The Post-classical Asia. China Post-classical China New dynasties: Sui (580-618), Tang (618- 907),...
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Transcript of The Post-classical Asia. China Post-classical China New dynasties: Sui (580-618), Tang (618- 907),...
The Post-classical AsiaThe Post-classical Asia
China
• Post-classical China– New dynasties: Sui (580-618), Tang (618-
907), Song (960-1279)– Commerce!– Mongol conquest Yuan dynasty (1279-
1368)
China• China under the Sui
(580-618)– Foreign invasions
collapse of Han– Chaos! (220-589)
Sui rule – Sui accomplishments
• Reunification• Expansion
– High taxes, failed military expeditions fall of Sui
China• China under the Tang
(618-907)– Expansion
• Conquered Turkish lands• Protectorates of Tibet,
Vietnam, Korea– Government
• Authority of central government reestablished
• Elaboration of bureaucracy• Landlords’ taxing power
abolished direct payments to state
– Buddhism attacked• Deemed subversive• Shrines and monasteries
destroyed
China
• China under the Song (960-1278)– Came to power after
civil war– Suffered attacks by
Central Asian nomads– Expansion of cities– Population: 100
million+!– Presided over vibrant
economy!
China
• China and Commerce– Experienced commercial revolution (700-1200)
• Shops and marketplaces appeared in cities• Merchants• Most highly developed manufacturing sector in the world
– Paper money (811)– Spheres of influence
• Silk Road• Ships southeast Asia, Indian Ocean
– Chief exports: silk and porcelain
China
Emperor Huizong, Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk (12th cent.)
China
Vase from Song Dynasty,Fort Jesus Museum, Mombasa
China• Chinese Ingenuity
– Science• Stress on “practical”
observation knowledge of actual working of physical universe
• Developments– Pharmaceutical use of
plants and minerals– Insect control– Encyclopedias
– Inventions• Wheelbarrow• Gunpowder• Printing• Abacus
China
China
• Questions?
The Mongols
• Mongol Tribes– Nomadic, pastoralist – North of China,
pressing on its frontiers
– Organized into family clans
– Formidable warriors
The Mongols
• Chinggis Khan (ca. 1165-1227)– General– Unified tribes
“universal ruler”– Formed highly
disciplined, sophisticated army world conquest!
The Mongols
The Mongols
The Mongols• The Mongol War
Machine– The Army
• Superb equestrians and archers
• Cavalry: 50-70,000 horsemen
• Skilled at ambushes– Not able to expand
further west• Dynastic crisis at home• Insufficient pasturage
for horses
The Mongols
• Ruling the Mongol Empire– Divided into four regions– Demanded tribute and troops from subjects,
recognition of overlordship– Religious toleration– Eager to trade with Europeans
The Mongols• Rule of Kubilai Khan
(r. 1260-1294)– Grandson of Chinggis – Greatest of the khans– Conquered Song China
(1279)– Government
• Based in China• Preserved Chinese
bureaucracy manned by foreigners
– Court life• Splendid!• Open to foreigners
The Mongols
• Disintegration and Legacy– Protests, banditry, questions of succession
short-lived empire– Had ruled over/influenced most of Eurasia
(approx. 6,000 miles!)– Rule over vast territory interchange of
knowledge and products
The Mongols
• Questions?
Japan• Japan
– Island network– Mountainous– Relationship with China
• In its orbit, but never conquered by it
• Borrowed selectively from it
– Remained distinct• Political traditions• More militaristic • Shinto
Japan
Samurai on horseback
• Japanese Feudalism (by 800)– Strong “regional” political
units– The Hierarchy
• Daimyo: the great lords• Samurai
– Professional soldiers– Maintained code of
honor and bravery (bushido)
• Peasants– The emperor
• Not effective ruler• Religious figure• Capital: Kyoto
Japan
Entrance gate, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Japan
Hall of State Ceremonies, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Japan• The Shogunate
– The SHOGUN• Japan’s dominant military figure• Official role: chief officer to emperor• Reality: effective ruler of country, demanded fidelity of daimyo
• Provided greater sense of centralized government– Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333)
• Period of great peace• Successfully resisted 2 Mongol invasions• Collapse renewed internal warfare
Japan
• Shinto– Japan’s native religion– “Way of the gods”– Worshiped spirits of
nature (kami) in local shrines
– No sacred book, developed theology Torii gate
Japan• Buddhism in Japan
– Pure Land• Stressed grace of Amida• Call on him conveys
souls to his Pure Land– Zen
• Study of Buddhism with a master
• How to reach enlightenment?
– Constant meditation– Unanswerable
questions, riddles shock worldly mind
Amida
Japan
Japan
• Questions?
Post-classical AsiaPost-classical AsiaDifferences and similarities with Differences and similarities with
Islamic world and West?Islamic world and West?Differences and similarities in Differences and similarities in
relation to each other?relation to each other?