Chinese Empires

Chapter 11 Section 1

Pages 309-315

Reading Focus

• How did the Sui and Tang dynasties reunify China?

• How did the Song dynasty strengthen China?

• What were some Tang and Song cultural achievements?

• How was this period a time of prosperity and social change?

Main Idea

The Sui dynasty reunified China, after which the Tang and Song dynasties produced an age of prosperity and achievement.

Chinese Empires

The Period of Disunion lasted more than 350 years, ending when a northern ruler named Wendi reunified China, founding the Sui dynasty.

The Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220—more than 400 years. After the dynasty collapsed, military leaders split China into rival kingdoms. These events began a period of disorder and warfare that historians call the Period of Disunion.

Sui and Tang Dynasties

The Sui Dynasty

What are the benefits of this canal?

The Grand Canal

Period of Brilliance

• Tang dynasty ruled 618 to 907; Chinese influence spread

• China experienced period of brilliance, prosperity, cultural achievement

• Government, other institutions served as models across East Asia

Civil Service

• To obtain talented officials, Tang expanded civil service examination system

• People had to pass written exams to work for government

• Created flexible law code; model for law codes in Korea, Japan

Built on Sui Foundations

• Established capital at Chang’an, Sui capital

• Second capital located at Luoyang

• Government control remained centralized, based on bureaucracy of officials

The Tang Dynasty

Expansion

• Much of expansion occurred during reign of Taizong, 626 to 649

• Taizong relied on talented ministers to help govern

• In addition to military conquests, Taizong had schools built to prepare students for civil service exams

• After his death, one of his sons became emperor

Foreign Affairs

• Tang expanded China, Chinese influence

• Regained western lands in Central Asia, gained influence over Korea

• Contact with Japan increased; Japanese scholars came to China to study

• Expansion, increased contact with others grew foreign trade

Wu Zhao

New emperor was weak, sickly

• Emperor’s wife, Wu Zhao gained power

• Following death of husband

– Wu Zhao ruled through her sons

– Eventually became emperor herself—the only woman to do so in Chinese history

• Wu Zhao overthrown, 705

– Dynasty reached height under Xuanzong

– During reign, 712 to 756, empire prospered

From India

• Buddhism first came to China from India during Han times

• During Period of Disunion many Chinese turned to Buddhism

• Taught people could escape suffering, appealed to people in turmoil

Tang Decline

• 750s, decline began, government weak, nomadic invasions, rebellions

• Military defeats lost Tang lands in Central Asia and the north

• 907, emperor killed, Tang dynasty ended

State Religion

• Under Tang rule, Buddhism became state religion

• Buddhist temples appeared across land, missionaries spread Buddhism

• 400 to 845 in China, Age of Buddhism; ended when lost official favor

The Age of Buddhism

Summarize

How did the Sui and Tang dynasties unite and expand China?

Answer(s): built centralized government; reformed laws and policies; built Grand Canal; Tang regained land in Central Asia and gained influence over neighboring states; increased contact with other peoples

• China split apart after Tang dynasty

• Did not reunify until 960 with Song dynasty

• Song ruled for about 300 years, created achievement, prosperity

• Under Song, Chinese civilization became most advanced in world

After Tang Dynasty

The Song Dynasty

Southern Song

• Song rulers never regained northern, western lands lost by Tang

• Tried to buy peace with threatening nomads by sending lavish gifts

• 1120s, nomadic people, Jurchen, conquered northern China, founded Jin empire

• Song continued in south as Southern Song dynasty 150 more years

Civil Service Exams

• Extremely difficult to pass; those who did became scholar-officials

• Scholar-officials received good salary, were respected

• Civil service exams became more open to ordinary people

• Exams became pathway to gaining wealth, status

Compare

How did the Song strengthen China’s government?

Answer(s): established capital at Kaifeng and restored centralized government control, enlarged bureaucracy, reformed civil service exam

The Tang and Song dynasties were periods of great cultural achievement. Art and literature flourished, and many inventions and advances occurred in science and technology.

