China and the World East Asian Connections

1. AP World History Pilot Lecture Series China and the WorldEast Asian Connections

2. Before we begin: Think about this… • “China will be the next superpower.” • That claim was made by the British newspaper, The Guardian, in June 2006 was not alone in its assessment. • As the new millennium dawned, similar headlines appeared with increasing frequency in lectures, newspaper and magazine articles, and in book titles worldwide. • China’s huge population, its booming economy, its massive trade surplus with the U.S., its military potential,and its growing presence in global political affairs – all of this suggested that China was headed for a major role, perhaps, even a dominant one, in the 21st century. • Few of these authors, however paused to recall that China’s prominence on the world stage was hardly something new OR that its 19th and 20th century position as a “backward,” weak or dependent country, was distinctly at odds with its long history. • Is China poised to resume in the 21st century a much older and more powerful role in world affairs? • A look at China’s Golden Age begins now…

3. Introducing I. the Tang and Song Dynasties • A. Background • 1. Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220 ( >400 yrs) • 2. After Han collapsed, military leaders split China into rival kingdoms and chaos ensued, a period known as the Period of Disunion. • a. lasted over 350 years • b.ended in 589 when Yang Jian (YANG jee-EN) reunified China and founded the Sui dynasty & became its first emperor

4. B. Sui (SWAY) Dynasty • 1. Began in 589 CE • 2. Accomplishments • a. “The basics” • 1.centralized government • 2. restored order • 3. created a new legal code • b. Grand Canal • 1. greatest accomplishment of the Sui • 2. 1,000 mile waterway linked northern & southern China • 3. Began under Emperor Yang Di (son of Yang Jian) • 4. Millions of Peasants forced to work • 5. Hundreds of thousands died

5. Side Story: How might floating dragons show the power & unity of China? • The Chinese peasants & officials stood along the canal in awe. A line of boats, many shaped like dragons, were part of Emperor Yang Di’s royal tour of the Great Canal. • To show his power, he ordered the boats to be built in the shape of dragons, the symbol of China’s imperial family. • He was dressed in golden, silk robes, which only, he as the Son of Heaven, could wear. • Tour showed power & unity.

6. Sui Dynasty, continued 3. Ended in 618 CE with the assassination of Yang Di

7. East Asia: 600 - 1450 Main Idea: The Sui Dynasty reunified China, after which the Tang and the Song dynasties produced an age of prosperity and achievement.

8. After the assassination, then what?!

9. C. The Tang Dynasty Emerges • 1. Sui (SWAY) general seized power & established the Tang(TAHNG) Dynasty • 2. Ruled China from 618 – 907, nearly 300 years • 3. Period of prosperity and cultural achievement • 4. Chinese influence spread – became a model across East Asia

10. Tang, continued… • 5. Accomplishments – • a. Internal affairs • 1. created a strong gov’t. • 2. established one capital at Chang’anand a second capital at Luoyang. • 3. centralized government, bureuacracy • 4. expanded civil service exams • b. Foreign affairs: EXPANSION • 1. regained western lands in Central Asia • 2. Gained influence over Korea • 3. Increased contact w/ Japan – Japanese scholars came to China to study Chinese gov’t and culture.

11. 6. Reign of Taizong (TY-tzoong) • a. ruled from 626 CE – 649 CE • b. responsible for expansion • c. relied on talented ministers – had prep schools built for civil service exams • d. military conquests • e. one of China’s most admired emperors

12. 7. Reign of Wu Zhao • a. ruled after Taizong’s death when her husband was too weak/ sickly • b. eventually became emperor herself –only woman in Chinese history to do so • c. effective but ruthless • d. overthrown in 705 CE

13. a. ruled from 712 – 756 CE b. ruled during the height of the Tang c. Known for his patronage of the arts & his own artistic talents d. Gave money for acting schools * 8. Xuanzong (SHOO-AN-toong) *most famous was near a pear garden… Young people practiced acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics – aka Children of the Pear Garden Beginnings of the Chinese Opera – Traditionally, incense is burned before Chinese Opera performances, in his honor.

