Chapter 8 China Lesson One China Rebuilds The

Chapter 8 China Lesson One China Rebuilds The Empire

China Rebuilds Its Empire • After the Han dynasty* China has no central government (300 yr. period) • The people suffered many hardships • Warlords fought each other • Nomads attacked and captured parts of northern China • Quite separated/divided nation!

• China faced other challenges: + it lost control of the neighboring lands + Korea was one of these places - decided to free themselves from Chinese rule - wanted to build their own civilization

The Sui (SWAY) • China was reunified in AD 581 • A general named Wendi declared himself emperor • He won many battles and set up a new dynasty* (*family or group remaining in power for a period of time) • It was called the Sui (SWAY) Dynasty

• Wendi died, his son, Yangdi became emperor • He tried to retake foreign land (Korea) but was unsuccessful • Was successful within the country - repaired the Great Wall - rebuilt the Han capital of Changan

Yangdi’s Grand canal • Connected the two major of China rivers flowing from west to east – the Huang He (Hwahng Huh) (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Chahng Jyahng) (Yangtze River) • The canal went north and south • Made it easier to ship rice and other products – united China’s economy

• To rebuild Yangdi required the help of the people • Farmers were forced to work on the canal • They had to pay higher taxes to support the projects • Their taxes also paid for the emperor to live luxuriously

• This all together made the farmers revolt and Yangdi was killed – this ended the Sui dynasty

The Tang Dynasty • A new dynasty was started in AD 618 when a general took over China • He made himself the emperor; it begun the Tang Dynasty • The Tang Dynasty was to last 300 years • Tang rulers worked to restore a strong central government

• One of the emperors (Taizong) brought back the system of civil service examinations • Government officials were selected on how well they did on the exams rather than on family connections • He also gave land to the farmers and brought peace & order to the

Empress Wu • late 600’s AD • only woman in Chinese history to rule the country on her own • was a powerful leader • added officials to the government • strengthened the military

• Tang rulers worked to restore China’s power in Asia + extended their rule westward to Tibet + took control of the Silk Road + took control of northern Viet Nam + increased trade with other parts of Asia and forced others to pay tribute (Korea)

• As trade increased the Chinese became wealthy • Chang’an became the world’s largest city + @ 1, 000 people lived there + visitors were impressed with the city + goods from India and SW Asia were

Challenges to the Tang • Turkish nomads drove the Tang armies out of central Asia and won control of the Silk Road • Chinese traders could not use the road therefore trade and the economy suffered • Farmer revolts weakened the Tang • Continued unrest led to the fall of the

Song Dynasty • After the fall of the Tang, military leaders ruled China • In A. D. 960 one of the generals became emperor and founded the Song (sung) dynasty • During this dynasty the Chinese enjoyed economic prosperity and made many cultural achievements

Challenges to the Song • They did not have enough military to protect their entire empire • In the north, nomads took over parts of the country • To protect themselves they moved their capital south to the city of Hangzhou (Hahngjoh) • This city was on the coast near the Chang Jiang delta (see page 181)