Inner and East Asia

Early Tang Empire Li Shimin expanded westward combining cultural, religious and military attributes of Turkic and Chinese peoples. Inner Asian horses, camels and clothing from the Silk Road Horsemanship, iron stirrup, more secure saddles combined with armored infantry & crossbow. Mahayana Buddhism and emphasis on bodhisattva allowed for absorbtion of local gods/goddesses. Cosmopolitan empire due to ‘breadth and diversity’

Trade and Exchange Built by the Sui, the Grand Canal linked the Yellow River and the Yangzi. Chang’an a metropolitan ‘Mecca’ due to tributary system and elaborate connection of roads and canals. Exports (mostly silk & china) dwarfed imports allowing for accumulation of precious metals and luxury items. Far flung trade by sea connected China with Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Also introduced the Plague.

Uighur and Tibetan Empires Turkic-speaking Uighurs and Tibetans built large rival states along the Silk Road (map 10.1). Uighurs were merchants and scribes. Influenced by Buddhist teachings, religious art from northern India and mixture of East Asian and Islamic dress. Tibetans adopted architectural and artistic styles from India. Chinese Buddhist pilgrims connected India and Tibet contributing to knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, divination, farming.

Fall of the Tang Empire Tried to destroy Buddhism as an element of ‘foreign evil’. Believed encouragement of women in politics was dangerous and undermined the Confucian idea of the family as the model for the state. Fear of ‘barbarians’ ruining society led to attacks on foreign residents. Oppressive landlords, along with dependence on provincial military commanders and warlords opened it up for rebellion. Liao, Tanggut & Song emerged.

Neo-Confucian Influence Challenge to Buddhism Scholarly and cosmic emphasis on‘sagehood’. Civil Service examinations Govt. ‘Meritocracy’ Evidence in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Role of Women

The Song Empire Song achievements: – Su Song’s Celestial Clock – Gunpowder in explosive shells – First seafaring compass. – Junks (stern rudder & watertight bulkheads). – Produced steel of unprecedented strength by using waterwheel-driven bellows to superheat iron. – Modern urban planning (waste removal, water diversion, fire prevention, leisure activities). – Moveable type and the resulting spread of knowledge – Pioneered paper money and credit (flying money). Song weaknesses: – They feared foreigners and barbarians, though most of achievements in technology, observation, math, astronomy & economics came from India & West Asia during the Tang. – Cut off from Inner & West Asia they relied on sea trade. – Needed an army four times as large (though they occupied half the area) as the Tang. – Treatment of women worsened as the loss of Buddhism was replaced by neo-Confucianism.