3. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 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

4. Tang Government Organization

5. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 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. 

6. Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705  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.

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

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

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

10. The Results of Foot-Binding

12. Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 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! 

13. Song Peasant Family

14. Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

15. Song Rice Cultivation

17. Mongolian Steppes

18. Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol] “Yurt”

19. Mongol Invasions

20. Mongol Warriors

21. Mongol Archer

22. Gold Saddle Arch – Mongols, 13c

23. Gold Saddle, Front View – Mongols, 13c

24. The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”]  Temujin --> Genghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”]  1162 - 1227  from the steppe [dry, grass-covered plains of Central Asia]

25. 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!

26. Mongol Nobleman, late 13c

27. Robe of a Mongol Nobleman, early 14c

28. Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c

29. The Extent of the Mongol Empire

30. Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279- 1368 C.E.  Kublai Khan [r. 1260-1294]  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

31. Marco Polo (1254-1324)  A Venetian merchant.  Traveled through Yuan China: 1271-1295  “Black Stones” [coal]  Gunpowder.  Noodles.

32. Marco Polo’s Travels

33. Yuan Porcelains & Ceramics

34. Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368 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.