After the global revolution and prior to the great destruction much of the internet was preserved by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Sounds and visions from planet Earth were cherished on long excursions aboard Laurasia. Especially as a sleep aid, but also for entertainment. This - is TLC.
Museum
Selections of art taken from Chris Lehrer's Lyceum under the heading: Window to the Past.
Listen to Soma FM streaming radio, a favorite of the space station Laurasia since the global revolution. You may or may not have to download the free Winamp or Real audio player.
Chinese (Classical Chinese):tianxia (all under heaven, symbolizing Han unity)
English:Roman and Eastern Empires
Order binds the world, as heaven guides the ruler. - Chinese maxim, c. 100 CE (adapted from Han dynasty texts)
From 1 to 400 CE, empires like Rome, Han China, and Gupta India defined a golden age of governance, trade, and cultural exchange, while new ideologies reshaped spiritual landscapes. The Roman Empire, transitioning from republic to principate under Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE), unified the Mediterranean with roads and legions. Han China’s bureaucracy and Silk Road trade fostered prosperity, connecting East and West. Gupta India (320–550 CE) emerged, advancing mathematics and Hinduism. Christianity spread from Judea, challenging Roman polytheism, while Buddhism flourished across Asia, linking India and China. Iron technology and trade networks, like the Silk Road and Red Sea routes, exchanged silk, spices, and ideas. Archaeological finds, such as Pompeii’s frescoes, Han tombs, and Gupta temples, reveal vibrant societies. This era’s blend of imperial stability and religious innovation created a connected world, laying foundations for medieval civilizations despite looming challenges.
Imperial Zenith
Empires unified vast regions, fostering trade and cultural exchange amid new beliefs.
Pillars of the Era
Roman Empire’s principate (c. 27 BCE–284 CE).
Han China’s Silk Road trade.
Gupta India’s cultural rise (c. 320 CE).
Spread of Christianity and Buddhism.
Iron technology and global trade.
Philosophical and religious synthesis.
Global Foundations
This period’s empires and ideas shaped enduring political and spiritual systems.
The Roman Empire, solidified by Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE), unified the Mediterranean, stretching from Britain to Egypt. The Pax Romana (27 BCE–180 CE) ensured stability, with roads like the Via Appia and aqueducts, like Rome’s Aqua Appia, supporting cities of 1 million. Iron legions, equipped with gladii, conquered Carthage and Greece, as detailed by Tacitus. The Senate and emperors balanced power, though crises like Nero’s reign (54–68 CE) sparked unrest. Trade with India and China brought silk and pepper, evident in Ostia’s warehouses. Roman polytheism, with Jupiter’s Capitoline temple, coexisted with mystery cults like Mithraism. Archaeological finds, like Trajan’s Column (c. 113 CE), depict Dacian wars, showcasing imperial might. Christianity’s rise, with approximately 10% of the empire Christian by about 300 CE, challenged traditions, as seen in martyr texts. Rome’s systems of law, engineering, and governance influenced Western civilization, despite later instability.
Pax Romana
Roman stability fostered prosperity and connectivity, shaping a vast empire.
Roman Achievements
Augustus’ principate (c. 27 BCE).
Pax Romana and infrastructure (c. 27 BCE–180 CE).
Iron legions and conquests.
Trade with India and China.
Polytheism and mystery cults.
Rise of Christianity (c. 300 CE).
Archaeological Evidence
Trajan’s Column and Ostia’s ports reveal Roman power and trade.
Lasting Legacy
Roman law and engineering shaped Western governance and infrastructure.
Han China (206 BCE–220 CE), under emperors like Guangwu (25–57 CE), maintained a centralized bureaucracy, with 60 million subjects per censuses. The Silk Road, expanded under Zhang Qian (130 BCE), linked China to Rome, trading silk for glass, as seen in Luoyang’s tombs. Iron plows and wheelbarrows boosted agriculture, supporting cities like Chang’an. The Shiji and Hanshu chronicled history, while Confucian academies trained officials. Daoism and Buddhism, introduced via trade, coexisted with ancestor worship, evident in tomb offerings. Archaeological finds, like Ban Gu’s bamboo slips (100 CE), reveal legal and scientific advances. The Han’s collapse (220 CE) followed rebellions, like the Yellow Turban (c. 184 CE), but its bureaucracy endured. Trade and cultural exchanges, like Buddhist texts from India, shaped East Asia. The Han’s systems of governance, technology, and connectivity influenced China’s dynastic tradition for centuries.
Bureaucratic Strength
Han bureaucracy and trade unified China, fostering cultural exchange.
Han Milestones
Guangwu’s restoration (c. 25 CE).
Silk Road trade (c. 130 BCE–220 CE).
Iron agricultural tools.
Shiji and Hanshu histories.
Confucian and Buddhist influences.
Yellow Turban rebellion (c. 184 CE).
Archaeological Insights
Luoyang tombs and bamboo slips show Han sophistication.
Cultural Impact
Han systems shaped East Asian governance and culture.