14. D. An Age of Buddhism • 1. Buddhism originally came to China during the Han but few adopted it. • 2. However, after the Han, during the Period of Disunion, many Chinese turned to Buddhism. • a. taught that people could escape suffering & achieve peace (nirvana) • b. appealed to people in the midst of turmoil • 3. By the time of the Tang, Buddhism was well established.

15. 4. Many Tang rulers were Buddhist. • 5. Buddhist temples were constructed. • 6.Buddhist missionaries were active throughout Asia. • 7. Because of Buddhism’s popularity, the period from about 400 CE – 845 CE in China is known as the Age of Buddhism. • 8. Age of Buddhism ended when it lost official favor in the mid 800s. A Tang emperor, saw it as a threat – texts burned & temples destroyed; it was weakened but not eliminated.

16. E. The Tang Decline • 1. Began to decline in the 750s • 2. Suffered military defeats – led to the loss of Tang lands in Central Asia and the north. • 3. Nomadic invasions • 4. Peasant rebellions over rising taxes • 5. Ended in 907 when its emperor was killed by a general • *Will not be unified again until the Song…

17. F. The Song Dynasty • 1. Was after the Tang • 2. Reunified China in 960 CE • 3. Ruled til 1279 • 4. Made Chinese civilization the most advanced in the world under its rule!

18. 5. Gov’t & Civil Service • a. established capital Keifeng • b. reformed the civil service exam system • 1.) were very difficult to pass • 2.) ensured that only the most talented ran the gov’t • 3.)tested students knowledge on Confucianism • 4. allowed for social mobility – pathway to gaining wealth and status • c. Favored Neo-Confucianism

19. G. Tang & Song Cultural Achievements…. 1. Tang Buddhist PagoDA • a. poetry • b. paintings – celebrating Buddhism & nature • c. exquisite pottery • d. architecture – buddhist pagodas  • d. innovations • 1.) woodblock printing • 2.) paper money • 3.) porcelain • 4.) gunpowder • 5.) magnetic compass

20. 2. Song • a. perfected porcelain • White • Black • Pale green • b. movable type – made printing much faster!!! • c. gunpowder – used for fireworks & for signals, NOT as a weapon

21. H. TANG & SONG: PROSPERITY & SOCIETY 1. Agriculture improves 2. Trade a. improvements in roads and canals b. during Tang: mostly overland via The Silk Road – to Central Asia, India, & beyond c. Late Tang  Song dynasty: sea trade increased w/ advances in shipbuilding & sailing- • a. new irrigation techniques increase acreages • b. fast ripening rice from SE Asia enabled Chinese farmers to grow 2-3 crops a year instead of one • c. cotton • d. tea • e. Population explosion- Song farmers fed the most populous country in the world

22. 2. Trade (continued…) d. Song: merchants became increasingly importante. Money & banking began to develop

23. 3. City life thrives under Tang & Song • a. shops • b. restaurants • c. markets – featuring foreign goods! • d. entertainment • e. Tang capital, Chang’an, had a population of over 1 million. • f. Song Dynasty – boasted several cities over 1 million each • e. Port cities boom • g. Despite urban growth, most Chinese lived in the countryside and farmed. •  see next slide

24. Picture this!

25. I. Song Dynasty & Women • 1. status of women declined • 2. upper class women were encouraged to stay at home • 3. footbinding • Resulted from the desire for dainty/ small feet • Feet wrapped – caused pain & deformity • Symbolic of a husband’s authority over his wife.

26. Review questions…

27. Sui and Tang Dynasties –reunified China Sui had Grand Canal linked northern & southern China; Tang ruled from 618 - 907 CE, a period of great brilliance, prosperity, & cultural achievement. Tang regained western lands in Central Asia; increased outside contacts. In Review…How did the Sui dynasty reunify China & how did the Tang expand China?

