Decline of EmpireDecline of Empire

Decline of Empires (Upshur)Complete the Chart

China India Rome

Dynastic Succession

Disuptes led to coups

Bureaucratic Corruption

Inequitable Economic Burdens

Regional, racial, or ethnic tensions

Decline of martial spirit

Costly technology

Moral Decline

Religion

External enemies

COLLAPSE IN INDIACOLLAPSE IN INDIA Guptan DynastyGuptan Dynasty

Lacked strong central governmentLacked strong central government• Provinces only owed tribute, tax, respect Provinces only owed tribute, tax, respect

to central rulerto central ruler• Provincial rulers viewed emperor as Provincial rulers viewed emperor as

related to godsrelated to gods• But local areas largely self-governingBut local areas largely self-governing

Relied on provincial rule, type of feudalismRelied on provincial rule, type of feudalism Regional leaders often stronger than Regional leaders often stronger than

emperor emperor Dynasty’s worriesDynasty’s worries

Civil war between regional leadersCivil war between regional leaders Invasions by Central Asian nomads including White HunsInvasions by Central Asian nomads including White Huns

• Beaten off by Guptas but seriously weakened empireBeaten off by Guptas but seriously weakened empire• Continued raids by Huns, Central Asians kept empire in turmoilContinued raids by Huns, Central Asians kept empire in turmoil• Large scale migrations from Northern India to Southern parts Large scale migrations from Northern India to Southern parts

Dynasty ceased to exist; attempted revival failedDynasty ceased to exist; attempted revival failed Regional states broke off, constant warfare followsRegional states broke off, constant warfare follows

HAN TROUBLESHAN TROUBLES Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus

Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads

Social tensions, stratification between the poor and richSocial tensions, stratification between the poor and rich

Problems of land distribution Problems of land distribution Early Han supported land redistributionEarly Han supported land redistribution Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Lands accumulated in the hands of a few Lands accumulated in the hands of a few No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landownersNo land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landowners

The reign of Wang Mang The reign of Wang Mang

A powerful Han minister A powerful Han minister Dethroned the baby emperor, claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. Dethroned the baby emperor, claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. Land reforms - the "socialist emperor" Land reforms - the "socialist emperor" Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E.Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E.

The reign of Wang Mang The reign of Wang Mang • A powerful Han minister • Dethroned the baby emperor,

claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. • Land reforms - the "socialist

emperor" • Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E.

LOSS OF THE LOSS OF THE MANDATE OF HEAVENMANDATE OF HEAVEN

Collapse of the HanCollapse of the Han Factions at court paralyzed the central Factions at court paralyzed the central

government government Han empire dissolvedHan empire dissolved China was divided into regional kingdomsChina was divided into regional kingdoms Devastated by plagueDevastated by plague Invaded by Huns and other nomadic Invaded by Huns and other nomadic

forcesforces

ROMAN Decline: ROMAN Decline: GovernmentGovernment

•Structure•Imperial system•Emperorship not hereditary•Emperor selected arbitrarily•Elite form imperial bureaucracy

•The Crisis•Succession crises, many civil wars• Many military coups •Declining Loyalty to State•Politicized generals•Corruption, graft common

• Eastern, Western Empires too much to manage..

ROMAN Decline: MilitaryROMAN Decline: Military•Structure

• “All volunteer army”• Poor, foreigners, criminals• Citizens avoid military service

•Problems• Politicized Generals, Incompetent• Troops loyal to paying leader• Troops largely “barbarians”

• Persia • Major enemy• Romans fight wrong force• Roman troops in East

ROMAN Decline: EconomicsROMAN Decline: Economics• Economic Structure

• Capitalistic, mercantilistic• Some command economy• Commercial agriculture: grains, export• Heavy reliance on slave labor• Industry not wide-spread

• Problems • Economic Stagnation, collapse• Agriculture disrupted, famines• Currency devalued, worthless• Trade, commerce collapse• Peasants overtaxed• Feudalism on Rise

ROMAN Decline: ReligionROMAN Decline: Religion

• Original Roman Faith Traditions• Nationalistic, ritualistic• Unemotional

• Rise of Philosophies, Mystery Religions • Rise of Christianity

• Christianity spreading, vibrant• Attracts poor, women, slaves• Good Romans enter Church

