Explore the Time Line

1. Explore the Time Line • Which dynasty unified China in 589? • When was the Yuan Dynasty founded, and by whom? • How many years passed from the beginning of the Yuan dynasty to the end of the Ming dynasty? • What was happening elsewhere in the world at the time of the Sui dynasty’s reunification of China?

2. Chinese Inventions • Paper • Fireworks • Compass • Paper Money • Gunpowder

3. Bell Work 1/10/13 • If YOU were there… You are a peasant in China in the year 264. Your grandfather often speaks of a time when all of China was united, but all you have known is warfare among rulers. A man passing through your village speaks of even more conflict in other areas. Why might you want China to have just one ruler? • Consider what would be LOST: • the end of constant warfare • Constant fear of violence • Senselessly blocked paths and missed opportunities • Consider what would be GAINED: • Increased productivity • Enhanced foreign relations • Opportunity to befriend former enemies

4. China Chapter 7

5. China Reunifies Section 1

6. The Period of Disunion • The Period of Disunion: When the Han dynasty collapsed in 220, China split into several rival kingdoms, each ruled by military leaders. • This time of disorder lasted from 200 to 589 • Cultural blending between the nomadic cultures of the north and the Chinese people. • Many northern Chinese moved south to flee the nomadic invaders. • New Chinese culture developed through new foods, art, music, and clothing.

8. The Sui, Tang, and Song • China was finally unified in 589 by Yang Jian (Emperor Wen), who created the Sui Dynasty. • Lasted from 589 to 618 • Restored order to China and began the Grand Canal, which linked northern and southern China.

10. The Sui, Tang, and Song • In 618, the Tang Dynasty overthrew the old government and would then rule for nearly 300 years. • Territory included much of eastern Asia, as well as large parts of Central Asia. • “Golden Age of Chinese civilization” • Taizong: reformed the military, created law codes, and reformed land ownership. • Xuanzong: Chinese culture and poetry flourished • Empress Wu: Only women to rule China, who’s methods were vicious, but was very talented and intelligent. • In 960, the Song Dynasty gained power and ruled for about 300 years until 1279 AD.

11. The Age of Buddhism • Buddhism: originated in India around 500 BC • First came to China during the Han Dynasty • Gained supporters during the Period of Disunion when people wanted to escape suffering. • 400 AD to 845 AD was “The Golden Age of Buddhism” • Wealthy Chinese would donate land and money to Buddhist temples. • Ended when a Tang emperor launched a campaign against the religion. • Burned Buddhist texts, took temple lands, and destroyed many temples. • Emperor’s actions weakened Buddhism but did not completely destroy it and it continued to influence Chinese art and literature.

12. Tang & Song Achievements Section 2

13. Learning Objective Question • Which achievement made by the Tang & Song dynasties do you believe was the most important? Explain your answer.

14. Advances in Agriculture • Chinese society has always been based on agriculture • Grew wheat, barley, grains, and rice

15. New Improvements during the Song Dynasty • The Dragon Backbone Well: underground well pump that allowed one person to do the work of several, the farmer could scoop up water and pour it into an irrigation canal. • Fast-ripening rice: grew and ripened quickly which enabled farmers to grow two or even three crops in the time it used to take to grow just one. • Agricultural surpluses helped China’s populations grow from 60 million to nearly 100 million, making China the largest country in the world.

16. Cities & Trade • Chang’an: China’s capital and largest city in the world at the time with a population of more than a million people. • Center of trade, religion and philosophy • Trade within China made it rich • Traders used the country’s many rivers to ship goods on barges and ships. • Grand Canal: series of waterways that linked major cities together. • Allowed Chinese to move goods and crops from distant agricultural areas into cities.

17. Cities & Trade • Trade outside of China also occurred. • Traded with countries of India, Korea, Japan, and the region of Southeast Asia. • Silk: the most important trade item. • The Chinese tried to keep the method of making it a secret • Porcelain: a thin, beautiful type of pottery. • World’s first system of paper money established in the 900s.

18. Arts & Inventions • Artists and Poets • Wu Daozi: Painted murals • Li Bo and Du Fu: Poets • Li Qingzhao: China’s greatest female poet • Inventions: The Tang and Song dynasties produced some of the most remarkable and important inventions in human history. • Woodblock Printing: a form of printing in which an entire page is carved into a block of wood. This block is then covered with ink and pressed against paper to create a printed page. • The world’s first known printed book was printed in this way in China in 868.

19. Arts & Inventions • Gunpowder: Tang dynasty, mixture of powders used in guns and explosives. • Originally used for fireworks, but then small bombs and rockets. • Compass: Uses the earth’s magnetic field to show direction. • Made it possible to find direction more accurately then before. • Paper Money: Song dynasty, substituted light weight paper currency for the bulky coins made of gold, silver, and bronze.

