Asia 400-1500

Sui and Tang Dynasties Third century China Han dynasty falls China not unified 400 years Sui Dynasty (589-618) unified China Built Great Canal- connected Huang He, Yangtze Rivers Easier to ship rice across China

Tang Dynasty 618-907 A.D. Created large empire- Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Korea Koreans, Japanese begin to adopt Chinese culture Tang rulers reformed government (civil service system) gave land to peasants (took power from large land owners)

Song Dynasty 907-1279 A.D. Reunified China after Tang Dynasty Controlled smaller area Chinese culture, wealth dominated region New type of rice, harvested twice a year, allowed population to grow Population 100 million Traded with India, Persia, Arabia Trade along Silk Road started again

Chinese Society and Culture Most people were farmers Upper class of civil servants emerged (gentry) Women were considered inferior to men, practice of foot binding started during this time Main religion Buddhism

Inventions of Tang and Song Dynasty Porcelain- ceramic made of special clay found only in China Mechanical Clock (700’s)- run by water Printing (700’s, 1000’s) block printing, moveable type- invented in Europe 400 years later Gunpowder (800’s) used for fireworks, later for weapons Paper Money (1020’s) used to replace coins, helped develop commercial economy Magnetic Compass (1100’s) allowed Chinese merchants to trade across seas

Mongol Empire Lived north of China Nomadic herders, warriors Skilled horsemen, ruthless in battle History of trade and commerce with Chinese Took advantage of Chinese when empires were weak

Rise of the Mongols 1200 warrior united Mongol tribes 1206 took title of Genghis Khan Conquered most of China and Central Asia over 21 years

Mongol Empire

Genghis the Conqueror Success as warrior Brilliant organizer- Divided army into units Strategist- used deception to confuse enemy Adopted new weapons, technology- used Chinese engineers, ideas Cruelty and Terror- terrified enemies into surrender

Mongol Empire Genghis died in 1227, but Mongol Empire expanded Largest land empire in history 1240 at doorstep of Europe, called back because death of Great Khan (Ogadi) 1260 new Khan (Kublai Khan) Empire divided into 4 khanates Mongol rulers adopted parts of cultures they conquered (religion, government institutions) Pax Mongolia Mid 1200’s- 1300’s Stability across most of Eurasia Trade, ideas spread

Kublai Khan Conquers China 1260-1279 Kublai conquered all of China Started new dynasty in China- Yuan (1260-1368) Made few changes to Chinese system of government Built new capital at Beijing, moved capital from Mongolia Lived apart from Chinese, had separate laws Mongols used foreigners for high government positions (no local loyalties) Encouraged foreign trade (built roads, invited foreign merchants to China)

Mongols Try to Conquer Japan Tried to extend rule to Japan 1274, 1281 sent fleets against Japan Both attacks failed, legend of kamikaze (divine wind)

End of the Yuan Dynasty 1368-1644 Ming Dynasty ruled China Hongwu was the first Ming emperor after he defeated the Mongols in 1368 Reformed agriculture by increasing rice production, encouraged growing cash crops (cotton, sugarcane) and encouraged fish farming Improved government by returning to a merit based government system Encouraged a return to Confucian traditions and moral standards When problems developed Hongwu became a ruthless tyrant executing all of his enemies

Ming Dynasty After death of Hongwu his son Yonglo took over He moved royal court to Beijing (built the Forbidden City) Also had a curiosity of the outside world 1405 began seven voyages of exploration and trade under commander Zeng He Expeditions traveled long distances, many ships, many people and huge ships Trips were used to show Chinese superiority, because of voyages 16 countries sent tribute to China Chinese officials complained that voyages wasted money and after 1433 China began a period of isolation

Qing Dynasty By 1600 Ming rule began to weaken, government corruption, civil strife, famine and high taxes led to rebellion 1644 Manchus from northeast China seized power and ruled until 1900 People resisted rule by non-Chinese Manchus Kept order by keeping traditional social structure and restoring Chinese prosperity Expanded China into Taiwan, Central Asia, Mongolia and Tibet Lowered taxes and reduced government expenses Welcomed Catholic priests into royal court to learn about European life Kept policy of isolation from foreign trade

Qing Dynasty Trade policies of 1500’s reflected isolation To keep influence of outsiders to a minimum Foreign countries that wished to trade with China had to trade only in special ports and pay tribute Only the government could conduct trade through 3 ports- Canton, Macao and Ningbo European demand for goods led to smuggling Helped improve economy of China- led to increase in manufacturing of ceramics and silk making Commerce and manufacturing seen as lower class jobs and not held in high regard in China, kept China from industrializing Government supported agriculture Taxes were low on agriculture and high on manufacturing

Qing China 1600s and 1700s were a time of peace and prosperity in China and the lives improved for most Chinese people Most Chinese were farmers and under the Qing irrigation and the use of fertilizer increased Also new crops from the were introduced by European traders (corn, sweet potatoes) Food production increased and the population exploded Chinese families favored sons over daughters Sons were in charge of religious rituals, and raised their own families in their parents homes As their parents grew older they help them farm Females were not as valued but they did have the responsibilities of children’s education and managing family finances