• Tang period produced some of China’s greatest poets

• Du Fu, Li Bo, two most famous

• Poems of Confucian ideals, joys of life

Literature and Art

Cultural Achievements

Architecture

• Indian Buddhist temples influenced design of Chinese pagoda

• Featured roofs at each floor curving upwards at corners

Magnetic Compass

• Major Tang technical advance

• Uses Earth’s magnetic field to show direction

• Revolutionized sea travel, contributed to world exploration

Inventions

• During Tang, Song periods, China became a world leader in technology, science

• Gunpowder major invention, used in fireworks, weapons

Printing

• Paper, ink invented earlier

• Tang period, developed woodblock printing

• Text carved into wood, coated with ink, pressed on paper

Inventions and Innovations

Paper Money

• Another Song invention

• Had used bulky metal disks placed on strings

• As economy grew, lighter, more useful form of currency developed

• Paper money light, easy to use, quickly spread in use in China

Moveable Type

• Song dynasty invented another type of printing, moveable type

• Uses blocks on which letters, characters carved

• Blocks rearranged, reused to print many things

• Faster than woodblock, spread to Europe, revolutionized printing

Identify Cause and Effect

How did Chinese innovations affect world history?

Answer(s): Gunpowder dramatically affected how wars were fought; the compass allowed for world navigation; printing innovations led to increased sharing of ideas.

In addition to cultural achievements, the Tang and Song periods were a time of growth and prosperity.

• Chinese agriculture became more productive

– New irrigation techniques

– New variety of rice – Production of cotton, tea

increased• Increased food production

contributed to population growth

• Tang population 60 million, Song population 100 million

Agriculture

Prosperity and Society

• As farming, trade grew so did China’s cities

• China had largest cities in world at the time

• Tang capital, Chang’an, population more than 1 million, many cultures

• Song dynasty, several cities had million or more; sea trade caused port cities to boom

• Despite urban growth, most Chinese still lived, farmed in countryside

City Life

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Broken toes by 3 years of age.

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Foot-Binding in Tang China

For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

The Results of Foot-Binding

The Results of Foot-Binding

The Results of Foot-Binding

The Results of Foot-Binding

Women would have difficulty walking or performing anything physical

Showed husbands authority over wife

Why was then done mostly to upper class women?

Draw Conclusions

How did footbinding reflect changes in attitudes toward women in China?

Answer(s): became symbol of husband's authority over wife; women's status declined

GROG 11.1Using your notes, fill in the interactive graphic organizer by categorizing key facts about the

Tang and Song dynasties.

The Mongol Empire

Chapter 11 Section 2

Pages 316-321

Bell Ringer 11.2

You are a historian during the Tang dynasty. Write a paragraph explaining what Tang rulers have accomplished. Consider political, economic, and cultural accomplishments.

Crash Course

Wait For It...The Mongols!: Crash Course World History #17 - YouTube

Reading Focus

• How did the nomadic Mongols build an empire?

• How did China change under the Mongol rulers of the Yuan dynasty?

• Why did the Yuan dynasty decline and finally end?

Main Idea

The Mongols built a vast empire across much of Asia, founded the Yuan dynasty in China, and opened China and the region to greater foreign contacts and trade.

The Mongol Empire

Mongolian SteppesMongolian Steppes

Why were they nomads?Why would they need to move?

Mongols Physical Environment

Mongols Physical Environment

Our physical environment effects and shapes how we live our lives.

Can you name a few things in our/your physical environment that has effect how you live your life?

In the 1200s a nomadic people called the Mongols burst forth from Central Asia to create the largest land empire in history.

The Mongols

Separate Clans

• Mongols divided into separate clans, each led by a khan, chief

• Khans rose to power through military skills, ability to lead

• 1100s, Temujin, powerful khan, began to conquer rivals, unite Mongol clans

The Universal Ruler

Campaign of Conquest

• Mongol forces began bloody campaign of conquest; highly mobile armies

• Employed brutality, psychological warfare; burned towns, killed inhabitants

• Sent agents ahead to instill fear; soon people surrendered without a fight

Genghis Khan

• 1206, Temujin completed task, took name Genghis Khan, “Universal Ruler”

• Set out to build empire, organized Mongols into powerful military machine

• Strict discipline, demanded loyalty, rewarded those who pleased him

The Universal Ruler

Mongol BrutalityMongol Brutality

Exactly how nasty were the Mongols? Let’s be honest, they would probably be the last people in world history you would invite round for wine tasting and canapés. One famous anecdote concerning their rule for example claims that un-cooperative Russian nobles were assembled and forced to lie on the ground. A heavy wooden gate was then thrown on them and a table and chairs set up on the top side of the gate. Following this a victory banquet was thrown (which no doubt involved some stamping and enthusiastic dancing) and the unfortunate Russian princes were suffocated under the weight of the platform. Ironically, in doing so the Mongols were showing a certain degree of respect by not shedding noble blood; a similar principle was applied with the last Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad who was executed by being rolled in a carpet and kicked to death by horses.

