Wednesday, May 9, 2012

1. Wednesday, May 9, 2012 • Bell Assignment • Finish News Articles • Discuss Ch. 13 Section 1 – Tang and Song Dynasties • Video – Ancient China

2. Bell Assignment • Name 4 accomplishments of Shihuangdi. • How did the Han Dynasty improve the government of China?

3. Two Golden Ages of China

4. Tang Dynasty • After the Han dynasty collapsed in 220, China remained divided-into North and South. • This division lasted until the Tang Dynasty took over in 618 under the rule of Li Yuan. • They restored uniform government throughout China and enlarged the civil service. • Under the Tang, China conquered many lands, like Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam.

5. Tang Dynasty • Conquered lands became “tributary states”-meaning they remained independent but had to acknowledge Chinese supremacy. • They set up “land reform”-broke up land and redistributed to peasants • They built a system of canals and built the Grand Canal, which linked the Huang-He to the Yangzi. • Even though they were successful, the dynastic cycle (corruption, high taxes, drought, famine, and rebellions) took over and the dynasty collapsed in 907.

6. Song Dynasty • In 960, China was reunited under the Song Dynasty which ruled for 319 years. • Under the Song, the Chinese culture and economy expanded and trade flourished. • They issued paper money due to their booming trade centers and became a very wealthy dynasty known for their economic success.

7. Society During the Song • Chinese society during this time was well ordered. • At the top-the emperor and his court of aristocratic families. • The gentry (wealthy land owners), and peasants. • During the late Song dynasty, women had much fewer rights and the custom of foot binding began. • This reinforced the Confucian tradition that women should stay inside the home.

8. Why foot binding? • Women had a subordinate position that had to be enforced • The tradition started when girls were young in the aristocratic sect of society but eventually spread to lower classes • Feet were bound with strips of cloth-as a result feet became half the size of a foot that was allowed to grow normally • Tiny feet and an extended walk became a symbol of nobility and beauty • Women feared not being able to find a husband if their feet were large • The practice was extremely painful • Peasants who had to work in the fields did not bind their feet because binding often prevented women from being able to walk • Thus-foot binding reinforced the Confucian believe that women should remain inside the home.

9. Footbinding

10. Assignment for Today! • Look in your book on pages 302-307 and identify a technology or achievement of the Tang or Song Dynasties. • Draw, describe, and color a specific technology on a ¼ of a piece of paper. • Description should be at least 3-4 sentences • Then we will make a “quilt” and put your technologies together. • After you turn in quilt piece you are to work on flash cards for the notes we have made so far