1E.+Classical+Civilizations

**__Sparta Hierarchy of Social Class__**: The social pyramid is topped with the two kings that have power over the people of power. Next is the Ephors, or elder council. They oversee the city and act as a form of government. Next are the Spartan warriors. Every well able Spartan boy was trained to be a warrior and fight in one of the greatest armies to walk the Earth. The bottom of the social hierarchy was the Helots, which consisted of seventy five percent of the population. The Helots were caught in between slavery and freedom. In Sparta, women were thought of highly because they created elite Spartan warriors. However, women were not on the elder council or had any real political role. There was respect toward women but, there still remained patriarchy. Also, social mobility was quite fluid in Sparta but, for slaves there was little emancipation.
 * __ Social Structure of Classical Civilizations: __**

**__Athenian Hierarchy of Social Class:__** The merchant class and philosophers were the highest class in ancient Athens. Next, were the foreigners that moved to Athens. These people aren’t foreigners as we think of them. They were those who immigrated to Athens from other Greek city-states. Farmers followed the foreigners on the social hierarchy. The social hierarchy was bottomed out by the slaves. In the great, Greek city state of Athens, there was a heavily enforced patriarchal society. Women were seen as uneducated by the men. Social mobility was also fluid in this ancient democratic republic.

**__Rome Hierarchy of Social Class:__** Land owners and political leaders made up the patricians, which is the top of the social hierarchy. Next were the plebeians. This class consisted of merchants and general workers. The plebeians were followed by the farmer class that produced the food for the Roman Empire. Thirty three percent of the population is on the bottom of the hierarchy as slaves. Rome was run by men. Women had little influence in this patriarchal society. Social mobility was possible for slaves to plebeians but, plebeians could not become a part of the patrician class. The slaves of Rome consisted of the people that the Roman army conquered. Slaves could earn freedom and they could also purchase land.

**__Indian Hierarchy of Social Class:__** The Brahmans and kings topped the hierarchy in India. Next was the warrior class, Kshtriyas. They valued warfare in India so the warriors were a vital factor to their success. Merchants, farmers, and herders made up the Vaisyas class which followed the warrior class. The Sudras, also known as untouchables, were the slaves and laborers. Patriarchy was strong in India. Women were seen as entertainers and their man goal was to please men. Women were also told they can’t achieve moksha. The only way you could move up a social class was if you lived a modest life and reincarnated into an upper class. Thus, social mobility was impossible in one lifetime.

**__Chinese Hierarchy of Social Class:__** The elite class of China consisted of powerful government officials. The land owners were next on the social hierarchy latter. The merchant class was next. They weren’t respected by the upper class people because they were seen as selling other people’s work. However, many of the merchants became wealthy. The bottom of the social hierarchy in China was the peasant class. In China, women were thought of very negatively. They were seen as insignificant. The only social mobility possible was for a land owner’s son. If he became educated he could go into the government. Slavery was pretty much non-existent. The only enslaved people were debtors and violent criminals.

**__Mesoamerican Hierarchy of Social Class:__** The Mayan hierarchy was topped by priests and kings, followed by intellectuals, warriors, and peasants. The Teotihuacán’s highest class was also kings and priests but, they were followed by merchants and peasants. The Chavin, like most Mesoamerican social classes, was topped by priests and kings. Next was their elite class, followed by the peasants. Little is known about a lot of Mesoamerica because of a lack of written history. What we can infer is there were patriarchal societies in this region because women were not allowed to be kings or priests, which was the highest class in the three highlighted societies. There was also slavery because large monuments were created in order to praise their god.


 * __Gender Roles in Classical Civilizations: __**

**__Spartan Gender Structure:__** In Sparta women were under the control of men, usually one in their family. However in Sparta, women were allowed to participate equally with men in certain aspects of life. Women were in many ways equal in the social, economic, and athletic aspects of society. Women in Sparta were also respected for their ability to produce and raise Spartan men. These men then grew to become soldiers, farmers and politicians.

 **__Athens Gender Structure:__** Athens practiced a strictly patriarchal social system. Athens also used women as slaves to men in power, and rich land owning men. Women in the family fell under the rule of different men depending on the make up of their family. Women were under the control of their fathers, husbands, or even sons. Women spent most of the time working in the house, with the children doing house hold chores. Athenian women had to humble themselves when outside of the house by wearing a veil.

**__Indian Gender Structure:__** In India, women had very few rights and were ranked low on the caste system. It was more difficult for women to climb the caste system then it was for men. Women could not be kings, priests, or warriors which are the top three sections of the caste system. This made it impossible for women to be released from the birth cycle. Hindu law stated that women should be respected but were subject to the authority of the men in their lives.


