The Far East: Culture, Religion and Trade

1. The Far East: Culture, Religion and Trade Standard: Students will trace the development and impact of major civilizations, states, and empires in different regions of Asia from 1000 B.C.E. to 1500 C.E.

2. When China WAS the World Objective: Trace the development and major achievements of Chinese civilization during various key dynasties, such as the Qin, Han, Tang, and Song.

3. China’s First Dynasties (4.4) • Xia Dynasty: According to legend, Fu Xi founded the Xia dynasty in 2800 BCE and was part god and part man. Archeological evidence from this time period is sketchy at best! During this time period, people settled in the area of Sumer and Sargon I created the world’s first empire. The Egyptian and Indus Valley civilizations were in full force, and Minoan civilizations was developing in Greece. • Shang Dynasty (1700 to 1027 BCE): This bronze age civilization centered around the Yellow River in the Henan Valley and the capital was Anyang. This era is marked by ancestor worship, oracle bones, an agricultural society, the beginnings of Chinese writing, advanced bronze metallurgy, a structured court life and human sacrifices in the king’s tombs. Elsewhere in the world, Hammurabi was king of Babylon, Hatshepsut was pharaoh of Egypt and the Aryans ruled India. • Zhou Dynasty (1027 to 221 BCE): The Zhou invaded the Shang Dynasty and introduced the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou learned how to use iron and began using chopsticks! Due to invasions, the Zhou had to move their capital from Xian (Western Zhou) to Luoyang (Eastern Zhou). The Eastern Zhou is also known as the Warring States Era. During this time Confucius wrote his analects and Daoism flourished. Things were changing quickly all around the world! The Persian Empire had come and gone, as had the empire of Alexander the Great! Judaism and Buddhism (through the work of Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire) become established world religions, and the Roman Republic is giving way to the Roman Empire.

4. Imagined Journal: A Warrior’s Life

5. The Qin Dynasty (8.1) • By 400 BCE, the Zhou Dynasty was in decline. This era is known as the Warring States Period because several smaller states were fighting for power. • The Qin state arose as the most powerful of these warring states united all of China under one empire in 221 BCE. • Shi Huangdi was the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. • Hanfeizi and Li Si were his two advisors. They founded legalism—a philosophy that justified harsh rule. While Confucian thinkers believed that leaders should set a good example and create a harmonious society, legalists contended that all people were bad at heart and that a leader needed keep society in line by using strict punishment. • Through the use of harsh rule, the Qin were able to unify and strengthen China. He standardized laws, coins and weights and measures. He ordered irrigation systems to be built and improved roads and canals. • Improved transportation led to increased trade; however, the peasants were heavily taxed and often forced to work on these projects. • The Great Wall of China was built during this time. It’s purpose was to prevent invasion by nomads from the north. The Terra Cotta warriors in Xian were also created during this time. • When Shi Huangdi died, the empire crumbled. Liu Bang lead a successful peasant uprising in 206 BCE that marks the beginning of the Han Dynasty.

6. The Han Dynasty (8.1) • Liu Bang (Gaozu) led a peasant uprising and demonstrated that held the mandate of heaven and also the loyalty of the people. • He lowered taxes, softened the Legalist policies and distributed land to military leaders. He allowed Confucian scholars to have positions in the government. • After Liu Bang’s death, his young son inherited the throne. Empress Lu ruled until her son was old enough to take the throne, but she never gave up power. The entire Lu family was assassinated as one of many power plays at court. • The emperor Wudi is considered the greatest of all Han rulers. Wudi promoted economic growth by improving infrastructure and redistributing land. He created state run monopolies on salt, iron and alcohol to fund his government and keep taxes low. He also promoted Confucianism in the government. • Wudi was also able to expand the empire. In the north, he was able to push back the Xongnu, fierce nomad traders who raided and wanted tribute. Wudi also colonized Korea, Manchuria and Vietnam. He maintained stability in the west and was able to open up trade routes through the silk road. • The Han Dynasty began to decline due to weak rulers, assassinations and a growing rich poor gap. In 184 AD, a Daoist group called the Yellow Turbans rebelled, leaving the region open to rule by warlords and invasion by nomads. This was called the Period of Disunion, and it lasted 350 years.

