Chinese Dynasties Notes

Objectives

The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: Locating major trade routes Identifying technological

advances and transfers

Questions What were the major

trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C.E.

How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?

Where we left off….

220 A.D. Han Dynasty collapsesChina plunged into civil warNot effected by “Dark Ages” of EuropeFarm production expandedBuddhism spreadDespite countless invaders, Chinese cities

and culture survivedOver 30 local dynasties rose and fell

Major Chinese Dynasties

Sui (589-618 C.E.) Tang (618-907 C.E.) Song (960-1279 C.E.) Southern Song (1127-1279 C.E.) Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 C.E.)

Sui Dynasty

581 C.E. Sui Dynasty createdOnly lasted until 618

A.D.

Unified China under emperor’s authority again

AchievementsCompleted the Grand

Canal used forced laborEventually forced

labor led to revolts by peasants and downfall of the Sui dynasty

Grand Canal linked Yellow River and Yangtze RiverMade shipping easier

Tang Dynasty

People revolted against Sui EmperorDue to forced labor

Tang Dynasty emerged a few years later in 618 A.D.Lasted for nearly 300

years

Early rulers instituted reformsRestored civil service

examsGave land to peasantsBroke up power of

wealthy land owners

Golden Ages of China

1st Emperor was Li YuanBecame Emperor by

leading a revolt along with his son during the Sui dynastyCrushes rival

Son eventually becomes 2nd EmperorTakes name Tang Taizong

Became China’s most admired Emperor

Tang Dynasty

Tang TaizongRuled from 627- 649 C.E.Brilliant general

Reconquered northern and western lands

Government restorerLowered taxes and gave

land to peasantsReformed government

organization and law codeBecame models for East

Asia

HistorianMaster of Calligraphy

Tang Dynasty- Achievements

Conquered territories into Central Asia

Forced Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea to become tributary states

System of canals for trade and transportation

Expanded the Grand Canal

Instituted land reform Redistributed land to

peasants Strengthened central

government Increased government

revenues

Promoted foreign trade

Improvements in agriculture

Tang Dynasty- Bureaucracy

In order to maintain their large empire, Tang emperors restored China’s vast bureaucracy Revised and expanded civil

service system Opened new schools to train

students

Exams open to all men Really only wealthy and

connected could afford them

Created a remarkably intelligent and capable governing class

Talent and education more important than noble birth in winning power

Empress Wu ZhaoMost women did not

have powerEmpress Wu was the

exception

Became 2nd wife of Tang TaizongStrangled her own

daughter and blamed it on emperors wife

Ruled for Taizong and sons

She became empress in 690 C.E. Age 65Only Empress in

Chinese history

She was ruthless and a strong leaderRuled for 15 years

Decline of the Tang

Lost territories in Central Asia to ArabsEmpire spread to thin

Bad emperors: Tang XuanzangDevoted to commoner’s

daughterDid everything to make

her happy no matter cost

Downward cycleCorruptionHigh taxesDroughtFamineRebellions: led by

favorite general

907 A.D. rebel overthrew last Tang Emperor

Song Dynasty

960 A.D. Song Taizu reunites China Dynasty lasts 319 years From 960- 1279

Smaller dynasty than Tang

Threatened by invaders to north Tried to pay tribute, it failed to

keep peace

Southern Song ruled additional 150 years

Song Dynasty

Golden AgeEconomy expandedCenter of farming

shifted to rice paddiesImproved technology

allowed peasants to produce two rice crops a year

Created surplusesMore people pursued

commerce, learning, and arts

Southern Song Events

1215 - Genghis Khan invades northern China

1260 - Kublai becomes Great Khan

1275 - Marco Polo reaches China

Chinese Dynasty Notes

Inventions of Tang and Song Dynasties

PorcelainLate 700s

Bone-hard, white ceramic made of a special clay and a mineral found only in China Became a valuable export

Is so associated with Chinese culture that it is now called “china”

Mechanical clock

700s

Clock in which machinery regulated the movements

Idea for mechanical clock was carried by traders to medieval Europe

PrintingBlock printing – 700s

Block printing – one block on which a whole page is cut

Movable type - 1040 Movable type – individual

characters arranged in frames, used repeatedly

Printing technology spread to Korea and JapanMovable type also developed

later in Europe

Gunpowder

800s

Explosive powder made from mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal First used for fireworks,

then weapons

Technology spread west within 300 years

Paper money

1020s

Paper currency was issued by Song government to replace strings of metal cash used by merchants

Contributed to development of large-scale commercial economy in China

Foreign Trade

Under both Tang andSong dynasty trade flourished

Tang armies guarded silk road

Merchants came from India,Persia, and Arabia

China’s cities now centerof trade not just government

Magnetic compass (for navigation) 1100s

Floating magnetized needle that always points north-south, adapted by sailors for use at sea Helped China become

greatest sea power in the world at the time

Technology quickly spread west

Arts and Literature

Age of Artistic brilliance

Landscape paintingDaoist influenceCapture spiritual essence

of the natural world

Other ArtsBuddhist themes

dominated sculpture and architecture

Indian stupa = Chinese pagoda

porcelain

Wealth, education, and urban culture stimulated high level of artistic creativity

LiteraturePoetry: Buddhist,

Daoist, Social IssuesLi Bo: greatest Tang

poet, 2000 poems on harmony and nature

Du Fu: condemned war and lavishness

Li Qingzhao: women behind left behind for wars, woman

Religion and Government

BuddhismBrought into China in

1st century A.D.Supported among

ruling classesSupport continued

into Tang DynastyCriticized for being a

foreign religionLost state support

DaoismSupported by ruling

class

Neo-Confucianism

Starting at end of Song Dynasty

Heart of state governmentServed as Confucian

response to Buddhism and Daoism

Teaches that the world is real, not an illusion

Fulfillment comes with participation, not withdrawal from the world

Divide world into material world and spiritual worldHumans live in

material world, goal is to reach union with the Supreme Ultimate

Reach union through moral principles

Chinese Society

Three main social classesGentry

Scholar-officialsWealthy land-owning

classSpent years studying for

civil service examValued learningSupported revival of

Confucian thought

Middle ClassMerchants, shopkeepers,

skilled artisans, and minor officials

PeasantsWorked landSome families also

produced handicraftsLived in small, self-

sufficient villagesRelied on one another,

not governmentVillage leader, council

of eldersCould move up in

society through education and government service

Chinese Society

WomenSubservient to men

Status declined during this time

Ran family affairsWhen married, became

part of husband’s familyFootbinding

Symbol of nobility and beauty

Continued into 20th century

Called “lily foot”

Objectives

The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: Locating major trade routes Identifying technological

advances and transfers

Questions What were the major

trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C.E.

How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?