1. Chinese Dynasties (600-1650)

2. I. Tang Dynasty: (618-907) Lasted 300 years and became the richest and most powerful country in the world at that time.

3. 1.Tang Taizong: (627- 649) powerful Chinese ruler who accomplished many things: * Expanded the empire

4. *strengthened the government *built roads and canals

5. *lowered taxes *expanded bureaucracy

6. 2. Decline of Tang Dynasty- 907 – due to government corruption, drought, and rebellion

7. Mandate of Heaven

8. II. Song Dynasty –-(960-1279) prosperous dynasty but was weakened by invaders and eventually conquered by the Mongols in 1279.

9. Chinese InventionsTime Period Porcelain 700’s Mechanical Clock 700’s Block Printing 700’s Gunpowder 800’s Paper Money 1020’s Magnetic Compass 1100’s

10. Block Printing

11. II.Ming Dynasty—(1364- 1644) Peaceful and prosperous time for China

12. 1. 1368—Ming Dynasty conquered Mongols and forced them out of China

13. 2.Chinese attitude: Called themselves “Middle Kingdom” illustrating that they saw themselves as the center of the universe

14. a. This is ethnocentric – attitude that your race/culture is superior to everyone else’s.

15. 3. Zheng He – 1405 - set out with fleet of ships to promote oversea trade and collect tribute [payment] from lesser lords

16. a. took 7 trips and traveled to Southeast Asia, India, Arabian Peninsula, and along coast of East Africa

18. 4. 1500—Europeans try to establish trade routes with China

19. a. Chinese were uninterested in European attempts at trade and were untrusting of foreigners after Mongol invasion and rule

20. b. RESULT = Chinese severely restrict trade with Europe TRADE = Isolationism!

21. Mandate of Heaven