Chinese Dynasties Notes

Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: Locating major trade routes Identifying technological advances and transfers Questions What were the major trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C.E. How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?

Where we left off…. 220 A.D. Han Dynasty collapses China plunged into civil war Not effected by “Dark Ages” of Europe Farm production expanded Buddhism spread Despite countless invaders, Chinese cities and culture survived Over 30 local dynasties rose and fell

Major Chinese Dynasties Sui ( C.E.) Tang ( C.E.) Song ( C.E.) Southern Song ( C.E.) Yuan Dynasty ( C.E.)

Sui Dynasty 581 C.E. Sui Dynasty created Only lasted until 618 A.D. Unified China under emperor’s authority again Achievements Completed the Grand Canal used forced labor Eventually forced labor led to revolts by peasants and downfall of the Sui dynasty Grand Canal linked Yellow River and Yangtze River Made shipping easier

Tang Dynasty People revolted against Sui Emperor Due to forced labor Tang Dynasty emerged a few years later in 618 A.D. Lasted for nearly 300 years Early rulers instituted reforms Restored civil service exams Gave land to peasants Broke up power of wealthy land owners

Golden Ages of China 1 st Emperor was Li Yuan Became Emperor by leading a revolt along with his son during the Sui dynasty Crushes rival Son eventually becomes 2 nd Emperor Takes name Tang Taizong Became China’s most admired Emperor

Tang Dynasty Tang Taizong Ruled from C.E. Brilliant general Reconquered northern and western lands Government restorer Lowered taxes and gave land to peasants Reformed government organization and law code Became models for East Asia Historian Master of Calligraphy

Tang Dynasty- Achievements Conquered territories into Central Asia Forced Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea to become tributary states System of canals for trade and transportation Expanded the Grand Canal Instituted land reform Redistributed land to peasants Strengthened central government Increased government revenues Promoted foreign trade Improvements in agriculture

Tang Dynasty- Bureaucracy In order to maintain their large empire, Tang emperors restored China’s vast bureaucracy Revised and expanded civil service system Opened new schools to train students Exams open to all men Really only wealthy and connected could afford them Created a remarkably intelligent and capable governing class Talent and education more important than noble birth in winning power

Empress Wu Zhao Most women did not have power Empress Wu was the exception Became 2 nd wife of Tang Taizong Strangled her own daughter and blamed it on emperors wife Ruled for Taizong and sons She became empress in 690 C.E. Age 65 Only Empress in Chinese history She was ruthless and a strong leader Ruled for 15 years

Decline of the Tang Lost territories in Central Asia to Arabs Empire spread to thin Bad emperors: Tang Xuanzang Devoted to commoner’s daughter Did everything to make her happy no matter cost Downward cycle Corruption High taxes Drought Famine Rebellions: led by favorite general 907 A.D. rebel overthrew last Tang Emperor

Song Dynasty 960 A.D. Song Taizu reunites China Dynasty lasts 319 years From Smaller dynasty than Tang Threatened by invaders to north Tried to pay tribute, it failed to keep peace Southern Song ruled additional 150 years

Song Dynasty Golden Age Economy expanded Center of farming shifted to rice paddies Improved technology allowed peasants to produce two rice crops a year Created surpluses More people pursued commerce, learning, and arts

Southern Song Events Genghis Khan invades northern China Kublai becomes Great Khan Marco Polo reaches China

Chinese Dynasty Notes Inventions of Tang and Song Dynasties

Porcelain Late 700s Bone-hard, white ceramic made of a special clay and a mineral found only in China Became a valuable export Is so associated with Chinese culture that it is now called “china”

Mechanical clock 700s Clock in which machinery regulated the movements Idea for mechanical clock was carried by traders to medieval Europe

Printing Block printing – 700s Block printing – one block on which a whole page is cut Movable type Movable type – individual characters arranged in frames, used repeatedly Printing technology spread to Korea and Japan Movable type also developed later in Europe

Gunpowder 800s Explosive powder made from mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal First used for fireworks, then weapons Technology spread west within 300 years

Paper money 1020s Paper currency was issued by Song government to replace strings of metal cash used by merchants Contributed to development of large-scale commercial economy in China

Foreign Trade Under both Tang and Song dynasty trade flourished Tang armies guarded silk road Merchants came from India, Persia, and Arabia China’s cities now center of trade not just government

Magnetic compass (for navigation) 1100s Floating magnetized needle that always points north-south, adapted by sailors for use at sea Helped China become greatest sea power in the world at the time Technology quickly spread west

Arts and Literature Age of Artistic brilliance Landscape painting Daoist influence Capture spiritual essence of the natural world Other Arts Buddhist themes dominated sculpture and architecture Indian stupa = Chinese pagoda porcelain Wealth, education, and urban culture stimulated high level of artistic creativity Literature Poetry: Buddhist, Daoist, Social Issues Li Bo: greatest Tang poet, 2000 poems on harmony and nature Du Fu: condemned war and lavishness Li Qingzhao: women behind left behind for wars, woman

Religion and Government Buddhism Brought into China in 1 st century A.D. Supported among ruling classes Support continued into Tang Dynasty Criticized for being a foreign religion Lost state support Daoism Supported by ruling class

Neo-Confucianism Starting at end of Song Dynasty Heart of state government Served as Confucian response to Buddhism and Daoism Teaches that the world is real, not an illusion Fulfillment comes with participation, not withdrawal from the world Divide world into material world and spiritual world Humans live in material world, goal is to reach union with the Supreme Ultimate Reach union through moral principles

Chinese Society Three main social classes Gentry Scholar-officials Wealthy land-owning class Spent years studying for civil service exam Valued learning Supported revival of Confucian thought Middle Class Merchants, shopkeepers, skilled artisans, and minor officials Peasants Worked land Some families also produced handicrafts Lived in small, self- sufficient villages Relied on one another, not government Village leader, council of elders Could move up in society through education and government service

Chinese Society Women Subservient to men Status declined during this time Ran family affairs When married, became part of husband’s family Footbinding Symbol of nobility and beauty Continued into 20 th century Called “lily foot”

Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: Locating major trade routes Identifying technological advances and transfers Questions What were the major trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C.E. How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?