphics and mastered the use of iron.

Major cities were built

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The stone pyramids of Kush at Merowe in the Sudan.

Sub-Saharan AfricaKushites established a strong

monarchy with the belief that the king was divine.

300 B.C.E-Kush was defeated by the African kingdom of Axum

Axum was later defeated by the kingdom of Ethiopia◦Both Axum and Ethiopia were in

contact with Mediterranean civilizations

Ethiopia

Sub-Saharan AfricaJudaism spread to Ethiopia due to

trade creating a small minority of Ethiopian Jews.◦The Ethiopian Christian Church was

cut off from mainstream Christianity after the fall of the classical period but Christianity flourished in isolation.

Sub-Saharan AfricaIron working spread which

facilitated expansion of agriculture

Kushite writing did NOT spread

What does this suggest about the impact of civilization below the Sahara?

Sub-Saharan AfricaTowards the end of the classical

era important regional kingdoms began to form in western Africa, leading to the creation of the first great state-GHANA

◦Root crops and plantains, being introduced to Southeast Asia about 100 C.E.

West Africa-Ghana

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Japan

Japan200 C.E.-Japan had established

extensive agriculture.◦Population of the islands were formed by

migrations from the peninsula of Korea.

Organization based on tribal chiefs evolved◦Each tribal group had its own god

thought of as an ancestor.

JapanJapan developed an iron working

network.◦Skipped the stages of bronze and copper

work and went straight from stone to iron.

Regional states in Japan became more complex controlling larger territories.◦Scribes from Korea to keep records on the

island

Japan-ShintoismJapan’s religion was Shintoism.

◦Shintoism provided for the worship of political rulers and the spirits of nature, including the all important god of rice.

local shrines and rituals (unified religion in 700 C.E.)

Shinto-Shrines

Shinto shrine for Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess

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The Heian Shrine at Kyoto

The Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo

Japan400 C.E.-National politics arose

as local regional leaders gained trust and loyalty from other leaders.◦Japan’s imperial

house-emperor/leader was worshipped as a religious figure.

Japan began to have more contact with China

Northern Europe

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Northern EuropeTeutonic or Celtic peoples (were loosely

organized regional kingdoms) ◦ Germany◦England ◦Scandinavia◦Slavic peoples

There was no written language, except in the cases where Latin had been imported.

Northern EuropeAgriculture was still very

primitive with hunting and gathering.

◦Scandinavians (learned skill of sailing)

◦Religious beliefs consisted of polytheistic nature gods.

Civilizations of Central and South America

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Civilizations of Central and South America800 C.E-400 C.E- Central America

◦ Olmecs developed and spread and early form of civilization.

◦Lacked written language but produced massive pyramid shaped religious monuments.

Civilizations of Central and South America

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The Wrestler, a sculpture from the Olmec civilization

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An Olmec "head," ca. 900 B.C.

Civilizations of Central and South AmericaIn the Andes region of South

America

◦Potatoes were grown◦Domesticated animals such as

turkeys, dogs, and guinea pigs◦Impressive achievements in jade art◦Religious statues were icons blended

human images with animals.◦Accurate and impressive calendar.

Civilizations of Central and South America

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Civilizations of Central and South AmericaOlmecs disappeared without a

clear trace around 400 B.C.E.

Teotihuacan was the center of trade and worship.◦ Suffered setbacks from migrations

and regional wars but American civilization starting with Maya 400 C.E.

Civilizations of Central and South AmericaPeru and Bolivia

◦careful agriculture allowed the construction of elaborate cities and religious monuments

◦development of the Incan civilization

Early American Indian cultures were considerably ahead of European civilizations

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PolynesiaDeveloped in isolation in new island

territories in the Pacific

◦Fiji and Samoa by 1000 B.C.E

Giant outrigger canoes led to the first settlement of island complexes such as Hawaii.◦Adapted local plants ◦brought new animals such as pigs ◦Caste system under local kings.

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PolynesiaPolynesians came from mainland

Asia.

◦Left no written records

◦Ships were great double canoes and helped them catch ocean winds (trade)

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Africa-Bantuht

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Africa-BantuMost Likely originated in an area

south of the Sahara Desert in the region of modern day Nigeria.◦language dialect not necessarily a

tribe of people◦2000 B.C.E- left their homeland due

to desertification◦traveled for centuries all over sub-

Saharan Africa maintaining the majority of their customs.

Africa-BantuLanguage spread it combined with

others

Migrations were gradual by the end of the classical era

Migrations introduced agriculture, iron metallurgy and the Bantu language to most regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.