Transcript Post-classical Asia

The Post-classical Asia
China
• Post-classical China
– New dynasties: Sui (580-618), Tang (618907), Song (960-1279)
– Commerce!
– Mongol conquest  Yuan dynasty (12791368)
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
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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
• 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
Samurai on horseback
Japan
Entrance gate, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Japan
Hall of State Ceremonies, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Japan
• The Shogunate
– The SHOGUN
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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?
Amida
– Constant meditation
– Unanswerable
questions, riddles 
shock worldly mind
Japan
Japan
• Questions?
Post-classical Asia
Differences and similarities with Islamic
world and West?
 Differences and similarities in relation to
each other?
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