Imperial China ( AD)
The Sui Dynasty ( AD) Sui Wen-ti (dies 605 AD): Founder, Chinese-Turkic General Yang-ti ( AD) –Restores Confucianism –Loses Nomad Support –Defeat by Nomads and Korea –Peasants and Generals Rise
Tang Dynasty ( AD)
Centralized Government: Military Affairs, Censorate, Council of State Centralized Land: Emperor owns all land; land users owe labor and grain taxes. Nobles embezzle land Confucian system but Noble dominance
Wu Zhao (626-ca 706 AD)
Originally a concubine to Emperor Taizong Then marries his heir, Emperor Gaozong ( AD) He has a stroke (660 AD); she takes over Emperor Ruizong (683-90)--Her Son, she Rules Over Him Founds own ‘Zhou’ dynasty after she tires of him, rules in own name ( AD)
Emperor Xuan Zong ( AD) Census + Canal Rules from Chang’an –30 square miles –over 1 million people –Largest city on Earth in 8th century
Tang Imperialism War on Nomads Nomad vs. Nomad Defensive Fortifications Tributary States –Absorbed Chinese Culture Country collapses in last decades due to warlords
Tang Culture Secular vs. Buddhists Golden Age of Buddhism / Tiantai Sect –Maitreya Devotion--Buddha of Future –Pure Land Buddhism –Zen Buddhism Secular Confucian Scholars –Li Bo ( AD): BEER!!!!! –Du Fu ( AD): Life = PAIN
The Song Dynasty ( AD)
Song Dynasty Agricultural Revolution –Aristocrats in Decline –New Methods and Crops Better Rice Fertilizers Tea and Cotton –Rise of District Magistrates –Rise of Scholar Gentry
Commercial Revolution of the Song Emergence of the Yangzi Basin New Technologies: –Coal and Iron-Smelting –Printing with Carved Blocks and Seals –Abacus –Gunpowder –Textiles –Porcelains
Commercial Revolution of the Song Rise of Money (copper and Silver) Rising Trade Vastly Growing Cities Trade is Regional, some international
Aristocracy to Autocracy Growing Central Power Triple Tang Revenues Aristocracy Fading Rising Examination System –Rising Scholar Gentry
Song Culture Philosophy: –Zhu Xi ( AD) and Neo- Confucianism Poetry –Su Dungpo ( ): Poet and Official 2700 Poems, 800 Letters Tang and Lyric styles Painting and Calligraphy; No Room For Error
The Yuan Dynasty ( AD)
The Mongol World Empire (13th-14th Century AD) Mongols = 3.5 million Horse Nomad Polytheists Temujin -- Genghis Khan ( AD) –Unites Mongol Tribes –Organizes by 10 / 100 / 1000 –Recruits Specialists From Conquests –Religiously Tolerant
The Khanates Empire of the Great Khan - Ögedei Khan Mongol homeland (present day Mongolia, including Karakorum) - Tolui Khan Chagatai Khanate - Chagatai Khan, (Central Asia and northern Iran) Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russian Steppes)
Mongol Rule in China Beijing AD North all taken Kublai Khan ( AD) –1271--Yuan Dynasty Proclaimed Bureaucracy or Horse Pasture? 400,000 Mongols in China –Mongols form upper ruling class
Foreign Contacts and China Mongols are Cosmopolitan Marco Polo?: Il Milione / The Travels of Marco Polo Religious Contacts Conservatism of the Chinese Yuan Era Opera and Drama
Fall of the Yuan Regencies, Child Emperors and Weak Emperors 10 Emperors in Ukhaatu Khan Flees: 1368 AD