Foundations of Classical Civilizations
Essential Questions
Foundations of Classical Civilizations
Questions
China
India
Rome
Greece
1. How is the social structure set up?
Qin Dynasty
- peasants no longer were loyal to landowners
- established bureaucracy
Han Dynasty
- highly patriarchal society
- large merchant class
- scholar - bureaucrats
Maurya Empire
- efficient bureaucracy with secret police
Gupta Empire
- relied on local authorities to maintain order and to collect tributes
Republic
- tensions between patrician and the plebians
- patricians were aristocracy
- plebians paid the taxes and had no right and ability to run for a political position
Athens
- all free adult males could participate in politics
- dominated by wealthy aristocrats
- women did not have near full equality with men
Sparta
- promoted equality with no gain on land or wealth
- women were almost at full equality with men
- men and boys lived in barracks between ages 7 to 30
2. What is the economic system or trade system like?
Qin Dynasty
- building of roads and bridges, and the introduction of standard currency increased trading
- high taxes
Han Dynasty
- used the silk road to trade
- main item was silk
Maurya Empire
- agriculture was the main source of wealth
- farmers used excessive irrigation systems
Gupta Empire
- traded mainly with salt and metals
- relied on 1/4 of agriculture taxes
Republic
- large numbers of slave laborers
- large unemployed class
- wealthy merchant class
Empire
- promoted trade and a variety of luxury goods were brought into the empire
Greece
- main trading items were grapes and wines
- traded using the silk road
- Mediterranean Sea ports
3. How are they organized politically?
Qin Dynasty
- Mandate of Heaven
- established a strong bureaucracy
- harsh legalist
Han Dynasty
- Confucian and bureaucratic state
- difficult service exams
- bureaucracy composed of well-educated people
- Confucianism reinforced the chain of authority
- tribute
Foundations of Classical Civilizations
Questions
China
India
Rome
Greece
1. How is the social structure set up?
Qin Dynasty
- peasants no longer were loyal to landowners
- established bureaucracy
Han Dynasty
- highly patriarchal society
- large merchant class
- scholar - bureaucrats
Maurya Empire
- efficient bureaucracy with secret police
Gupta Empire
- relied on local authorities to maintain order and to collect tributes
Republic
- tensions between patrician and the plebians
- patricians were aristocracy
- plebians paid the taxes and had no right and ability to run for a political position
Athens
- all free adult males could participate in politics
- dominated by wealthy aristocrats
- women did not have near full equality with men
Sparta
- promoted equality with no gain on land or wealth
- women were almost at full equality with men
- men and boys lived in barracks between ages 7 to 30
2. What is the economic system or trade system like?
Qin Dynasty
- building of roads and bridges, and the introduction of standard currency increased trading
- high taxes
Han Dynasty
- used the silk road to trade
- main item was silk
Maurya Empire
- agriculture was the main source of wealth
- farmers used excessive irrigation systems
Gupta Empire
- traded mainly with salt and metals
- relied on 1/4 of agriculture taxes
Republic
- large numbers of slave laborers
- large unemployed class
- wealthy merchant class
Empire
- promoted trade and a variety of luxury goods were brought into the empire
Greece
- main trading items were grapes and wines
- traded using the silk road
- Mediterranean Sea ports
3. How are they organized politically?
Qin Dynasty
- Mandate of Heaven
- established a strong bureaucracy
- harsh legalist
Han Dynasty
- Confucian and bureaucratic state
- difficult service exams
- bureaucracy composed of well-educated people
- Confucianism reinforced the chain of authority
- tribute