The Mongol Empire

The Golden Horde

Golden Horde stood ready to invade western Europe

• Grandson Batu learned of Great Kahn’s death, suddenly turned back

• India, Western Europe escaped Mongol wrath

• Most of Eurasia devastated

• Millions had died, entire cities annihilated

Stability in Asia

• Mongol Empire established peace, stability across Asia

• Some historians call period Pax Mongolica, “Mongol Peace”

• Guarded trade routes across Asia, allowed trade to increase; people, goods, ideas flowed across Asia

• Some believe Black Plague spread from Asia to Europe during period

The Mongol Peace

• Mongols built empire with brutality, ruled peacefully

• Tolerated local beliefs, ways of life, allowed local rulers to stay in power as long as they paid tribute to Mongols

• Some Mongols adopted aspects of more civilized cultures; Mongols in Central Asia, Persia, adopted Islam

Identify Supporting Details

How were the Mongols able to build a vast empire across much of Eurasia?

Answer(s): army was skilled and well organized, rules promoted loyalty and obedience; tactics involved brutality and psychological warfare; built fear in those they conquered

Great Kahn

• 1260, Kublai Khan became Great Kahn of Mongol Empire

• Determined to complete conquest of China begun in 1235

Kublai Kahn Rules China

• As emperor, Kublai Khan tried to gain loyalty of Chinese subjects

• Adopted Chinese practices, gave dynasty Chinese name

Southern Song

• Mongols ruled northern China

• Southern Song dynasty ruled in south, fiercely resisted Mongols

• 1279, Song defeated; Kublai Khan created Yuan dynasty

New Capital

• Kublai Khan moved capital to near what is now Beijing

• Built Chinese-style walled city, lavish palace, adopted Chinese court ceremonies

The Yuan Dynasty

Mongol ArcherEarly 11c Late

13c

Mongol ArcherEarly 11c Late

13c

Mongol Identity

• Kublai Khan tried to rule as Chinese emperor

• But took care to see Mongols not absorbed into Chinese culture

• Mongols lived apart from Chinese, had little in common

Separation

• Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged

• Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese

• Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military

Kublai Khan Rules China

Limited Power

• Kublai Khan distrusted Chinese, limited power

• Chinese officials served at local level, could not hold high government posts

• Mongols invited foreigners to hold government office

Kublai Khan Rules China

• Mongols burdened Chinese with heavy taxes

• Large part of taxes supported public-works projects

• Chinese laborers built new roads, extended Grand Canal

• Improvements made shipping rice, other goods from southern China to northern China easier, more reliable

Taxes to Trade

Some scholars question whether Polo reached China or just related stories he heard in his travels, but his tales increased interest in

China.

As a result of Kublai Khan’s foreign trade policies, many merchants, travelers and missionaries came to China. Most were from Southwest Asia and India. However a few came from Europe as well. One of the most famous of these Europeans was Marco Polo.

Europeans to China

Summarize

How did Mongol rule in the Yuan dynasty affect life for the Chinese?

Answer(s): made the Chinese subordinate to the Mongols; limited their power

The Yuan dynasty weakened during the last part of Kublai Khan’s reign. One cause was a number of military defeats. All of his invasions into Southeast Asia failed, and Mongol armies suffered huge losses.

End of the Yuan Dynasty

Military and Monetary Losses

Identify Cause and Effect

What factors led to the end of the Yuan dynasty?

Answer(s): military defeats and failed invasions; lack of good leadership; power struggles; Chinese discontent

GROG 11.2Using your notes, fill in the interactive graphic

organizer by comparing and contrasting the accomplishments of Genghis Khan and Kublai

Khan.

Japan and Korea

Chapter 11 Section 3

Pages 322-327

Bell Ringer 11.3

You are a member of a town that has just surrendered to a Mongol army. Write a short journal entry describing how the townspeople learned of the coming Mongol force, why they chose to surrender, and your thoughts and feelings about the events.

Reading Focus

• What factors shaped early Japanese civilization?

• How did foreign influences shape life in early Japan?

• What characteristics defined Japan’s Heian period?

• What were the main events in the history of early Korea?

Main Idea

Geography and cultural borrowing from China shaped the early civilizations of Japan and Korea.

Japan and Korea

Japan

Only a small part of Japan is suitable for farming. Most Japanese have always lived in the river valleys and coastal plains.

The Japanese call their country Nippon, meaning “Land of the Rising Sun.” Japan sits on the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean, at what feels like the origin of the sunrise in the east. This location and the geography of Japan has shaped life there since the earliest times.

