Transcript China
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? Paper Fireworks Compass Paper Money Gunpowder 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: o the end of constant warfare o Constant fear of violence o Senselessly blocked paths and missed opportunities Consider what would be GAINED: o Increased productivity o Enhanced foreign relations o Opportunity to befriend former enemies Chapter 7 Section 1 The Period of Disunion: When the Han dynasty collapsed in 220, China split into several rival kingdoms, each ruled by military leaders. o This time of disorder lasted from 200 to 589 o Cultural blending between the nomadic cultures of the north and the Chinese people. o Many northern Chinese moved south to flee the nomadic invaders. o New Chinese culture developed through new foods, art, music, and clothing. China was finally unified in 589 by Yang Jian (Emperor Wen), who created the Sui Dynasty. o Lasted from 589 to 618 o Restored order to China and began the Grand Canal, which linked northern and southern China. In 618, the Tang Dynasty overthrew the old government and would then rule for nearly 300 years. o Territory included much of eastern Asia, as well as large parts of o o o o 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. 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. o Burned Buddhist texts, took temple lands, and destroyed many temples. o Emperor’s actions weakened Buddhism but did not completely destroy it and it continued to influence Chinese art and literature. Section 2 Which achievement made by the Tang & Song dynasties do you believe was the most important? Explain your answer. Chinese society has always been based on agriculture Grew wheat, barley, grains, and rice 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. Chang’an: China’s capital and largest city in the world at the time with a population of more than a million people. o Center of trade, religion and philosophy Trade within China made it rich o Traders used the country’s many rivers to ship goods on barges and ships. o Grand Canal: series of waterways that linked major cities together. • Allowed Chinese to move goods and crops from distant agricultural areas into cities. Trade outside of China also occurred. o Traded with countries of India, Korea, Japan, and the region of Southeast Asia. o Silk: the most important trade item. • The Chinese tried to keep the method of making it a secret o Porcelain: a thin, beautiful type of pottery. World’s first system of paper money established in the 900s. Artists and Poets o Wu Daozi: Painted murals o Li Bo and Du Fu: Poets o 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. o 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. Gunpowder: Tang dynasty, mixture of powders used in guns and explosives. o Originally used for fireworks, but then small bombs and rockets. Compass: Uses the earth’s magnetic field to show direction. o 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. Which achievement made by the Tang & Song dynasties do you believe was the most important? Explain your answer. What was the focus of the teachings of Confucius? In what ways did Confucian thought influence China’s government? Section 3 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: o Ren: concern for others o 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. 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. 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. o These exams tested students’ grasp of Confucianism and related ideas. o Very difficult and people would study for years. o 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. What was the focus of the teachings of Confucius? In what ways did Confucian thought influence China’s government? Section 4 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? 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. 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. 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. 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 Yuanzhang led a rebel army and won back the rule of China from the Mongols. Ruled China for nearly 300 years. One of the most stable and prosperous times in Chinese history. Improved their ships and their sailing skills. o 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. o Had fleets of ships that included more than 60 ships and 25,000 sailors. o Some of his ships were more than 300 feet long! o Voyages served as a clear sign of China’s power. The Ming were known for their grand building projects. o 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. o 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! 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. 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?