The Gupta Empire (320–550 CE), founded by Chandragupta I (320 CE), unified northern India, ushering a golden age. Centered in Pataliputra, it advanced mathematics, with Aryabhata (476 CE) calculating pi and zero’s use, as seen in inscriptions. Iron pillars, like Delhi’s (400 CE), resist corrosion, showcasing metallurgy. Agriculture, with rice and wheat, supported 50 million, per Chinese pilgrim Faxian’s accounts. Trade with Rome and Southeast Asia brought gold and spices, evident in Ujjain’s markets. Hinduism flourished, with Vishnu and Shiva temples, like Deogarh’s, while Buddhism thrived, as seen in Ajanta’s caves. Archaeological finds, like Nalanda’s university ruins, show intellectual vibrancy. The Gupta’s decentralized rule empowered local kings, but Huna invasions (450 CE) loomed. Their mathematical, artistic, and religious contributions shaped Indian culture, influencing global science and spirituality for centuries.
Cultural Renaissance
Gupta advancements in math, art, and religion defined a golden age.
Gupta Achievements
Chandragupta I’s unification (c. 320 CE).
Aryabhata’s mathematics (c. 476 CE).
Iron pillar metallurgy (c. 400 CE).
Trade with Rome and Southeast Asia.
Hindu and Buddhist temples.
Nalanda university’s rise.
Archaeological Evidence
Delhi’s pillar and Ajanta’s caves reveal Gupta sophistication.
Lasting Legacy
Gupta contributions shaped Indian and global culture.
Christianity, emerging in Judea (30 CE), spread across the Roman Empire, challenging polytheism. Jesus’ teachings, recorded in the Gospels (70–100 CE), emphasized love and salvation, gaining followers among the poor. By 300 CE, about 10 million Christians, per Eusebius, faced persecution, as seen in Diocletian’s edicts (303 CE). Constantine’s conversion (312 CE) and Edict of Milan (313 CE) legalized Christianity, with churches like Hagia Irene built. The Council of Nicaea (325 CE) standardized doctrine, codifying the Trinity. Archaeological finds, like Dura-Europos’ church (250 CE), show early worship spaces. Trade routes spread Christian texts to Persia and India, as noted in Syriac records. Christianity’s ethical framework and communal support, evident in catacomb inscriptions, offered resilience amid Roman decline. Its rise reshaped Western spirituality, influencing medieval Europe and beyond, despite tensions with Roman traditions.
Spiritual Shift
Christianity’s spread challenged Roman norms, offering a new ethical vision.
Christianity Milestones
Jesus’ teachings (c. 30 CE).
Gospels written (c. 70–100 CE).
Constantine’s conversion (c. 312 CE).
Edict of Milan (c. 313 CE).
Council of Nicaea (c. 325 CE).
Spread via trade routes.
Archaeological Evidence
Dura-Europos and catacombs reveal early Christian communities.
Global Impact
Christianity reshaped Western and global spirituality.
Buddhism, rooted in India (5th century BCE), expanded globally from 1–400 CE, carried by monks and trade. In India, Gupta patronage built stupas like Sanchi, while missions reached Sri Lanka, as recorded in the Mahavamsa. In China, Han trade introduced Buddhist texts, with monasteries like Dunhuang’s (300 CE) housing sutras. Southeast Asia adopted Theravada Buddhism, evident in Thai stupa remains. Iron tools supported agricultural communities, sustaining Buddhist sanghas. The Lotus Sutra (c. 100 CE) emphasized universal salvation, appealing across cultures. Archaeological finds, like Gandhara’s Greco-Buddhist statues, show artistic synthesis. Trade along the Silk Road and Indian Ocean spread relics and ideas, linking Rome to China. Buddhism’s non-violence and meditation offered spiritual alternatives, influencing millions. Its global reach, from monasteries to art, shaped Asian culture, complementing Christianity’s rise and enriching global spiritual traditions.
Global Reach
Buddhism’s missions and trade spread universal ethics across Asia.
Buddhist Milestones
Gupta stupas (c. 300 CE).
Missions to Sri Lanka (c. 250 BCE–400 CE).
Han China monasteries (c. 300 CE).
Lotus Sutra (c. 100 CE).
Greco-Buddhist art in Gandhara.
Silk Road and maritime trade.
Archaeological Insights
Sanchi and Dunhuang reveal Buddhist art and texts.
Cultural Legacy
Buddhism shaped Asian spirituality and global thought.
Summary: Roman, Han, and Gupta empires drove progress but deepened inequality. Elite control of trade and religion marginalized commoners, embedding systemic disparities.
Summary: Roman governance, Han trade, and Gupta culture balanced innovation with order, forging vibrant civilizations. Hierarchies grew, but spiritual and intellectual legacies enriched history.
Summary: Imperial systems and religious movements established enduring order, preserving values through governance and faith. This era reflects humanity’s pursuit of stability and meaning.
Lyceum
Welcome to Space Station Laurasia! All passengers and crew members receive a personal device called a Lyceum, which serves as a journal to record and share information with family and friends via neutrionic mobile or desktop devices back on Earth’s surface. This is the Lyceum of Raymond Sheen.
Animations: Dragonset, Matters of Grave Concern, The Pillars of Barad-Dur, Heart of Stone, Golden Leaves, Gravity, and Dragons in Moonlight, by Steven David Bennett
Quo Vadis? [Latin] - Where Are You Going?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Seuss
