Chinese Dynasties Notes

1. Chinese Dynasties Notes

2. Objectives • The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: • Locating major trade routes • Identifying technological advances and transfers • Questions • What were the major trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C.E. • How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?

3. Where we left off…. • 220 A.D. Han Dynasty collapses • China plunged into civil war • Not effected by “Dark Ages” of Europe • Farm production expanded • Buddhism spread • Despite countless invaders, Chinese cities and culture survived • Over 30 local dynasties rose and fell

4. Major Chinese Dynasties • Sui (589-618 C.E.) • Tang (618-907 C.E.) • Song (960-1279 C.E.) • Southern Song (1127-1279 C.E.) • Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 C.E.)

5. Sui Dynasty • 581 C.E. Sui Dynasty created • Only lasted until 618 A.D. • Unified China under emperor’s authority again • Achievements • Completed the Grand Canal • used forced labor • Eventually forced labor led to revolts by peasants and downfall of the Sui dynasty • Grand Canal linked Yellow River and Yangtze River • Made shipping easier

6. Tang Dynasty • People revolted against Sui Emperor • Due to forced labor • Tang Dynasty emerged a few years later in 618 A.D. • Lasted for nearly 300 years • Early rulers instituted reforms • Restored civil service exams • Gave land to peasants • Broke up power of wealthy land owners

7. Golden Ages of China • 1st Emperor was Li Yuan • Became Emperor by leading a revolt along with his son during the Sui dynasty • Crushes rival • Son eventually becomes 2nd Emperor • Takes name Tang Taizong • Became China’s most admired Emperor

8. Tang Dynasty • Tang Taizong • Ruled from 627- 649 C.E. • Brilliant general • Reconquered northern and western lands • Government restorer • Lowered taxes and gave land to peasants • Reformed government organization and law code • Became models for East Asia • Historian • Master of Calligraphy

9. Tang Dynasty- Achievements • Conquered territories into Central Asia • Forced Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea to become tributary states • System of canals for trade and transportation • Expanded the Grand Canal • Instituted land reform • Redistributed land to peasants • Strengthened central government • Increased government revenues • Promoted foreign trade • Improvements in agriculture

11. Tang Dynasty- Bureaucracy • In order to maintain their large empire, Tang emperors restored China’s vast bureaucracy • Revised and expanded civil service system • Opened new schools to train students • Exams open to all men • Really only wealthy and connected could afford them • Created a remarkably intelligent and capable governing class • Talent and education more important than noble birth in winning power

12. Empress Wu Zhao • Most women did not have power • Empress Wu was the exception • Became 2nd wife of Tang Taizong • Strangled her own daughter and blamed it on emperors wife • Ruled for Taizong and sons • She became empress in 690 C.E. • Age 65 • Only Empress in Chinese history • She was ruthless and a strong leader • Ruled for 15 years

13. Decline of the Tang • Lost territories in Central Asia to Arabs • Empire spread to thin • Bad emperors: Tang Xuanzang • Devoted to commoner’s daughter • Did everything to make her happy no matter cost • Downward cycle • Corruption • High taxes • Drought • Famine • Rebellions: led by favorite general • 907 A.D. rebel overthrew last Tang Emperor

15. Song Dynasty • 960 A.D. Song Taizu reunites China • Dynasty lasts 319 years • From 960- 1279 • Smaller dynasty than Tang • Threatened by invaders to north • Tried to pay tribute, it failed to keep peace • Southern Song ruled additional 150 years

16. Song Dynasty • Golden Age • Economy expanded • Center of farming shifted to rice paddies • Improved technology allowed peasants to produce two rice crops a year • Created surpluses • More people pursued commerce, learning, and arts

17. Southern Song Events • 1215 - Genghis Khan invades northern China • 1260 - Kublai becomes Great Khan • 1275 - Marco Polo reaches China

18. Chinese Dynasty Notes Inventions of Tang and Song Dynasties

19. Porcelain • Late 700s • Bone-hard, white ceramic made of a special clay and a mineral found only in China • Became a valuable export • Is so associated with Chinese culture that it is now called “china”

20. Mechanical clock • 700s • Clock in which machinery regulated the movements • Idea for mechanical clock was carried by traders to medieval Europe

21. Printing • Block printing – 700s • Block printing – one block on which a whole page is cut • Movable type - 1040 • Movable type – individual characters arranged in frames, used repeatedly • Printing technology spread to Korea and Japan • Movable type also developed later in Europe

22. Gunpowder • 800s • Explosive powder made from mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal • First used for fireworks, then weapons • Technology spread west within 300 years

23. Paper money • 1020s • Paper currency was issued by Song government to replace strings of metal cash used by merchants • Contributed to development of large-scale commercial economy in China

24. Foreign Trade • Under both Tang and Song dynasty trade flourished • Tang armies guarded silk road • Merchants came from India, Persia, and Arabia • China’s cities now center of trade not just government

25. Magnetic compass (for navigation) • 1100s • Floating magnetized needle that always points north-south, adapted by sailors for use at sea • Helped China become greatest sea power in the world at the time • Technology quickly spread west

26. Arts and Literature • Age of Artistic brilliance • Landscape painting • Daoist influence • Capture spiritual essence of the natural world • Other Arts • Buddhist themes dominated sculpture and architecture • Indian stupa = Chinese pagoda • porcelain • Wealth, education, and urban culture stimulated high level of artistic creativity • Literature • Poetry: Buddhist, Daoist, Social Issues • Li Bo: greatest Tang poet, 2000 poems on harmony and nature • Du Fu: condemned war and lavishness • Li Qingzhao: women behind left behind for wars, woman

28. Religion and Government • Buddhism • Brought into China in 1st century A.D. • Supported among ruling classes • Support continued into Tang Dynasty • Criticized for being a foreign religion • Lost state support • Daoism • Supported by ruling class

29. Neo-Confucianism • Starting at end of Song Dynasty • Heart of state government • Served as Confucian response to Buddhism and Daoism • Teaches that the world is real, not an illusion • Fulfillment comes with participation, not withdrawal from the world • Divide world into material world and spiritual world • Humans live in material world, goal is to reach union with the Supreme Ultimate • Reach union through moral principles

30. Chinese Society • Three main social classes • Gentry • Scholar-officials • Wealthy land-owning class • Spent years studying for civil service exam • Valued learning • Supported revival of Confucian thought • Middle Class • Merchants, shopkeepers, skilled artisans, and minor officials • Peasants • Worked land • Some families also produced handicrafts • Lived in small, self-sufficient villages • Relied on one another, not government • Village leader, council of elders • Could move up in society through education and government service

31. Chinese Society • Women • Subservient to men • Status declined during this time • Ran family affairs • When married, became part of husband’s family • Footbinding • Symbol of nobility and beauty • Continued into 20th century • Called “lily foot”

32. Objectives • The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: • Locating major trade routes • Identifying technological advances and transfers • Questions • What were the major trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C.E. • How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?