Civilizations of AsiaCivilizations of Asia

Civilizations that thrived Civilizations that thrived during the medieval period. during the medieval period.

– SuiSui Dynasty (580 Dynasty (580–618)–618)

– TangTang Dynasty (618 Dynasty (618–906)–906)

– SongSong Dynasty (960 Dynasty (960–1127)–1127)

Medieval China’s three dynasties:Medieval China’s three dynasties:

I. I. China ReunitesChina Reunites A A DynastyDynasty is a series of rulers from the same family. is a series of rulers from the same family.

After the Han Dynasty collapsed (rules for over After the Han Dynasty collapsed (rules for over 400years), China was broken up into several kingdoms. 400years), China was broken up into several kingdoms. Despite this Buddhism, art and learning spreads.Despite this Buddhism, art and learning spreads.

a. The Sui (Swee) Dynasty Reunites China (581-618)

They unite N and S China for the first time in centuries.

General Wendi declared himself emperor & found the Dynasty. He massacred 59 royal princes to take over.

Yangdi (YANGH DEE) Wendi’s son took over, He expanded the territory. He rebuilt the Great Wall. He started the Great or Grand Canal built to link N China to S China so grain could get to the North. It linked the Yangtze River to the Yellow.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is approximately 4,160miles long.

The Grand CanalA waterway that linked the Huang He (Yellow)River and the Chang (Yangtze River)

Covers 1,000 miles and is still the longest canal ever built

Negative: Hardships for Chinese people building and taxesFor his projects. Led to a revolt that killed Yangtze. Sui came to an end.

Positive: Reminded China of their glorious past. He allowed people to follow their own beliefs. Rebirth of Confucius beliefs.

Emperor Wendi

Yang Di, the last major Sui emperor

The Collapse of the SuiThe Collapse of the Sui

b. Tang Dynasty-Golden Age Begins The Tang Dynasty lasted 300 years (618-907)

Political & Cultural achievement

Population growth (Chang ‘an was the biggest city in the world- 1 million people. It had a tall wall for protection & was shaped like a rectangle)

Silk road- a chain of trade routes (not a single road) stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea (Tea, Jade, Ivory, Ceramics, Silk)

The Silk Road crossed China’s Gobi Desert into Western Asia and eventually into the Eastern Mediterranean Region, this series of trade routes (not a single Road) introduced China to the rest of the World. China was reaching a period of greatness known as the “Golden Age.”

Taizong (TY ZAWNG) Greatest ruler (626-649) of the Tang Dynasty

He killed his two brothers and all ten of his nephews to take over. He was considered a fair and just ruler. Didn’t overburden the peasants with taxes. He was a successful general, scholar, historian, & calligraphy. Later in life, he became tired of war & studied Confucius.

He reformed government according to Confucius ideas. He gave land to peasants and treat all people w/ respect.

Empress Empress Wu HouWu Hou (675 – 705) (675 – 705)– Only women to rule China on her own.Only women to rule China on her own.– Strengthened the MilitaryStrengthened the Military– Added more officials to the governmentAdded more officials to the government– Took over KoreaTook over Korea

In the Mid 700’s problems occur for the Tang.In the Mid 700’s problems occur for the Tang.

Turks took control of the Silk Road andTurks took control of the Silk Road and

drove the Tang out.drove the Tang out.

Economy was severely damaged.Economy was severely damaged.

A Women Ruler:

The Fall of the Tang:

c. Song Dynasty (960-1279) Cultural achievements (Compass, Gunpowder, Smallpox Vaccine)

They had advances in government like the merit system (system of hiring people based on their abilities as opposed to Nepotism).

Many Buddhists vs. Neo-Confucianism emerged

Agriculture improved -More rice grown -Art (landscape paintings), music, poetry, trade -printing books (Movable Type)

New strains of rice and better irrigation methods helped peasants to grow more rice.

Allowed farmers to produce two crops a year instead of one.

During the Song dynasty, artists created the earliest known Chinese landscape paintings.

They painted on silk and featured peaceful scenes of water, rocks and plants.

Rulers also prized graceful art objects like porcelain, a white and hard type of ceramic…often called China.

Silk (called the queen of fibers)

comes from the cocoons of caterpillars called silkworms.The Chinese’s silk was the highest quality in the world.

Song inventions included a new way to print books.

The Chinese had carved the characters of each page onto a wood block. They would brush ink over the carving and lay a piece of paper on it to print the page.

