HST 197 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11-12: Yellow Turban Rebellion, Taoism, Nomad
Document Summary
Silk roads facilitated the movement of biological agents. Han and roman empires suffered large scale epidemic disease. The most destructive of the diseases were probably smallpox and measles and bubonic plague may also have spread. Roman population was around 60 million people and after the spread of the epidemics it became about 45 million people. During the 5th and early 6th century the roman population began to stabilize. Both economies also moved toward regional self-sufficiency. When epidemic diseases struck china they were already facing internal political problems. Han authorities lost their ability to maintain order. Central government dissolved and series of autonomous kingdoms took place of the. In the han state, development of factions within ranks of ruling elites. Marriage alliances between imperial and aristocratic families led to these formation of these many fractions. Led to backstabbing among the ruling elites. Peasants found themselves under increasing economic pressure with no means to influence the government.
