Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, B.C.E.  Established China’s first empire  Shi Huangdi ( B.C.E)  Legalist rule  Bureaucratic administration  Centralized control  Military expansion  Book burnings  targeted Confucianists  Buried protestors alive!  Built large section of the Great Wall

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

The Great Wall with Towers

The Eastern terminus of the Great Wall, Shanhai Pass

Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.  “People of the Han”  original Chinese  Paper invented [105 B.C.E.]  Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many  Buddhism introduced into China  Expanded into Central Asia

Chang’ an The Han Capital

Emperor Wudi, B.C.E.  Started public schools.  Colonized Manchuria, Korea, & Vietnam.  Civil service system  bureaucrats  Confucian scholar-gentry  Revival of Chinese landscape painting.

Trade Routes of the Ancient World

Sui Dynasty, C.E.  “Land Equalization” System  land redistribution.  Unified coinage.  Grand Canal constructed.  Established an army of professional soldiers.  People were overworked and overtaxed!

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal Today

Tang Dynasty, C.E.  Imperial examination system perfected.  Liberal attitude towards all religions.  Spread of Buddhism in China  Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries.  Japan, Korea, Persia

Tang Government Organization

Tang Dynasty, C.E.  New technologies:  Printing  moveable print  Porcelain  Gunpowder  Mechanical clocks  More cosmopolitan culture.  Reestablished the safety of the Silk Road.  Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia.

Empress Wu Zetian,  The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.  Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court.  Construction of new irrigation systems.  Buddhism was the favored state religion.  Financed the building of many Buddhist temples.  BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.

Foot-Binding in Tang China  Broken toes by 3 years of age.   Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Foot-Binding in Tang China Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Foot-Binding in Tang China  For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

The Results of Foot- Binding

Song [Sung] Dynasty, C.E.  Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class.  Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books.  Magnetic compass makes China a great sea power!

Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

Mongolian Steppes

Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol] “Yurt”

Mongol Invasions

The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”]  Temujin --> Genghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”]   from the steppe [dry, grass-covered plains of Central Asia]

The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”]  Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:  If you do not pay homage, we will take your prosperity.  If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children.  If you do not have children, we will take your wife.  If you do not have a wife, we will take your head.  Used cruelty as a weapon  some areas never recovered from Mongol destruction!

The Extent of the Mongol Empire

Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, C.E.  Kublai Khan [r ]  Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”]  Tolerated Chinese culture but lived apart from them.  No Chinese in top govt. posts.  Believed foreigner were more trustworthy.  Encouraged foreign trade & foreign merchants to live and work in China. Marco Polo

Marco Polo ( )  A Venetian merchant.  Traveled through Yuan China:  “Black Stones” [coal]  Gunpowder.  Noodles.

Marco Polo’s Travels

Yuan Dynasty, C.E.  The Black Plague was spread by the Mongols in the mid-14c.  Sent fleets against Japan.  1281  150,000 warriors  Defeated by kamikazi [“winds of the gods”]  Kublai Khan experienced several humiliating defeats in Southeast Asia late in his life.

China’s last native imperial dynasty!

The Forbidden City: China’s New Capital

Revived the Civil Service Exam

Ming Cultural Revolution   Printing & Literacy   Cheap, popular books:   woodblock printing.   cheap paper.   Examination system.   Leads to explosion in literacy.   Leads to further popularization of the commercial market.   Culture & Art   Increased literacy leads to increased interest in cultural expressions, ideas, and things:   Literature.   Painting.   Ceramics.   Opera.

Ming Silver Market   Spanish Silver Convoys   Triangle route:   Philippines to China to Japan.   Silver floods Chinese Market:   Causes devaluation of currency & recession   Adds to reasons for Chinese immigration overseas.   Reduces price of Chinese goods in Europe   Increases interest in Chinese culture & ideas in Europe.   Helps fund conquest of New World   Encourages Europeans in conquest & trade.

Ming Emperor Tai Zu (r )

Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)   Ming “Treasure Fleet”   Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide

Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)   China’s “Columbus?” 

  > Da Gama reached Calcutta, China’s favorite port.

Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16c

Imperial China’s Impact on History  Removed religion from morality.  Beginnings of political philosophy through which a ruler must prove he/she is legitimate.  Mandate of Heaven  Secular law.  Valued history  The Dynastic Cycle