Imperial China: Qin to Ming Dynasties

1. Imperial China: Qin to Ming Dynasties

3. Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, 221-206 B.C.E. • Established China’s first empire • Shi Huangdi (221-206 B.C.E) • Legalist rule • Bureaucratic administration • Centralized control • Military expansion • Book burnings  targetedConfucianists • Buried protestors alive! • Built large section of the Great Wall

4. Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

5. The Great Wall with Towers

6. The Eastern terminus of the Great Wall, Shanhai Pass

8. Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E. • “People of the Han” original Chinese • Paper invented [105 B.C.E.] • Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many • Buddhism introduced into China • Expanded into Central Asia

9. Chang’anThe Han Capital

10. Emperor Wudi, 141-87 B.C.E. • Started public schools. • Colonized Manchuria, Korea, & Vietnam. • Civil service system • bureaucrats • Confucian scholar-gentry • Revival of Chinese landscape painting.

11. Trade Routes of the Ancient World

13. Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E. • “Land Equalization” System  land redistribution. • Unified coinage. • Grand Canal constructed. • Established an army of professional soldiers. • People were overworked and overtaxed!

14. The Grand Canal

15. The Grand Canal Today

17. 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

18. Tang Government Organization

19. 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.

20. 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 statereligion. • Financed the building of many Buddhist temples. • BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.

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

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

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

24. The Results of Foot-Binding

26. Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E. • Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class. • Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books. • Magnetic compassmakes China a great sea power!

27. Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

29. Mongolian Steppes

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

31. Mongol Invasions

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

33. 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!

34. The Extent of the Mongol Empire

35. Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E. • Kublai Khan [r. 1260-1294] • Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”] • Tolerated Chinese culturebut lived apart from them. • No Chinese in top govt. posts. • Believed foreigner were moretrustworthy. • Encouraged foreign trade & foreign merchants to live and work in China. • Marco Polo

36. Marco Polo (1254-1324) • A Venetian merchant. • Traveled through YuanChina: 1271-1295 • “Black Stones” [coal] • Gunpowder. • Noodles.

37. Marco Polo’s Travels

38. 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.

39. China’s last native imperial dynasty!

40. The Forbidden City: China’s New Capital

41. Revived the Civil Service Exam

42. Ming Cultural Revolution • Printing & Literacy • Cheap, popular books: • woodblock printing. • cheap paper. • Examination system. • Leads to explosion in literacy. • Leads to further popularization of the commercial market. • Culture & Art • Increased literacy leads to increased interest in cultural expressions, ideas, and things: • Literature. • Painting. • Ceramics. • Opera.

43. Ming Silver Market • Spanish Silver Convoys • Triangle route: • Philippines to China to Japan. • Silver floods Chinese Market: • Causes devaluation of currency & recession • Adds to reasons for Chinese immigration overseas. • Reduces price of Chinese goods in Europe • Increases interest in Chinese culture & ideas in Europe. • Helps fund conquest of New World • Encourages Europeans in conquest & trade.

44. Ming Emperor Tai Zu (r. 1368-1398)

45. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) • Ming “Treasure Fleet” • Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide 1371-1435

46. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) • China’s “Columbus?” 

47. 1498 --> Da Gama reached Calcutta, China’s favorite port.

48. Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16c

49. Imperial China’s Impact on History • Removed religion from morality. • Beginnings of political philosophy through which a ruler must prove he/she is legitimate. • Mandate of Heaven • Secular law. • Valued history  The Dynastic Cycle