 Hun dynasty falls and begins a era of social and political disruption in China.  Many people began to start their own kingdoms and used old Chinese customs.

 500’s one group reunited China under its rule. Sui 589 came into power. Started Construction on the Grand Canal, linked northern and southern China for the first time. Sui didn’t last, rulers tried to do too much at once, tried to conquer southern Manchuria and Northern Korea 615 Turks defeated them Uprising in 618 ended the Sui and Tang dynasty came into power.

 Expansion under the Tang: Chinese ideas influenced the people of Korea and Japan. Tang made Xi’an their capital/ about 2 million people lived here during the 700’s-800’s Center of government and culture. Arabs, Persians, Jews, Greeks and native Chinese lived in this region. China flourished under the Tang dynasty. Ruled till 907 Many years China was the most powerful and wealthy country in the World.

 Literature under the Tang was marked as one of the high points in China Li Bo & Du fu Li Bo- Daoist, poems described life’s delights in light, happy, elegant terms. Du Fu- wrote about serious subjects, follower of the teachings of Confucius. Suffering and tragedy of human life. (famous works, “ A Song of War Chariots.”)

 Tang Religion: Missionaries from India brought Buddhism to China during Han, reached its peak under the Tang. Empress Wu: ruled from outspoken supporter of Buddhism. Only women to hold the Chinese throne in her own name. Different sects of Buddhism appeared, Famous one is Zen. Similar to Daoism, (many Chinese adopted a mix of Buddhist and Daoism teachings)

 Buddhist monasteries became wealthy and alarmed government… Tang government became alarmed, officials persecuted Buddhists monks and nuns. They were also forced to give up their duties and return to ordinary life. Today Buddhism is not an important part of Chinese life. Tang rulers brought back Confucianism. Confucianism remained the main religion of China’s ruling class till the early 1900’s.

 Decline of the Tang: Reached its height 750, declined under a weak emperors. Nomads began to invade China 907 a warlord murdered the emperor, Tang dynasty ended.

 960 Zhao Kuangyin established the Sung Dynasty, Tibet a new kingdom was established and in the northwest a Mongol tribe held Manchuria increasingly threatened northeastern China. China was never united under one dynasty.

 Civil Service system: Examinations took place in the capital every three years,. Individual first had to pass an examination at the local level Only important families became able to take the exam. People tried to cheat on them.

 Inventions: Gunpowder was invented by the Hun (was not used for warfare till the 900’s) Printing was another important invention World first known printed book was called the Diamond Sutra, Buddhist religious text produced in China in 868.

 Wealthy Chinese's lived in homes surrounded by gardens, and artificial lakes.  Status of women in Chinese society began to change. (worked less)  Foot binding spread among the wealthy classes.  Why did they do this?

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 Mongolia: rugged steppe Culture was that they encouraged skills of battle Height of the conquest they had 100,000 in their cavalry, giant crossbows. Used gunpowder and catapults, they would wear down the enemy. Genghis Khan- lived from original name was Temujin,  Took the name Genghis Khan because it means, “Universal Ruler”

 Mongols conquered Northern China, most of Persia. Led by Kublai Khan grandson of Genghis Khan, eventually conquered the rest of China. They tried to capture Japan but failed.

 Batu: another grandson of Genghis Khan He invaded Europe and went across Russia, Poland and Hungary. Europeans called the Mongolian invaders the Golden Horde. Golden horde was given because of the gold color of the Mongol tents in the sun. Controlled Russia for almost 200 years.

 Mongol Empire was divided into four parts: remained united until the 1300’s  1260 Kublai Khan was given the title of Great Khan, recognized as the head of the whole Mongol Empire. Many Chinese ways were adopted into the Mongol culture and introduced Chinese ceremonies to his court.

 Yuan dynasty: covered northern China. Capital was Beijing.  1279 Yuan forces defeated the Sung dynasty in Southern China. Kublai Khan: extended the length of the Grand Canal, fostered trade routes linking India and Persia. China grew in population and economy, but harsh taxes began to weaken the economy

 Contact with Europe: King Louis IX of France and the pope sent ambassadors to China. Italian Marco Polo traveled to China, famous merchant and explorer. Took him three years to reach China, Kublai like Marco Polo and employed him as a special representative.

 Chinese- Mongols Tensions between the two groups. Different languages Didn’t treat Chinese as equals Punished Chinese criminals more harshly Didn’t allow marriages between the different groups of people. Kublai Khan died in 1294  Huang River flooded, destroying crops, rebellions.  1368 Yuan dynasty was overthrown

 Physical settings: Japan isolation, Island Mountainous  Prehistoric times: migrants from the Asian mainland settled the Japanese islands.  Organized themselves into clans  Powerful clans lived on the island of Honshu

 Religion was important part in helping Japanese culture form.  Believed in gods or nature spirits called kami. (lived in natural objects)  Shinto the way of the kami! This involves prayers and rituals to please the kami.  Buddhism spread among the common people.

 Feudal Japan First family to gain control over Japan was the Fujiwara. (800’s – 1100’s) 1185 the Minamoto clan gained power, this change was the change in the way the governmnet was run. In 1192 the emperor granted Minamoto Yoritomo the title of shogun. (general)  Shogun had control of the military, finances and laws.  1331 the Emperor tried to gain control over the power, but failed.  General Ashikaga clamed the Shogun for his own clan and they ruled for 250 years.

 Local level wealthy landlords held power. Hired warriors called samurai for protection. (similar to European Knights) Samurai followed a code of behavior called Bushido. Means way of the warrior.  Stressed bravery, loyalty and honor.  If a samurai displeased their masters or were defeated in battle, they might practice seppuku- ceremonial suicide.

 Daimyo: local lords, great names. The lords and the samurai became the most powerful people in Japan during Ashikaga No effective central government and warfare was common. Grew economically and socially.

 Zen Buddhism: Interested warriors. Taught salvation through enlightenment, not faith. Meditation (self discipline) Ashikaga shoguns supported Zen Buddhism.

 Korea: Korea’s political and cultural development was shaped by China. People came from Northwestern Asia during prehistoric time. 108 B.C. troops from han China invaded Korea, conquered the kingdom of Choson. (northwestern Korea) tight control over the region. Elsewhere on the peninsula, three Korean kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche and Silla. Fall of the Han dynasty Koguryo invaded the north and took over.

 Korea: Silla worked together with the Tang dynasty to invaded the other two kingdoms. Once conquered the other two kingdoms turned against the Tang and drove them out of Korea. 670 the kingdom of Silla untied the Korean peninsula. Fell to the Mongol Empire in the 1200’s 1392 Koreans regained their independence. Yi dynasty rose to power, lasting till 1910 when Japan annexed Korea.

 Korea was influenced much by China, religion, government structure and written language.  But Korean aristocrats, unlike Chinese nobles had great influence on the country’s political development.  Society was divided between small upper class and a very large lower class, unlike China had a small middle class.  Sejong ordered the development of the Korean alphabet..

 Indochina: Modern day nations of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam. Vietnam was the only Country that was influenced by China. The other countries of Southeast Asia was shaped by Indian culture and tradition. Sanskrit language came into use, helping spread Indian literature and thought. Cambodia: Khmer Empire grew to control much of the region.

 Khmer Empire: Influenced by Indian culture, adopted many Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Overtime the Khmer kings were overthrown and Theravada Buddhism became the predominant form of Buddhism in Southeast Asia.