7. Han Culture/Silk Road (8.2) Yo-Yo Ma! • http://www.silkroadproject.org/Education/Resources/TheRoadtoBejing/tabid/338/Default.aspx • http://www.silkroadproject.org/SilkRoadVideo/SilkRoadEnsemblePerformances/tabid/445/Default.aspx • http://www.silkroadproject.org/SilkRoadVideo/InterviewswithYoYoMa/tabid/449/Default.aspx

8. Possible Sentences: Famous People • Although Shi Huangdi unified China under the Qin Dynasty, he also caused much suffering as taxes skyrocketed and peasants were drafted to work on massive projects. • In 206 BCE, Liu Bang, a peasant rebel leader, defeated the Qin forces and founded the Han Dynasty. He surrounded himself with knowledgeable advisors and softened the harsh Qin laws. • Empress Lu cunningly promoted her family’s interests as rules of the Han Dynasty and caused much intrigue at court. • Wudi was a powerful Han emperor who improved the economy by building infrastructure and raising revenue through state monopolies on salt, iron and alcohol. • Zhang Qian was a Han official who held captive by the Xiongnu; when he was released he reported his travels to emperor who was impressed with his tales of blood sweating horses. • The Xiongnu were fierce nomads from the steppes north of China who launched raids that presented a major security threat to the Han Dynasty. • The Yellow Turbans were Daoist monks who revolted against Han rule in 184 CE; this internal strife weakened the empire and left it open to invasion and power struggles.

9. Silk Road Geography • http://asiasociety.org/education/students/games/china-puzzle

10. The Sui Dynasty (11.1) • Xia, Shang, Zhou… • Qin Dynasty: 221 BCE to 206 BCE: Roman Republic, Second Punic War, End of Mauryan Empire • Han Dynasty: 206 BCE to 220 CE: PaxRomana, Kushan Dynasty and Tamil Kingdoms • Period of Disunion: 220 CE to 589 CE: Fall of the Western Roman Empire, Gupta Empire • Sui Dynasty: 589 CE to 618 CE • Wendi reunified China and became emperor of the Sui Dynasty. • His son, Yang Di, was assassinated in 618 AD, and the empire collapsed. • The greatest achievement of the Sui Dynasty was the completion of the Grand Canal.

11. The Tang Dynasty (11.1) • Founded by a Sui general, the Tang Dynasty lasted from 618 to 907—almost 300 years. • There were two capitals—Chang’an and Luoyang. • Government officials were selected by civil service exam. Laws were flexible and trade was encouraged. The Tang Dynasty is known as a time of cultural exchange, and its influence can be seen in Korea and Japan. • Emperor Taizong expanded the borders and invested in education. When he died, his son took charge, but he was not a good ruler. Wu Zhao was the wife of this son; she ruled through her husband and sons before becoming China’s only woman empress. She is known as Empress Wu. • Buddhism was adopted during the Period of Disunion because it taught that people could escape suffering at a time when life was chaotic and the world was uncertain. Since many Tang rulers were Buddhist, they built temples and sent missionaries throughout Asia. The Age of Buddhism lasted from 400 to 845 CE. When the Buddhist monks became too powerful, the state launched a campaign to weaken the temples. • The Tang Dynasty began to collapse from all sides as weak leaders failed to quell uprisings and rebellions.

12. The Song Dynasty

13. The Yuan Dynasty (11.2)

14. The Ming Dynasty

15. The Qing Dynasty

16. Objective: Trace the origins and development of Japanese society and Korean societies, the imperial state in Japan, and the Koryo Dynasty in Korea.