Warm-up #13 What does it mean to isolate yourself? Do you think this is a good or bad policy for a nation? Why or why not?

What is isolationism? Isolationism – Government policy of avoiding contact with other nations. Why does it matter? China had periods of isolation throughout their history.

Foreign Contact Chart Period Isolation or foreign contact? Notes Tang Dynasty Yuan Dynasty (Mongols) Early Ming Dynasty Later Ming Dynasty

Foreign Contact Chart Period Isolation or foreign contact? Notes Tang Dynasty Much foreign contact ( Korea, Persia, Byzantine Empire, Japan, Indonesia, and India). Brought ideas, goods, people, fashions, and religions to China. Made Silk Road safer. Diverse groups of people move to Chang’an and seaports. Cultural exchange – China accesses rubies, pears, jewels, glass, foods, chairs, polo, and diverse religions. Foreign styles adopted in Chinese music. Buddhism came from India and becomes popular. 843 Buddhism is persecuted. Sea trade develops.

Yuan Much foreign contact (under foreign/Mongol rule for 100 years). Travel and trade expand as more foreigners come to China along Silk Road. Welcoming traders and foreigners encouraged cultural exchange. Stations every 20 miles of the Silk Road to rest. Christian missionaries bring new ideas to China. Sea trade flourished. Ships bring jewels, ginger, cotton. Muslin, pepper, walnuts, and cloves. Foreign skills like Muslim architects, astronomy, math, medicine, and water management develop, new calendar and hospitals. Chinese skills and inventions spread. Foreigners had high status. Marco Polo.

Early Ming

Late Ming