Social Sciences En Politieke En Sociale Wetenschappen
History of International Relations
Summary
Summary History of International Relations Chapter 5 (250-0 BCE) (Holslag)
17 views 0 purchase
Course
History of International Relations
Institution
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Book
A Political History of the World
Detailed chapter summary: the level of detail expected in the January 2021 session
I received a 17/20 with this
Structure:
- important points in the given period
- specifics information split by regions
- Each chapter summary ends in a (brief) discussion of the relevant points for each ...
Summary A Political History of the World - History of International Relations (000761)
Summary Europe - 3000 years of history
All for this textbook (33)
Written for
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Social Sciences En Politieke En Sociale Wetenschappen
History of International Relations
All documents for this subject (16)
Seller
Follow
emmamarchal
Reviews received
Content preview
250-1 BCE
==> Rise of the Han and the collapse of the Maurya were the most important events in the East of Eurasia.
- NCP: WS kingdoms struggling for mastery
- Mediterranean: Rome, Carthage and AtG’s successor kingdoms struggle dominance over the Med, its
trade, and the rich agricultural regions on its shores.
==> From these twin contests, two empires emerged: Han China and the Roman Empire
- NCP had more agricultural potential, but Rome was able to get much of its food from overseas
provinces (Sicily, Spain).
- The plains around the Yellow and Yangtze rivers to China were comparable to the Mediterranean to
Rome.
- Both were +/- small fringe powers who tended to win battles, which opened the way to further
conquests.
- Beginning C2 (200-100): Rome had become a great land and sea military power, while Han China was
unmatched in its infantry, chariots and fortresses.
- Both shifted from defense to offense
- Rome: after Second Punic War (defensive war) started offensive campaigns to Spain and Alps
- Han: whilst it was challenged by rival Chinese kingdoms, it sought to conciliate its northern
nomads; when the Han became unrivalled, it attacked them: wanted control of external trade.
Outside of the areas of empire (Rome and Han): instability
- Ptolemaic Egypt in decline
- Seleucid weakness allowed the birth of the Parthian Empire
- But its growth was curbed due to agricultural stagnation
- IGP: anarchy as the Maurya crumbled after Ashoka’s death
- Core of Eurasia became an arena for power: Xiongnu were driven west by the Han, where it collided
with the Yuezhi.
- Conflict for survival as well as for the riches of the Silk Road trade
- Destroyed Bactria
- Gave rise to the Kushan Empire - will later play a prominent role in Central and South Asia.
Asia
CHINA
● Battle of Changping (260): Qin victory
○ Decisive moment in the war of attrition
○ Deposed the last Zhou king and campaigned to eradicate the Zhao.
○ Wars of Unification against the Qin rivals (Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Qi) - all succumbed.
○ 221: Qin Empire established - first dynasty of imperial China.
● The Qin Empire
○ Huge cost of victory: massacre
○ Decisive factors for the victory: had a superior power base (farmland and iron mines) and a
diplomatic strategy which created a beneficial domino effect: befriending the far and
attacking the near (Sima Qian)
■ -> similar to Kautilya’s mandala system
■ Appeased the Qi to concentrate on closer rivals: Han and Zhao
■ Once conquered, these territories/resources helped defeat the Wei.
, ■ With these annexations, the BOP swung harshly against the Chu (strongest Qin
rival).
○ Ying Zheng -> Qin Shi Huang: first emperor of the Qin.
■ Sequence of reforms to promote unity
■ Former kingdoms divided into commanderies with directly appointed leaders.
■ Major infrastructure works
○ Imposed a doctrine of legalism: power, law, order more important than morality.
■ Qin became malicious and brutish.
■ -> “downfall was merely a matter of time”
○ 207: Empire died (3y) after Qin Shi Huang’s death.
■ Qin Er Shi was not capable of consolidating Shi Huang’s work of unification and
administration.
■ Military in permanent overstretch
■ Rebellions, mutinying soldiers
● Immediately 2 pretenders: Chu and Han
○ Fought over the spoils
○ Chu had a vast power base in the south - seemed bound to win.
○ But Chu cruelty made the five other kingdoms side with the Han
■ Han ruler Liu Bang claimed a just war against Chu tyranny
■ First a Chu victory (Battle of Pengcheng)
■ 204: Han successful dam (and release) plan to drown the Chu army.
■ Han sacked Chu capital and defeated the last Chu troops.
● The Han Empire
○ Imperial China’s second dynasty
○ Ruled for 4 centuries
■ Seen as moment of fundamental change: tyrannical repression -> imperial harmony
○ Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang): balance between Qin centralism and Zhou’s looser
political organisation
■ ⅓ of the empire organised into commanderies under direct control; ⅔ vassal kings
■ Taxes reduced, less harsh laws.
○ Relative stability under three capable rulers
■ Wen of Han: political reforms - meritocratic civil service exams
■ Jing of Han: subduing rebellious princes
■ Wu of Han: apex of dynasty’s power
● New (but not innovative) Confucian imperial doctrine (teachings of Dong
Zhongshu)
○ Rigid hierarchy, emperor on top prevented men’s wickedness from
dragging China back down into anarchy.
○ Legitimacy of the emperor depended on his provision of stability
and propensity. Self-criticism needed
● Demographic growth -> irrigation -> towns, markets -> boom of crafts
● Relentless territorial expansion
● Huge wealth but shocking inequalities: life for rural communities hardened.
○ Smallholders were replaced with large landowners with
monopolies to supply cities.
==> Became the world's most powerful empire.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller emmamarchal. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.96. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
