1. Get plenty of detentions in class. 2. Begin studying early and reviewing often (correct answer). 3. Eat your study guide without looking at it first. 4. Bring Mrs. Oehler a cookie.

Unit Review

Han Dynasty Period of Disunion Song Dynasty Sui Dynasty Tang Dynasty Yuan Dynasty Ming Dynasty

 Confucianism: Practical philosophy on life and government. Deals with 5 key relationships (ruler/subject; parent/child; husband/wife; sibling/sibling; friend/friend). Focused on traditions of respect and hard work.  Buddhism: Arrives in China from India. Teaches that the world is essentially suffering. All people are on a path towards enlightenment (Nirvana). Essential part of achieving enlightenment is overcoming personal desires.  Daoism: Believe that society prospers when people have harmony with nature Correct path (the Way or the Dao) is found in harmony between oneself and nature. Yin / Yang: opposing forces (light/dark; cold/heat; etc.)

1. Buddhism stressed military honor and Confucianism stresses charitable deeds 2. Confucianism stresses ethical behavior and Buddhism stresses a spiritual outlook that promises escape from suffering (correct answer).. 3. Buddhism teaches people to value public service while Confucianism teaches that personal satisfaction is most important. 4. Confucianism places high value on artistic talents and Buddhism teaches one to ignore art.

 After Han Dynasty collapses – China splits into several rival kingdoms (Period of Disunion)  Period of Disunion: New nomads settle in N. China – Many N. Chinese move to S. China Cultural blending leads to new types of art, music, clothing, food, etc. Buddhism becomes popular belief – liked Buddhism’s teaching that people could escape/overcome suffering.

 Sui Dynasty: Ended Period of Disunion – Emperor Yang Jian Began the building of the Grand Canal to connect northern and southern China.  Grand Canal connects major cities and major rivers – leads to easier transportation (trade, cultural blending, spreading ideas/technology)

 Tang Dynasty: Large scale growth of controlled land. “Golden Age” of China. Unified China by: military reform, law codes, land reform (equal field system). Included only woman to rule China (Empress Wu).

 Song Dynasty: Reunified China again after brief period of chaos. Like Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty was a period of great accomplishment.

1. Only lasted a few years. 2. Was marked by great bloodshed. 3. Reunified China, ending a period of conflict between kingdoms (correct answer). 4. Was a period of few cultural accomplishments

 Agriculture: Song Dynasty – farming reached new heights due to advances in irrigation.  Underground wells to provide water for crops.  Dragonbone Pump – pump that allowed farms to take water from streams/rivers/wells, and place it into irrigation ditches to water crops.  Amount of land increases under Song and crops became more efficient = surplus of food and other crops.  Surplus crops help pay taxes and support a growing population:  60 million during Tang Dynasty  100 million during Song Dynasty

 Cities and Trade: Surplus crops allows Chinese to focus on other things as well (education, medicine, art, etc.) Trade grows along with population in cities. Grand Canal increases trade within China – allows remote rural areas to transport crops to cities. China expands trade (Silk Roads) – tea, rice, spices, jade, silk, porcelain = all big exports for China. Song Dynasty – sea trade becomes more common = greater connection with more distant lands (Europe)

1. Price of goods increased throughout China (correct answer). 2. Increased food production supported population growth. 3. Cities grew throughout China. 4. The Chinese were able to devote more time to other things, leading new achievements.

 Inventions: Woodblock Printing – form of printing where entire pages are carved into a block of wood. (Tang)  Precursor to the printing press.  Allowed written sources to be more widely available – expansion of ideas, information, technology. Gunpowder – originally used for fireworks, this item was eventually used for firearms (guns) and cannons = changed the history of war. (Tang) Compass – Instrument using earth’s magnetic pull to show direction = revolutionized travel, trade, etc. (Tang)

 Confucianism: Teachings on ethics, proper behavior, etc. – translates to government structure in China. Ren (concern for others) / Li (appropriate behavior). Popular during Han Dynasty – loses influence during Period of Disunion (Buddhism takes center stage). Late Tang Dynasty = return of interest in Confucianism. Neo-Confucianism = develops during Tang to combine ideas of Confucianism (behavior and conduct) with spiritual components of Buddhism and Daoism (meaning of life).  Begins under Tang but becomes influential under Song.  Official government policy of the Song.

