CHANGES AND CONTINUITY IN THE

CLASSICAL ERA C. 600 B.C.E. TO 600 C.E.

Today’s LEQ: After the First Wave Civilizations, what changed and what didn’t?

First Wave Civilizations

Emerged from about c. 3500 B.C.E. Generated the most impressive and

powerful human societies created thus far But, proved to be fragile and vulnerable as

well Even though “first wavers” broke down,

there was no going back – Civilization, as a form of human community stuck around

Second Wave Civilizations New or enlarged urban-centered,

state-based societies emerged to replace first wavers – EMPIRES!!!i.e. Persia, Greece, Rome, Han-

China, etc. Many eventually perished and

were replaced by “third wavers”i.e. the collapse of Rome

Continuities in Civilization Same pattern of “rise, expand, collapse” Monarchs continued to rule Patriarchy persisted Sharp divide between elite and

everyone else Practice of slavery stayed No major technological or economic

breakthroughs leading to new kinds of human societies

Changes in Civilization Population grew more rapidly than ever before (rate of

growth is quite slow compared to recent centuries) Growing size of states & empires dwarfed first wave

civilizations; brought together vast diversity of people under a single political system

Rise and fall of second wave empires had major consequences and changes for the people who experienced them; oftentimes results in bloodshed, destruction, and trauma

Modest innovations enhanced human potential for manipulating the environment

Far more elaborate, widespread, and dense networks of communication and trade

Distinctive “Wisdom Traditions” Develop All have provided moral and spiritual framework

within which most of the world’s peoples have sought to order their lives and define their relationship to the mysteries of life and death

All are the product of second and third-wave civilizationsThe great philosophical/religious systems of

Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism in ChinaHinduism and Buddhism in IndiaGreek rationalism in the MediterraneanJudaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam in

the Middle East

Links to Today

Current identities of entire countries, regions, and civilizations still linked to the achievements of the classical era