Early Japanese Civilization

Separated from Neighbors

• Japan separated from Korea by 100 miles of water, from China by 400 miles of water—large enough distances to prevent invasions

• Only successful invasion of Japan occurred in World War II

• Early Japanese developed own culture in relative isolation

• China, Korea close enough to influence Japan’s culture later in time

The Sea

• Nearness of sea has also shaped development of Japan

• People never far from sea, even on larger islands

• Early Japanese turned to sea for food, transportation

• Sea also protected, isolated Japan during much of history

Migration

• Scientists think first people to settle in Japan migrated from Asian mainland

• Early people hunters, gatherers; developed societies with distinct cultures

• Oldest known Japanese culture, Ainu

Ainu

• Ainu’s origin unknown, did not resemble other East Asians

• More people migrated to Japan, Ainu driven onto northernmost island

• Culture almost disappeared

Early Japan

Clans

• People on islands south of Ainu became the Japanese

• Clans developed, came to rule many villages

• Each clan worshipped nature spirits, kami, believed to be their ancestors

Early Japan

Shinto Religion

Religious beliefs developed into Shinto religion

• Shinto, “way of the kami”

• Shinto religion:

– Everything in nature has a kami

– No sacred text, formal structure

• Shrines:

– Built to kami, ceremonies performed there

– Located in natural settings; red gateway, torii, marks entrance

The Yamato Clan

Identify Supporting Details

What geographic factors have influenced Japan’s history and culture?

Answer(s): geologically active region; steep mountains, thick forests, limited but fertile farmland, islands surrounded by the sea

By the mid-500s, Japan had increased contact with its neighbors, Korea and China. Their cultures began to influence

Japan.

Foreign Influences on Japan

Tang Influences

• Chinese fashions, foods, tea became popular in Japan

• Tang styles of art, music, dance, gardening also popular

Government Influences

• Japanese adopted Tang ideas, including stronger central government, bureaucracy

• Adopted law code similar to China’s, not civil service system

Confucian Influences

• Japanese adopted many Confucian ideas about family

• Wives should obey husbands

• Children should obey parents End of Influences

• 800s, Tang dynasty declined, Japanese stopped sending missions to China

• Transformed what they had learned, to create own culture, society

Changes in Japan

Find the Main Idea

How did Chinese influences affect Japan during this period?

Answer(s): gave Japan a written language; Buddhism spread from China to Japan; Chinese fashion and foods became popular; Japanese adopted some Chinese ideas about government

In 794 Japan’s emperor moved the capital to Heian, now called Kyoto. Many nobles moved to Heian, where they developed an elegant and stylish court society. At the Heian court, Japanese culture flowered.

The Heian Period

The Fujiwaras

Fujiwara family controlled Japan for most of Heian period

• Many Fujiwaras served as regent

• Fujiwaras often married daughters to heirs of throne

• Rich landowners with private armies eventually challenged Fujiwaras, Japan’s central government

Summarize

Why was the Heian period a golden age of culture in Japan?

Answer(s): A court culture grew; writing and art flourished.

Korean Peninsula

• Juts from East Asian mainland, China to southwest, Japan to east

• Location made Korea bridge for passage of people, culture, ideas

• Also left region open to invasion

Geography

• Much of peninsula covered by rugged mountains, limits land for agriculture

• Mountain ranges run north and south along east coast

• Main population centers in west; land flattens to plains

Korea

Early Korea

• First Koreans nomadic peoples from northeastern Asia; formed clans

• Developed own culture; but influenced by China’s Han dynasty, 108 BC

• Adopted Confucianism, Chinese writing, political, agricultural methods

Korea

• After China’s Han dynasty, three rival kingdoms controlled Korea

• 600s, rulers of one kingdom, Silla, allied with China, conquered rest

• Silla then turned on Chinese; ruled all Korea by 670

• Agreed to pay tribute to China to ensure harmony, good will

• Embraced many aspects of Chinese civilization, promoted Buddhism, created central government, bureaucracy based on Tang model

Silla

Silla

Mongol Occupation

1200s, Mongols of Yuan China invaded, occupied Korea

• Forced Koryo’s rulers to pay immense tributes, enslaved many Koreans

– Took artisans to China

– Forced men to serve in Yuan military

• 1300s, Yuan dynasty weakened

– Koreans rebelled against Yuan

– 1392, Korean general founded new dynasty

Sequence

What were the major events and periods in early Korean history?

Answer(s): period of Han dynasty influence; period when Silla kingdom allied with Chinese; Koryo dynasty

GROG 11.3

Using your notes, fill in the interactive graphic organizer by explaining how China influenced

Japan and Korea.