Key Concept 3.2

1. Key Concept 3.2 • State formation and development demonstrated continuity, innovation, and diversityin various regions • Byzantine Empire

2. Key Concept 3.2 • Empires collapsed, replaced by new imperial states or political systems Imperial China: Sui, Tang, Song

3. Post-Classical Period of China • Golden Era • 600 Years of buoyancy • Great wealth • Political stability • Fine artistic and intellectual achievements

5. Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E. • Re-unified China after Han Dynasty • Emperor Sui Yangdi • Grand Canal constructed. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkhB95_NVK8 • Improves Great of Wall

6. The Grand Canal

7. The Grand Canal Today

9. Traditional Sources of Power and Legitimacy • Tang • Confucian bureaucracy • Civil service exam • Patriarchy • Continuity(?) • Traditional Hierarchy • Reinforced

10. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • Innovations • Borrowed from Han, not entirely • Equal Field System • Redistribution of land by government (fair)

11. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • Tributary States • Superiority • Korea (Silla Family) • Economic and political power • Stability and stimulated trade

12. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • Accomplishments – Tang Taizong(627-649) • Modes of transportation • Roads, canals, postal and messenger service • Spread of Buddhism - Xuanzang

13. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • New technologies: • Printing moveable print  • Porcelain • Gunpowder • Mechanical clocks

14. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • Interregional Contacts • More cosmopolitan culture; • Breadth and diversity • Reestablished the safety of the Silk Road. • Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia. 

15. *Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705 • The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.  • Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court. • Construction of new irrigation systems. • Buddhism was the favored statereligion. • Financed the building of many Buddhist temples. • BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dt46XUyfsQ

16. Foot-Binding in Tang China • Broken toes by 3 years of age. • Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

17. Foot-Binding in Tang China • For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

18. The Results of Foot-Binding

19. The Results of Foot-Binding

20. Inventions of Tang and Song China

22. Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E. • Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class. • Recruitment of most talented, rather than status

23. Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E. • Economic • Industry and production • Iron and coal > steel • Gunpowder and printing • Junk • Commerce • Paper money • Textiles • Silk, copper coins, ceramics • Magnetic compassmakes China a great sea power!  • Agriculture • Improved farm tools, advances in water control, wider application of fertilizers, introduction of new varieties of rice

24. Influence of Neoconfucianism in East Asia • Describes new approaches to understanding Confucian texts • Fulfillment comes from participation, not withdrawal • Formal education in morals and arts and sciences led to better life, rather than “Enlightenment” • Emphasized traditions; impacts family life • Human nature is moral, rational and essentially good; individual moral and social responsibility • Focus on academic and philosophical thought

25. Golden Age of Art • wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement

26. Golden Age of Art • great poetry • Li Bo and Du Fu from friendship, love and landscape to the stench of political corruption

27. Most of these pieces have been found in the more affluent tombs of the Tang period

29. Song Peasant Family

30. The Tang and Song Dynasties Compared Tang Only Song Only Both Ruled smaller empire, developed into great sea power, created paper money and movable type Prospered through trade, improved agriculture, created great art and literature Expanded the empire, had a female ruler, adopted Buddhism