 Scholar-Officials: Song Dynasty = improves efficiency of government through development of Bureaucracy.  Bureaucracy = body of unelected government officials (selected by leaders to be official advisors) Song develop civil service exam (civil service = service to society as a government official) to help choose officials. Passing civil service exam meant life as a Scholar-Official  Respected, educated member of the government. Civil service exam = symbolized a shift towards “meritocracy” where people’s success in society was determined by their hard work and effort (earning what they receive). Idea of meritocracy is not popular with “aristocracy” (wealthy members of society who had previously ruled China) – felt their power/wealth would be threatened by new system.

1. It created stability and an efficient government (correct answer). 2. It created a government in which nothing was accomplished due to mismanagement. 3. It created sharp divisions within society, eventually leading to a civil war. 4. It created a very unstable government.

 Mongols: Nomadic tribes from plains north of China. Known for being talented horsemen and warriors. First powerful leader of Mongols (known as a Khan) to unite all Mongol tribes was Genghis Khan.  Genghis Khan = amassed a large army that conquered all of north China.  Kublai Khan = grandson of Genghis Khan; conquered remainder of China and created the Mongol Empire.  Kublai Khan named himself Emperor of China – this started the Yuan Dynasty.  Chinese saw Mongols as rude and uncivilized = resented being controlled by the Mongols.

 Yuan control of China: Mongols do not force Chinese to change, but they do maintain control.  Confucian scholars are kept from gaining too much power.  Mongols placed heavy taxes on Chinese – these taxes were used to fund public-works projects (like extending the Grand Canal)  Mongol soldiers are sent throughout China to maintain peace and keep an eye on Chinese (prevent uprisings)  Mongols encourage trade with foreigners (Europeans)  Example: Marco Polo – famous trader from Italy. Much of what we know about China is as a result of his writings about his journeys to China.  Marco Polo helps change perception of China - writings showed that they were advanced and not barbarians.

 Yuan Dynasty Collapses: Mongols = unhappy with their land – desire to conquer Japan.  Attempts at conquering Japan are unsuccessful = Mongol army is weakened in the process. Chinese economy is weakened by Mongol public- works projects (example: Grand Canal expansion). Chinese are upset with Mongol rule and failed economy – Mongol army is weakened due failed conquest of Japan = people revolt.  Chinese are able to overthrow Mongols and regain control of their land.

1. Executing educated scholars 2. Making the Chinese pay large taxes (correct answer). 3. Raising prices on rice to keep Chinese poor. 4. Eliminating all public works projects.

 Ming Dynasty: Ming Dynasty focuses on exploration and ship building.  Greatest sailor and explorer of Ming Dynasty was Zheng He.  Traveled as far as Persian Gulf and Africa.  Voyages served as a sign of China’s power and advanced culture. Ming also known for their grand building projects.  Forbidden City (built in Beijing) = palace in northern China designed to display China’s glory and intimidate northern neighbors.  Restoration and expansion of the Great Wall of China – designed to protect Chinese people from northern tribes.

 Ming Dynasty moves towards Isolation.  Having expelled the Mongols, Ming emperors sought to get rid of all foreigners/foreign influence.  Believed it would lead to greater safety and prosperity. Government:  Ming emperors = much more powerful that emperors of Tang or Song dynasty.  Emperors take over more control of government – use civil service officials as imperial staff.

 Isolationism: 1430’s = Zheng He required to return to China and dismantle fleet. Official policy of Isolationism put into effect.  Consequences = Western world makes large advances in education, technology, etc. - China does not progress as much.  After the last Ming emperor is overthrown, China finds itself behind the rest of the world due to isolationism.