Decline+and+Fall+of+China,+India,+and+Rome


 * Rome:**
 * Decline in Rome was complex; involved a mix of internal and external factors
 * The Fall was led by inflation, military problems, and too big to control
 * The people were made up by Barbarians and Italians
 * Created small local governments (too big to control as one government)
 * After Emperor Constantine ruled, his influence with Christianity led to the split of the empire
 * The spread of Christianity = broke influences with other groups
 * When the military weakened = the army lost its way
 * The western part became more and more weak = as the eastern empire became "stronger"
 * The eastern empire became known as Byzantine Empire
 * After decades of military weakness = the empire finally crumbled
 * The eastern and western parts of the empire developed different after the fall of Rome

**China:**
 * A combination of internal weakness + invasion = changes in China
 * The fall had to do with the government becoming weaker and weaker
 * Political aspects became more corrupted with time
 * Local landlords ruled neighborhoods as the pleased
 * Peasants (exploited with high taxes) had new taxes due to the landlords
 * Peasants lost their farms + had to labor on large estates + had to sell their kids
 * Daoism began to rise
 * Daoism leader (Yellow Turbans) promised a recovery
 * Failed to keep the promise
 * Invasions from surrounding nomads = final crumble

**India:**
 * A combination of internal weakness + invasion = important changes in India
 * The fall was led to invasions of nomadic people (the Hun)
 * The invaders goal f= destroying the Gupta Empire
 * The invaders formed groups of regional princes( Rajput) -> ruled small states
 * Didn’t prevent Indian culture from prospering
 * Hinduism took over Buddhism
 * Islam (religion of the Middle East) tried to influence India’s religious values (failed)
 * Politics Hinduism succeeded
 * Gupta Empire felt apart
 * Indians religion and cast system went on


 * Notes on the New Religious Map**
 * Main Idea:** Classical declines saw the fast expansion of Buddhism and Christianity. Religious changes had bigger cultural, social, and political inferences.

-Buddhism traveled in India’s borders -Originated in India, but was pushed away due to Hinduism -Some follower north of India -Chief agents of expansion + leader sips = Monks -Divide the faithful among a minority who abandoned earthly life in favor of spiritual dedication -Became a more emotional cult stressing the opportunity of popular salvation -Bodhisattvas lead them in prayer and advising on spiritual matters to salvation -Mahayana (great Vehicle); were East Asia Buddhist who retained Buddhist belief -Disrupted China’s firm belief in patriarchal power - “Women, like men, had souls” -Not Popular with all Chinese (Confucian leaders) -Greater lasting influence in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam (East and Southeast Asia) -Today 500 million people (mainly in Asia) count themselves as Buddhist -Retained its belief in reincarnation -Combination of spiritual interest + divine essence + extensive spiritual devotion + ceremonies - Greater popular appeal after the fall of Guptas -Polytheistic -Maintain strong in India, led caste system -Improved its organization + emphasizing practical benefits obtainable through magic -Developed a clear hold many peasant (putting many of their beliefs in) -Developed in Middle East and spread westward - One of the two largest faiths worldwide -Emphasized on church organization and structure -Jesus Christ believed to be Messiah -That was the key to Judaism -Jesus of Nazareth; was to be son of god sent to redeem human sins -Jesus started his teachings in Israel -After his crucifixion his disciples led his teachings -God was supreme single being -God loved all humans despite earthly sins -God "promised salvation" (Afterlife) -No matter if you were rich or poor but you could follow Christianity -Paul, was a disciple and led Jesus’ teachings -Father -> son (Christ) -> and Holy Ghost -Constantine converted to Christianity -In the Western empires popes ruled churches -The celebration of Christ’s birthday = winter solace -When Rome fell = Christianity was a major world religion -Launched in the early 7th century -Initially surpass Christianity as a world faith -Christianities most tenacious rival -With Islam no totally new religion of major significance arose
 * Buddhism:**
 * -Bodhisattvas**; people that could reach nirvana by their own meditation by prayer, example, and serve as saints in the world.
 * Hinduism:**
 * Daoism:**
 * Christianity:**
 * Islam:**