Civilizations of Asia Civilizations that thrived during the

Civilizations of Asia Civilizations that thrived during the medieval period.

Medieval China’s three dynasties: – Sui Dynasty (580– 618) – Tang Dynasty (618– 906) – Song Dynasty (960– 1127)

I. China Reunites n A Dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family. After the Han Dynasty collapsed (rules for over 400 years), China was broken up into several kingdoms. 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, 160 miles long.

The Grand Canal A 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 taxes For 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

The Collapse of the Sui Yang Di, the last major Sui emperor

b. Tang Dynasty-Golden Age Begins The Tang Dynasty lasted 300 years (618 -907) üPolitical & Cultural achievement üPopulation 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) üSilk 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. ”

üTaizong (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.

A Women Ruler: ü Empress Wu Hou (675 – 705) – Only women to rule China on her own. – Strengthened the Military – Added more officials to the government – Took over Korea The Fall of the Tang: In the Mid 700’s problems occur for the Tang. Turks took control of the Silk Road and drove the Tang out. Economy was severely damaged. ü

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)

Song Emperors Taizong (Zhao Guangyi) 976 - 997 v During his reign, the whole China was unified by his defeating the Northern Han (951 - 979 ). Zhenzong (Zhao Heng) 997 - 1022 v In his reign, military power was strengthened. v He founded the famous ceramic kiln in Jingdezhen.

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.

e. Philosophy and Religion in China 1. Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) was an ancient Chinese teacher. Believed in: Treat others with respect Peace to China Family before Community Moral values and ethics (Right vs. Wrong) Principles: Use right relationships to produce social order Respect family & older generations Educate individuals and society Act in morally correct ways Beliefs put in the government: Advancement through education Ruler should be virtuous and kind Subject loyal and obey the law Children respect for parents and older generations Neo-Confucianism Morality is highest goal a person can reach Morality achieved through education Education through books, observation or interaction w/ wise people

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 life Reason people suffer is that they are too attached to material possessions & selfish ideas By living in a wise, moral, thoughtful way, people can eventually learn to escape suffering It spread to Korea and Japan