TWO GREAT DYNASTIES IN CHINA

The magnetic compass can help sailors navigate the open sea. Paper is relatively inexpensive and easy to produce surface for writing and printing Gunpowder can be used for fireworks or made into explosive weapons Silk makes a luxurious cloth- soft to the touch but also strong and warm Imagine it is the year You have spent the last 17 years traveling around the most advanced country in the world- China. The civilization you come from is on the other side of the world. It too is very sophisticated, but it lacks many of the innovations you have seen on your travels. During your stay in China you were a great assistant to the emperor. As a going away present, he wants you to choose one of the inventions shown here to take back to your own society. After choosing you will receive the knowledge of how to create it. Which one Chinese invention would you take back to your society? Why? 1.Which item would be most useful to a society that currently has none of the items? 2.Which would most improve the quality of life? 3.Which might be the most profitable? 4.What benefits and drawbacks might there be to introducing the time into your society?

TANG DYNASTY

The Tang Dynasty ( ) Tang Taizong armies re-conquered northern and western landsTang Taizong armies re-conquered northern and western lands Expanded roads and canals to help bring the empire togetherExpanded roads and canals to help bring the empire together Reopened the Silk roadReopened the Silk road Lowered taxes and took land from wealthy to make peasants happy so they didn’t rebelLowered taxes and took land from wealthy to make peasants happy so they didn’t rebel First women empress to rule ChinaFirst women empress to rule China

CHINESE BUREAUCRACY CIVIL SERVANTS WERE THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE EMPEROR’S GOVERNMENT MOSTLY THE WEALTHY BECAME CIVIL SERVANTS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO COULD AFFORD THE PRIVATE EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS AS A RESULT OF THE EXAMS, TALENT AND EDUCATION BECAME MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOBLE BIRTH CHINESE BUREAUCRACY WAS COMPOSED OF DEPARTMENTS, OR BUREAUS, EACH WITH ITS OWN SPECIFIC AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

CHANGES IN CHINESE SOCIETY MANY MOVED TO CITIES TO BECOME MANAGERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND SKILLED WORKERS OLD ARISTOCRATIC POWER FADED LEVELS GENTRY-SCHOLAR OFFICIALS AND THEIR FAMILIES ATTAINED THEIR STATUS THROUGHT EDUCATION AND CIVIL SERVICE MIDDLE CLASS-MERCHANTS, SHOPKEEPERS, SKILLED ARTISANS, MINOR OFFICIALS BOTTOM OF SOCIETY-LABORORS, SOLDIERS, SERVANTS long fingernails showed that you did not do any manual labor

THE TANG LOSE POWER TO PAY FOR MILITARY EXPANSION, LEADERS RAISED TAXES WHICH BROUGHT MANY HARDSHIPS TO THE PEOPLE COULD NOT CONTROL THE HUGE EMPIRE THEY HAD BUILT BORDER ATTACKS AND REBELLIONS EVENTUALLY LED TO TANG DECLINE

THE SONG DYNASTY

New Inventions PORCELAIN MECHANICAL CLOCK PRINTING-movable type GUNPOWDER PAPER MONEY MAGNETIC COMPASS FAST -RIPENING RICE FROM VIETNAM AN ERA OF PROSPERITY & INNOVATION

Chinese Foot Binding

The “art” of Foot Binding ٭ The so called “art” of foot binding was practiced in China for over 1000 years. This was practiced at first only in the upper class but soon spread to every social class in China. For 1000 years almost every young girl in the country was put though excruciating pain as their feet were bound into three inch “Lotus Feet”.

The toes were bent down underneath the foot and wrapped tightly so they were pushed up against the sole of the foot. The toes were bent down underneath the foot and wrapped tightly so they were pushed up against the sole of the foot. This would stop the normal growth of the toes. The toes would now grow into the sole of the foot destroying the natural arch. This would stop the normal growth of the toes. The toes would now grow into the sole of the foot destroying the natural arch. After several years of this torture the feet were finally unbound, after the feet were totally done growing, the results were tiny feet that were barely able to hold any weight at all. After several years of this torture the feet were finally unbound, after the feet were totally done growing, the results were tiny feet that were barely able to hold any weight at all.

These are the shoes of a person with bound feet compared to normal size shoes. These shoes called “lotus shoes” or “lily shoes” were only about 3-4 inches long and only about 1 ½-2 inches wide. These are the shoes of a person with bound feet compared to normal size shoes. These shoes called “lotus shoes” or “lily shoes” were only about 3-4 inches long and only about 1 ½-2 inches wide.

The shoes worn were very expensive and very decorated. They were usually embroidered with bright colors and a lot of detail.

Being Held Back This stopped women from having any type of life outside of their home. They couldn’t walk any distances on their feet so they were stuck in their houses. This stopped women from having any type of life outside of their home. They couldn’t walk any distances on their feet so they were stuck in their houses. If a girl did not have bound feet they were considered unsuitable for marriage. Any women in the upper class society was banished or even killed if they did not have their feet bound.

Men's Views * Men also thought that the tiny delicate steps that a women had to take with bound feet looked feminine. *Men were in high favor of foot binding. This kept women in their homes and didn’t let them go seeking freedom and liberation. *This was one of many ways women in China were held back from society.

The mutilation and pain caused was horrible. Many times when the toes grew back into the sole of the foot it caused infections like gangrene and also death.

This process destroyed childhoods by not letting children have fun. They were unable to play or run around because of the excruciating pain that was caused.

For the first few years of the feet being bound the children had to be carried or else there disabled feet would brake. If the feet were to brake they were not able to be fixed or heal right because of the mutilation they were already put through.

Even though foot binding is not done anymore most elderly women in China have bound feet. This process can not be undone even with the medical technology now so all the women who had this done to them lived in pain or will live in pain for the rest of their lives.

After a long 1000 years the government of China finally made this ritual illegal in China was the only country in the history of the world that ever did this. Today this is no longer practiced anywhere. After a long 1000 years the government of China finally made this ritual illegal in China was the only country in the history of the world that ever did this. Today this is no longer practiced anywhere.