 * __Chinese Gender Structure: __** In China Women were obedient to the control of all men, especially their husbands. Women were considered weak and insignificant. They were used for entertainment, producing children, and doing house hold chores. Women had few options available for advancement. Generally they were confined to their social classes; however they had opportunity to rise if they passed the government sponsored civil service exam. Women left their father’s house after going through a pre-arranged marriage. Patriarchy in China grew more strict and important as time went on.
 * __Mesoamerican Gender Structure:__** In Mesoamerica women were given specific roles in society that started from birth. When girls were born they were given a metate which is used in the preparation of maze, which women use often later in life. Women were given many roles in daily life they were to fulfill, such as: raising children, grinding maze into floor, preparing food, and watching after the animals. Women were considered lower than men, but were respected because they were so vital in the running of a family.


 * Trading Patterns of Classical Civilizations **

**General Characteristics**:During the time of Classical Civilizations most trade was indirect. Many people think that trade only involves physical goods but ideas such as religion and culture were spread and even disease.

**Phonecians**: The Phonecians developed their alphabet around 1050 B.C. They spread the use of the alphabet to Northern Africa and Europe, where the Greeks adopted it, and it was later passed to the Romans and Etruscans. The Greeks were their first trading partners. They traded wood, slaves, glass, and powdered Tyrian Purple, which was used to color the Greek elites clothing. Also traded with Great Britain where they obtained tin and also traded with the Iberian Peninsula.
 * Mediterranean Trade **
 * Greece **: Wheat was seen as a necessity in Greece so they traded with Cyrenaica, Egypt, and Italy in order to obtain it.Greece also imported things such as spices, fabrics, metals, and materials for shipbuilding like wood, linen, and pitch. They exported wine, pottery, and olive oil. In Athens, marble and silver coins were traded. The silver coins could be used as currency and also a source of metal because the coins could be melted down back into silver. The Greeks placed a tax on their cargo which started off as one percent then eventually grew to two percent.Overall, the trade in Greece was free, the state only controlled wheat because it was very valuable to Greece and it could not be grown in Greece.
 * Rome: ** Rome first began to trade with India in the first or second century CE. Their main trading partners in Southern India were the Tamil dynasties of Pandyas, Cholas, and Cheras. The main things they traded with India were pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and gems. In return, Romans traded silver and gold with India. Rome and China also had a trade relationship. Rome usually only traded for silk. In return, Rome would trade goods such as high quality glass made in Alexandria and gold embroidered rugs and also gold-colored cloth.




 * Mesoamerican Trade **:
 * Mound-builders **: They have been said to be a "Hopewell Interaction Sphere" because of unique artifacts found in Ohio such as volcanic grass from Yellowstone and conch shells and shark teeth from the Gulf of Mexico. This suggests that these Mesoamerican societies had some sort of interaction.Also, they had a very simple sense of Agriculture based on corn.
 * Cahokia**: Located near the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers, which suggests that they might have been based on aquatic resources. They had trade links with the Northern Great Lake region and traded items such as copper, Mill Creek chert, and Whelk shells.
 * Teotihuacan:** It is suggested that Teotihuacan was actively involved in trade because artifacts of other societies have been found in Teotihuacan and also because Teotihuacan artifacts have been found in Latin America. Evidence has confirmed that they were involved in trade as distant as the Mayan lowlands, the Guatemalan Highlands, northern Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico.
 * Maya**: Their economy was based on foods like squash, potatoes, corn, and beans. They were involved in long distance trade with other Mesoamerican societies, including the Teotihuacan, the Zapotec and other civilizations in central and gulf-coast Mexico. They even traded with a civilization as far as the Caribbean by the name of Tainos. The most important goods traded were cacao, salt, sea shells, jade, and obsidian.


 * African Trade**
 * Meroe**: The Meroe flourished from 800 BC to 350 AD. The Meroe was in a great position trade because trade coming from the north to Egypt came to Meroe. They had a route to and from the Red Sea which was beneficial for trade. Meroe became the center of iron smelting and making due to their abundance if iron. They even traded with India by sending iron made products. They also exported cotton-based textiles and jewelry. Exotic animals was also a big part of their economy.
 * Askum**: The Askum civilization was involved in trade with India and the Mediterranean. Aksumites exported ivory, tortoise shell, gold and emeralds, and they imported silk and spices. Because the Askum civilization had easy access to the Red Sea and upper Nile, Askum's navy was able to profit in trade with African, Arabian, and Indian States.


 * Library of Alexandria**: Located in Alexandria, Egypt. It flourished under the Ptolemaic dynasty until the Roman conquest of Egypt in 48 BC. The library collected books by taking trips to book fairs in Rhodes and Athens and there existed a policy of taking books off of every ship that came into the ports of Alexandria. They then mad copies and shipped them back to their owners. This library was very important. It helped for people in Africa, specifically Egypt, see the books and art of other civilizations across the world and helped spread ideas and theories.

