POST -CLASSICAL CHINA, JAPAN AND THE MONGOL EMPIRE

1. POST-CLASSICAL CHINA, JAPAN AND THE MONGOL EMPIRE

2. The Big Questions: • What were the major civilizations of Asia in the post-classical era? • What were the effects of the Mongol invasion? • What were the achievements of Ming China?

3. Introduction • China entered a long period of turmoil and unrest after the collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220 A.D. • As in the West, the advance of the Huns helped plunge China into disunity • Several warring kingdoms arose, and science, art , and culture declined • At the same time, Buddhism spread through much of China • This period in China’s history is known as the Six Dynasties, and it took several hundred years before China re-emerged as a leading civilization

4. Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 A.D.) • Gave China a “Golden Age” • Suppressed peasant uprisings • Reunited China and brought peace and prosperity • Expanded into Korea, Manchuria, and parts of Central Asia • Government took census, restarted civil service exam, and built public works • Peasants paid taxes of grain and silk

6. More about the Tang • Empress Wu Zetian • Implemented government reforms • Built a new capital city of Chang’an (largest city in the world – merchants and officials from Persia, India, Arabia, and Syria could be found there) • Artistic Achievements • Pottery with painted glazed figures • Metalwork and jade • Poetry and painting • Unique gardens • Mapmaking, medicine, and block printing • Encouraged Commerce

7. Song Dynasty ( 960-1279 A.D.) • Ruled a much smaller area than the Tang • A time of great social and economic progress • Paper currency and standardized coins of copper and iron • Eliminated forced labor for the emperor (increased farm production, leading to greater wealth for China’s people and government) • The most populous and advanced civilization of its day • Merchants, craftspeople, and scholars lived in larger towns and cities • Traded with many other parts of the world

9. More about the Song • Achievements • The Grand Canal – connected Beijing, the Hwang Ho, and the Yangtze Rivers (used to ship grain within China) • Caravans carried silks over the Silk Road • Large ships carried goods to Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa • Science and Technology • New instruments for astronomers • Acupuncture • Advanced mathematics • Gunpowder in war • Compass for navigation • Moveable type • Created an alliance with the Mongols

10. Chinese Society • Buddhism and Confucianism influenced society • Women • Had to obey father, husband, and son • Left family when they married • Widows could receive a portion of husband’s land • Divorce was allowed if both husband and wife accepted it • Footbinding • Limited female mobility • Practiced by the wealthy

11. More foot binding photos

12. JAPAN

13. Introduction • Japan was deeply influenced by China • Spread by Chinese and Korean scholars and merchants • Confucianism – loyalty to family and ruler • Buddhism – renounce selfish desires • Daoism – love of nature • Chinese writing was adopted • Influenced music, art, dance, and cooking • Although greatly influenced, Japanese society was not an exact copy, and changed as time passed

14. Japanese System of Rule • Emperors free some nobles from tax burdens • Nobles began to raise their own private armies • Imperial government grew weaker (less money) • In 1192, the most powerful noble had the emperor appoint him “Supreme Military Governor” or Shogun • For the next 600 years, Shoguns were the real rulers of Japan (emperors were only figureheads)

15. The Hierarchy of Japanese Feudal System • Shogun – real ruler, Emperor a figurehead • Samurai – warriors (knights on horseback with armor or leather and iron, and swords). Swore an oath of loyalty to the emperor and his local daimyo • Daimyo – noble landowners. Provided the samurai with social status and economic support • Bushido – a strict code of honor promised by samurai that emphasized loyalty to the Daimyo

16. Left Side:Diagram of Japanese Feudalism Emperor Shogun Daimyo Samurai Samurai Peasant Peasant

17. THE MONGOL EMPIRE

18. Introduction • The Steppes – a treeless grassland stretching across Eurasia (from the Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe to Manchuria in NE Asia) • Inhabited by nomadic people since earliest times • Used as pastures for herding livestock • Provided a unique environment for people to learn horsemanship and fighting skills • The Huns • Repelled by the Chinese, but contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire • Attila was the most famous Hun leader • The Turks • Came from Central Asia to create empires in the Middle East

19. Central Asian Invaders 4th – 13th Centuries Mongols 13th Central Asia Huns 4th-5th Seljuk Turks 10th-11th Mongols 13th

20. THE MONGOLS • Established the greatest land empire the world had ever seen • Divided into several loosely organized tribes • Slept in domed tents made of felt • Excellent horsemen and archers (used stirrups) • Ghengis Khan (Chinggis Khan) • United Mongols by 1206 • Conquered Mongolia, China, & Muslim States of Central Asia • Although a brutal warrior who used terror, he was tolerant of religions • Promoted trade • Used local administrators • Ordered a written script for Mongol language

21. The Empire after Ghengis Khan • Ghengis Khan’s successors extended Mongol rule into Persia, Russia, Iraq, and the rest of China • This was the largest land empire the world has seen • There was a “Pax Mongolia” – people could trade safely from one end of the empire to the other • The empire was so vast, it was soon divided into four kingdoms (each ruled by a different descendant of Ghengis Khan)

23. THE YUAN DYNASTY • Ruled by Kublai Khan (Grandson of Ghengis) -1260 A.D. • Was born Mongolian, but was fascinated with Chinese culture, traditions, and art • Mongols served as military aristocracy • Chinese officials helped rule • Mongols were encouraged to adopt Chinese ways • Kublai Khan claimed the Mandate of Heaven

24. Yuan Dynasty continued… • Marco Polo (a venetian merchant) journeyed along the Silk Road to visit China • Astounded at the magnificence of Kublai Khan’s court • Chinese were technologically superior to European of the day • Was impressed by gunpowder and burning of coal for heat

25. Mongol Influence on Russia • Mongols controlled Russia for 200 years • Mongol words, customs, and clothing styles were found in Russian culture • Moscow and its surrounding territories (Muscovy) was the strongest Russian state • Muscovites eventually rebelled against Mongols • In 1480, Ivan the Great declared Muscovy’s independence • Proclaimed himself Tsar (“Caesar” or Emperor”) • Soon increased Muscovy’s size by conquering neighboring lands

26. Tamerlane • Expanded his kingdom from Samarkand into Persia, Afghanistan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and N. India • Known for his brutality and massacre of civilian populations • Empire collapsed soon after his death

27. MING DYNASTY (1388-1644 A.D.) • Overthrew the Mongols to take over • 300 years of peace and prosperity • Constructed an imperial palace in Beijing ,The Forbidden City. (Became home to Chinese emperors who were revered as gods) • Two main social classes • Peasants – largely illiterate, lives centered around family and village • Scholar gentry – owned land, respected learning • Restored civil service exam (focused on Confucian teachings)

28. Ming continued… • Trade and manufacturing flourished • Merchants and craftsmen lived in the cities • Excelled at printing and producing silks and porcelains • Exploration • Great naval expeditions were sponsored by the emperor in the 1400s to spread the news of China’s wealth and power • Zheng He sailed to India and Arabia • Emperor stopped voyages in 1430 • In 1557, Portuguese traders established a settlement in China • Catholic missionaries soon followed trying to convert Chinese to Christianity • Established a global pattern of trade (exported silk and porcelain and imported silver, sweeet potatoes and corn)

29. Voyages ofZheng He

30. “Now there was on this spot a great and noble city called Beijing. As regards the size of this city, it is 24 square miles, since each side is 6 miles long. It is walled around with walls of earth, 10 paces thick at bottom, and a height of more than 10 paces.