• Problem for Rome• Loyalty to God, church, faith• Christians live in East, urban areas • Church is state within a state

ROMAN Decline: ROMAN Decline: The Germans The Germans

• Homeland• Overpopulated, hunger for land• Migrated to East, SE Europe • Spread of agriculture

• Tribal Structure• War-like kings led tribes • Well-led, loyalty to leader• Rule of king not rule of law

• Interactions: War, Faith, Diplomacy•Enjoyed war, part of their code•Superior in cavalry, archers•Often strong Arian Christians•Allied with Huns, Romans•Turned on both in end• Kings assign lands after conquest to loyal supporters

Decline of EmpiresDecline of Empires Empires too big—costly to defend the

frontiers Burden of taxes on the poor, some flee to

evade taxes, as maintaining the grows more costly—taxes go up, few new sources of revenue, religious groups and nobility exempt

Slavery in Roman so oppressive less productive, fewer new sources, less technological development

Decline of Empires Decline of Empires (continued)(continued)

Administrative problemsAdministrative problems

succession—court intrigue, barrack emperorssuccession—court intrigue, barrack emperors

failing bureaucracies—corruption of examination failing bureaucracies—corruption of examination system, lack of civic responsibilitysystem, lack of civic responsibility

Roman—bread and circuses to forestall revoltsRoman—bread and circuses to forestall revolts Eroding economies—decline in trade when roads Eroding economies—decline in trade when roads

not repaired or safenot repaired or safe Religion—Christianity a factor in the decline of Religion—Christianity a factor in the decline of

Rome, but not Buddhism in the decline of the Han Rome, but not Buddhism in the decline of the Han Dynasty.Dynasty.

Decline of EmpiresDecline of Empires (continued)(continued)

Plagues—hit both empires hard, especially Plagues—hit both empires hard, especially in cities of Roman empirein cities of Roman empire

Pressure from nomads—Huns, Xiongnu, Pressure from nomads—Huns, Xiongnu, GermanicGermanic

Why did the west fall harder?Why did the west fall harder? More multiethnic Han Chinese—a true nation that More multiethnic Han Chinese—a true nation that

can endure beyond the dynasty.can endure beyond the dynasty. In Roman empire most live outside Italy.In Roman empire most live outside Italy. State and society not bonded together with the State and society not bonded together with the

same glue—China, Confucianism offers both order same glue—China, Confucianism offers both order for family, society and state—not true of Romansfor family, society and state—not true of Romans

Better assimilation of “barbarians” by China, Better assimilation of “barbarians” by China, Germanic dismembered Roman empire, while Germanic dismembered Roman empire, while nomads absorbed by Chinesenomads absorbed by Chinese

Common language—Latin never really replaced Common language—Latin never really replaced Greek in much of the empireGreek in much of the empire

Why did the western Roman Why did the western Roman empire fall and not the eastern?empire fall and not the eastern?

Deep, ingrained civilization in the east—Greeks and beforeDeep, ingrained civilization in the east—Greeks and before East less impacted by nomadic invasion—maybe because East less impacted by nomadic invasion—maybe because

many enduring cities, large populationsmany enduring cities, large populations Tribes on eastern borders were disorganized and unmotivatedTribes on eastern borders were disorganized and unmotivated After separation of empire, east no longer has to send any After separation of empire, east no longer has to send any

help to Westhelp to West Even with changing political structure , little threat to social, Even with changing political structure , little threat to social,

economic or cultural continuityeconomic or cultural continuity No cities in the westNo cities in the west German soldiers fill the ranks of Roman legions German soldiers fill the ranks of Roman legions When west cut from wealth of East, the tax base dwindledWhen west cut from wealth of East, the tax base dwindled

Stearns Chapters 5 Review: Decline of EmpiresWhat conditions led each empire to fall? What conditions for decline and fall are similar?

All 3 cultures share these similarities:

China Greco-Roman

India

China & India

China & Greece/Rome

ESSAY: What were 5 causes for the collapse of the What were 5 causes for the collapse of the Classical Empires of Rome, and Han China? How were their Classical Empires of Rome, and Han China? How were their collapses similar and different? Which region had the hardest collapses similar and different? Which region had the hardest fall and why?fall and why?