20. Learning Objective Question • Which achievement made by the Tang & Song dynasties do you believe was the most important? Explain your answer.

21. Learning Objective Question • What was the focus of the teachings of Confucius? • In what ways did Confucian thought influence China’s government?

22. Confucianism & Government Section 3

23. Confucianism • Dominant philosophy in China based on the teachings of Confucius. • Focused on ethics, or proper behavior • People should conduct their lives according to two basic principles: • Ren: concern for others • Li: appropriate behavior • Everyone has their proper place and role in society. EX. Confucius said that young people should obey their elders. • Although very influential before the Period of Disunion, Confucianism became overshadowed by Buddhism.

24. Neo-Confucianism • Late in the Tang dynasty, many Chinese historians and scholars began to become interested in the teachings of Confucius. • Neo-Confucianism: similar to Confucianism in that it stressed proper behavior but also emphasized spiritual matters that incorporated Buddhist and Daoist concepts.

25. Scholar-Officials • The Song dynasty improved the system by which people went to work for the government. • Bureaucracy: body of unelected government officials • People could join the bureaucracy by passing civil service exams. • These exams tested students’ grasp of Confucianism and related ideas. • Very difficult and people would study for years. • A person who passed the tests would become an educated member of the government or Scholar-Official. • Elite members of society who were admired for their knowledge and ethics.

26. Learning Objective Questions • What was the focus of the teachings of Confucius? • In what ways did Confucian thought influence China’s government?

27. The Yuan & Ming Dynasties Section 4

28. Learning Objective Questions • Who were the Mongols and why was the period of the Yuan dynasty a significant time in China’s history? • What led to the downfall of the Yuan Dynasty? • How were the Ming emperors more powerful than Tang and Song rulers? • Why do you think the Ming Dynasty turned to isolationism?

29. The Mongol Empire • Mongols lived in the vast plains to the north of China • In 1206, a ruler named Temujin united them and began a brutal military campaign. • He would later become known as Genghis Khan. • Attack much of Asia and Eastern Europe killing women, men, and children who got in his way. • Within 20 years, he ruled a large part of Asia. • In 1211, invaded China and by his death in 1227, all of northern China was under Mongol control. • In 1260, Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan’s grandson, became ruler of the Mongol Empire and completed the conquest of China. • In 1279, he declared himself emperor of China and this began the Yuan Dynasty.

30. Life in Yuan China • Rulers spoke a different language, worshipped different gods, wore different clothing, and had different customs. • Most Chinese resented being ruled by these foreigners, whom they saw as rude and uncivilized. • However, Kublai Khan did not force the Chinese to accept Mongol ways of life. • To protect their power, prohibited scholars from gaining too much power in the government and placed heavy taxes on the Chinese. • Trade was kept safe by Mongol soldiers and Mongol emperors welcomed foreign traders at Chinese ports.

31. Life in Yuan China • Marco Polo: Italian merchant who between 1271 and 1295 traveled in and around China. • Highly respected by the Mongols and even served in Kublai Khan’s court.

32. The End of the Yuan Dynasty • Mongols invaded Japan in 1274 and 1281. • Violent storms and fierce defenders destroyed most of the Mongol force. • These failed campaigns weakened the Mongol military. • In 1368, a former monk named Zhu Yuanzhangled a rebel army and won back the rule of China from the Mongols.

33. The Ming Dynasty • Ruled China for nearly 300 years. • One of the most stable and prosperous times in Chinese history. • Improved their ships and their sailing skills. • Zheng He: greatest Chinese sailor, who led 7 grand voyages to places such as the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and the easternmost coast of Africa. • Had fleets of ships that included more than 60 ships and 25,000 sailors. • Some of his ships were more than 300 feet long! • Voyages served as a clear sign of China’s power.

34. The Ming Dynasty • The Ming were known for their grand building projects. • The Forbidden City: this amazing palace complex included hundreds of imperial residences, temples, and other government buildings that had up to 9,000 rooms! • Common people were not allowed to enter the complex. • The Great Wall of China: restored and rebuilt sections that had fallen apart. • The wall is more than 2,000 miles long. It would reach from San Diego to New York City!

35. Ming Government • Worked to eliminate all foreign influences from Chinese society. • Ming emperors eliminated many political offices and took over more responsibility in running the government. • In the 1430s, China entered a period of Isolationism: a policy avoiding contact with other countries. • This isolationism would come back to hurt China in the years to come.

36. Learning Objective Questions • Who were the Mongols and why was the period of the Yuan dynasty a significant time in China’s history? • What led to the downfall of the Yuan Dynasty? • How were the Ming emperors more powerful than Tang and Song rulers? • Why do you think the Ming Dynasty turned to isolationism?