28. Why was the Grand Canal considered the greatest accomplishment of the Sui? • Huge waterway • Probably aided reunification efforts • Allowed for easier travel • Facilitated trade between north and south

29. Why was Wu Zhao significant? • Only woman to hold the title of Emperor • Ruled China after her husband’s death • Ruthless but efficient

30. What reforms did the Tang emperors carry out? • Expanded civil service • Created flexible law code • Expanded China • Increased contact with other peoples

31. Buddhism Much of the Tang dynasty was influenced by this religion?

32. Confucianism What philosophy experienced a revival during the Song dynasty?

33. How did the civil service exam affect the Song government? • Ensured capable bureaucrats • Social mobility – NOT all candidates were from wealthy families

34. But what about Sinification? This concludes our look at the Tang and Song Dynasties.

35. China’s Influence on Korea, Japan & Vietnam • Sinification: the term used for the spread of Chinese culture. • During the Tang & Song Dynasties, China exerted a powerful political and cultural influence over its neighbors, in particular Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

36. A. Sinification in Korea affected politics, art, and religion • 1. Tang Dynasty conquered Korea but found maintaining rule to be too difficult, so they removed their military forces from Korea. In return, the Korean Silla dynasty made regular payments of money & goods – tribute – to China! • 2. Impressed by the political & economic success of Tang China, Korean leaders did some cultural borrowing from China.

37. Korea (continued) • a. Koreans studied in China – consulted with Confucian scholars • b. Chinese culture – writing, religion, (Buddhism), fashion & architecture entered Korea • c. Korean elite adopted Confuciansm

38. B. Sinification in Japan (voluntarily) • 1. China NEVER conquered Japan. • 2. Success of China under the Tang motivated Japanese emperors to adopt elements of Chinese civilization • 3. reputation as one of history’s greatest cultural borrowers! • Buddhism • Confucianism

39. 4. Heian Period (794 – 1185) • A. an ultracivilized aristocracy • Details of this life are captured in Lady Murasaki’s, The Tale of Genji • B. Eventually emperor loses power to the establishment of the Shogun, rule by a military strongman. • Emperor remained, but with a greatly reduced role

40. Feudalism in Japan • Became a feudal society • Similar to western Europe at about the same time • Rich landowners overseeing poor farm workers & obtaining protections from a private army of knights, the Samurais.

41. C. Sinification of Vietnam • During the Tang, Chinese armies marched into Vietnam with mixed results • Vietnamese revolted early & often • Women in Vietman did NOT accept Confucius’ system of male dominance • Rice! • One benefit the Tang got from their interaction with Vietnam was a quicker-ripening form of rice. • Became an important part of the Chinese diet

44. II. The Mongol Empire

45. East Asia: 600 - 1450 Mongols emerged in the 1200s. Main Idea: The Mongols built a vast empire across much of Asia, founded the Yuan dynasty in China, and opened China and the region to greater foreign contacts and trade.

46. Why might people surrender to an enemy without a fight?!?!

47. Beware of the Mongols… • Thousands of soldiers moved forward in a mass as much as 50 miles wide. Terror spread before them like a huge tidal wave. • Their reputation and their appearance were so frightening that, at word of a Mongol approach, towns and cities would surrender without a fight. • The nomadic Mongols emerged in the late 1200s as one of history’s most brutal & efficient military forces. When on the move, they resembled a small, mobile city.

48. Look out! It’s the Mongols… • Soldiers traveled in divisions of 10,000 along with their families and herds. • Mongol women carried out domestic tasks but could step into battle to provide help. • Borrowing from many groups, the Mongols combined superior tactics and weaponry with sheer brutality. • The world would not see such military dominance until the modern era!

49. II. The Mongols • A. Nomads from the vast steppes, or grasslands, of north-central Asia in 1200s • 1. land was too dry for farming • 2. lived as patoralists/ raised goats & sheep (and raiders as needed) • 3. skilled with horses • 4. tough environment = tough warriors

50. B. The Universal Leader • 1. Traditional a chief was known as a khan • 2. Late 1100s, a power khan, Temujin, began to conquer his rival and unite Mongols clans. • 3. In 1207, he took the title Genghis Khan, meaning Universal Leader • a. bloody campaign of conquest begins… • b. battle tactics included brutality and psychological warfare • c. would burn any town or city who resisted & kill its inhabitants