Part 2: The Classical Era, c. 600 B.C.E. to c. 600 C.E.

Several great empires that arose between 600 B.C.E. and 600 C.E. became the core foundations of later civilizations in their region:

• western Eurasia: the Persian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires

• southern Asia: the Mauryan and Gupta empires

• eastern Asia: the Qin and Han dynasties

• Mesoamerica: the Mayan Empire

These empires provided political and economic security for their people. Goods and ideas flowed along land routes such as the ones in Eurasia known as the Silk Roads and maritime routes in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. These trade routes fostered the development of such great cities as Rome (Italy), Constantinople (Turkey), Damascus (Syria), Pataliputra (India), and Chang’an (China).