Printers could make many copies of a book using these blocks, but carving the block for each page took a long time.

d. A New Threat: Mongols in China until 1368

Mongols were nomads from the plains of Mongols were nomads from the plains of Central Asia, North China. They were Central Asia, North China. They were warriors and spent much time on warriors and spent much time on horseback. horseback.

By 1200’s under the leadership of By 1200’s under the leadership of Genghis Genghis KhanKhan they were a tough military Force. they were a tough military Force.

The Mongols started an empire that The Mongols started an empire that included China and Korea in the east, included China and Korea in the east, Russia and Eastern Europe in the west and Russia and Eastern Europe in the west and then extended to the southwest as far as then extended to the southwest as far as the Persian gulf.the Persian gulf.

Genghis Khan had conquered all of Genghis Khan had conquered all of Northern ChinaNorthern China by 1215. by 1215.

The Silk Road crossed China’s Gobi Desert into Western Asia and eventually into the Eastern Mediterranean Region, this series of trade routes (not a single Road) introduced China to the rest of the World. China was reaching a period of greatness known as the “Golden Age.”

The Golden Horde

Genghis Khan

Kublai Khan

Kublai KhanKublai Khan But there was still the southern Song Empire which But there was still the southern Song Empire which

would continue to resist.would continue to resist. Genghis Khan left it to his grandson Genghis Khan left it to his grandson Kublai KhanKublai Khan

to complete the conquest of China and to rule it all.to complete the conquest of China and to rule it all. Kublai Khan came to power in 1259, within 20 Kublai Khan came to power in 1259, within 20

years heyears he had defeated the last Song emperor.had defeated the last Song emperor. Kublai Khan declared himself Emperor of China Kublai Khan declared himself Emperor of China

and named the new dynasty “Yuan”-which means and named the new dynasty “Yuan”-which means “beginning,” because Kublai Khan intended that the “beginning,” because Kublai Khan intended that the Mongol rule of China would last for centuries. Mongol rule of China would last for centuries.

Kublai Khan conquered the Southern part of China.

The Mongol’s were able to centralize the government in The Mongol’s were able to centralize the government in China. They did not allow the old Chinese ruling class to China. They did not allow the old Chinese ruling class to govern/rulegovern/rule

High government positions were reserved for Mongols’ and High government positions were reserved for Mongols’ and were even given to foreigners rather than to Chinese.were even given to foreigners rather than to Chinese.

The Mongols also kept their own language and customs The Mongols also kept their own language and customs rather than adopting the Chinese culture, but they did allow rather than adopting the Chinese culture, but they did allow for the practice of many religions. for the practice of many religions.

Visitors from all lands were welcome to Kublai Khan’s court. Visitors from all lands were welcome to Kublai Khan’s court. A Christian from Europe, Marco Polo came from Venice, A Christian from Europe, Marco Polo came from Venice, Italy.Italy.

Marco Polo’s writings helped to increase trade with Europe Marco Polo’s writings helped to increase trade with Europe and China. China prospered only under Kublai Khan, but not and China. China prospered only under Kublai Khan, but not under the later Khans, or emperors who followed him.under the later Khans, or emperors who followed him.

Batu Khan controlled the Russian Area.

Mongol rule ended with a peasant revolt.

e. Philosophy and Religion in China

Believed in:Treat others with respectPeace to ChinaFamily before CommunityMoral values and ethics (Right vs. Wrong)

Principles:Use right relationships to produce social orderRespect family & older generationsEducate individuals and societyAct in morally correct ways

1. Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) was an ancient Chinese teacher.

Beliefs put in the government:Advancement through educationRuler should be virtuous and kindSubject loyal and obey the lawChildren respect for parents and older

generationsNeo-Confucianism

Morality is highest goal a person can reachMorality achieved through educationEducation through books, observation or

interaction w/ wise people

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

2. Buddhism

Based on Siddhartha Gautama (sihd DAHR tuh GOW tuh muh) known as the “Enlightened one”.Started in India

Beliefs:Suffering is a part of lifeReason people suffer is that they are too attached to material possessions & selfish ideasBy living in a wise, moral, thoughtful way, people can eventually learn to escape suffering

It spread to Korea and Japan

China prospered only under Kublai Khan, but not under the later Khans, or emperors who followed him.

In 1368, a Chinese peasant led an uprising that overthrew the foreign rulers and ended the Mongol rule of China.