**Indian Trade** **Maurya:** The Mauryans, which flourished from 321 to 185 BCE, started off by trading with Syria and Egypt. Foreign trade became such an important part of their economy, that foreign traders would sometimes live in Maurya. There was even a special committee to look after these foreigners. Mauryans imported wines, figs, clothes, and vessels made from silver. Exports were usually luxury goods such as fine muslim cloth. Eventually their lack of trade led to their downfall. **Gupta:** The Guptan civilization had unique laborers called guilds. Guilds were craftsmen of certain trades. Guilds showed that the Guptans had job specialization. **__Development of the Greek Arts:__** Pottery was one of the most popular forms of art in Greece. The development of Greek pottery is clear. The first stage was the protogeometric pottery is characterized by horizontal bands and concentric circles around the neck of the pottery. Geometric pottery was next which used many geometric shapes such as triangles and zig-zags. This was followed by black figure pottery. This pottery is characterized by paintings of people using black pigment. The final development of pottery is the red figure pottery. This consisted of a painted black background with intricate paintings of people in red. Sculpture was also quite popular in Greece. Sculpture grew more popular during the rise of democracy. The poses of sculptures became more realistic and the variety of poses became more diverse. Sculptures went on to be created to worship gods, commemorate people, and to mark gravestones. As sculpture grew more popular so did the size and complexity of them. Ancient Greek sculpture became so impressive and advanced for its time that the much of Washington DC is designed after it (and because the Greeks are credited to developing democracy). Great works of literature, that are still studied today, The Odyssey and the Thebian plays.



**__Development of the Roman Arts:__** Some of the greatest developments of Roman Art was their architecture. The Romans developed the arch and the dome. They used concrete and decorated them with golden sculptures, gold finishes, and many other decorative items that involve the precious metal. Roman artists also coined the portrait sculpture. They were mostly made for the wealthy and powerful. Roman painters did a great deal of fresco painting. Roman art is heavily influenced by Greek art thus, much of their art is quite similar.



**__Development of the Indian Arts:__** Indian art is heavily influenced to their Buddhist and Hindu background. Much of the artists in this region used the mediums of stone and bronze. Many sculptures and figurines were produced in honor of the gods of Hinduism. One of the most impressive display of development of art is at the Ajanta Caves. There are many intricate wall paintings and sculptures. All of the art in the caves is Buddhist art. This shows the significance of religion in India.



**__Development of the Chinese Arts:__** One of the greatest developments of Chinese art is terracotta pottery and sculpture. The most significant display of the Chinese expertise of terracotta artwork is the terracotta army. Thousands of sculptures were created to resemble each individual soldier of the emperor’s army. The Chinese also developed complex sculptures using bronze. The Chinese used jade as a medium for art. Fine jewelry was created that is envied even today from the jade. Porcelain pottery was also quite popular in China. Their pottery was very finely painted with red paint on top of black paint. Calligraphy, which is still used today, was developed in China. Chinese artwork was heavily influenced by whatever religion was most popular in the region at the time (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism).



**__Development of the Mesoamerican Arts:__** The Mayans created unique pottery. The potter would create the product then had free reign as to the design on it. Many designs consisted of religious references and everyday activities. They developed slips which allowed them to use multiple colors on their pottery. The Teotihuacan’s developed post-firing stucco for their pottery. This allowed them to decorate their walls. They also developed green and blue pigments by using calcium oxide. The Chavin also developed their own pottery. They used contour rivalry in order to create more than one interpretation of a painting. The Chavin obelisk may be their greatest artistic development. The obelisk is a large shaft that contains a creation story. Mesoamerican art was heavily influenced by their religion and their environment.

Technology  **__Chinese Technology:__** The Chinese developed technological advancements such as the wheelbarrow, fishing rod, more accurate clocks, and acupuncture. Along with these technological advancements the Chinese also made many scientific advances such as major contributions to zoology, botany, and chemistry. Lastly they had two great architectural accomplishments, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canal.



**__Indian Technology: __** The Indians developed very significant technological advancements such as the creation of the numbers 0, π, and the decimal system. They also developed advanced medical techniques, including surgery, inoculations, and the setting of casts for broken bones. Below is a picture of the Indian number series. ﻿ **__Greek Technology: __** The Greeks developed very significant technological advancements such as Pythagorean theory, Euclidean geometry, and levers and pulleys. The Greeks also made many scientific advances, and other academic achievements such as the construction of the pantheon, the discovery that the earth is round (along with the discovery of its circumference), and that the earth rotates on an axis. **__Mesoamerican Technology: __** The Americans developed the Corbelled arch, without the idea of the key stone it created a similar but “false” form of an arch. They discovered the four seasons of the year, along with the two equinox and the two solstices. The Americans took very accurate measurements of the sun, moon, and stars, which allowed them to predict solar eclipses, and know the positions of Venus and Mars. __**Source(s):**__ 
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 * **Strayer, Robert W. //Ways// //of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources//. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011. Print.**
 * http://apwhwiki.pbworks.com/w/page/363485/Unit%20I%20%208000%20BCE%20-%20600%20CE
 * http://www.course-notes.org/World_History/Unit_Notes/Foundations_c_8000_BCE–600_CE/Classical_civilizations_China_India_and_the_M