East Asian Empires Two Great Dynasties in China

East Asian Empires

Two Great Dynasties in China 12 -2 -08

The Sui Dynasty • After the fall of Han in 220 • China falls into chaos – 300 years • Reunified by the Sui dynasty • Lasted only 2 emperors • Completed the grand canal • Endless labor and projects turned people against the Sui • Final emperor strangeled

The Tang Empire • Will last for 300 years • Re-conquered lands lost since Han fall • Influence over much of East Asia - Korea • Strengthened central gov’t

Tang Government • Reintroduced civil service exams • Opened schools to train gov’t officials – Confucianism – Poetry – Other gov’t exam questions • Exams open to all – only rich could afford • Very intelligent gov’t

The Tang Empire • Expanded roads and canals • To stabilize economy, lowered taxes and took lands from wealthy to give to peasants • Promoted foreign trade • Improvements to agriculture

Empress Wu • Wu Zhao – from 660 SHE wielded real power in China • 690 she made herself Emperor – first and only woman to hold title

Fall of Tang • Mid 700’s weakening • Re-imposed crushing taxes • Crushed people & still didn’t meet gov’t needs • Famine (remember the dynastic cycle)

Tang fall • • • Couldn’t control empire Attacks from Arab armies in west Border attacks Internal rebellions 907 – rebels sack capitol and kill child emperor

The Song Dynasty • After fall of Tang – China divided by warlords • 960 – reunited under Song Dynasty • Also lasted about 300 years • Smaller empire than before • Prosperous, powerful and stable

Attempts at Peace • Never regained western or northern lands • Tried to maintain peace through paying for it • Early 1100’s attacked from north – had to retreat to southern China only

Southern Song (1127 -1279) • Rapid economic growth • South economic heartland of China • Grew rich from trade with the world • Had at least 10 cities with 1, 000 people

Innovations • Porcelain • Mechanical Clock • Printing (Moveable type) • Gunpowder • Paper money • Magnetic compass • Fast ripening rice

Question • Which innovation is the greatest to you?

Status of Women • • • Women had traditionally been subservient to men Woman’s work less important Binding of feet – crushed foot – Lily Foot Crippled woman Status symbol – for husband to have useless wife She didn’t have to work

Bound foot

The Mongol Conquests 12 -3 -08

Eurasian Steppe

Eurasian Steppe • Dry grassland from Hungary to Manchuria • Home of many invaders • Very little rain • Extreme temperature changes (-57 – 96)

Steppe • People living there were pastoralists – following a seasonal pattern • They traveled together in groups called clans (usually descended from common ancestor) • These nomads engaged in peaceful trade • Some societies settled – lived in fear of raids • Nomadic groups would attack and succeed when towns were weak

Rise of the Mongols • Out of the Eastern Steppe comes the Mongols – united by Temujin • He defeated rivals one by one • Finally unified he is given title Genghis Khan – universal ruler

Conquests • Over 21 years Genghis led Mongols conquering much of Asia • First focused on China – taking the northern Jin • Then turned to Islamic west Mongolia – angered by murder of Mongol traders • Campaign of terror against central Asia • All conquered by 1221

Why so great? • Well organized armies – – 10, 000 man armies 1, 000 man brigades 100 man companies 10 man platoons

Why so great? • Gifted strategist – use tricks and tactics • Adopted new weapons and tech from enemies • Extremely cruel his terror spread fear • Died in 1227

The Mongol Empire • His successors continued his conquests • The Khanates – Genghis’ son Ogadai takes over • Under his leadership move into Russia, to the Adriatic sea, completed invasion of Northern China and moved into Korea • Ogadai died and all leaders called back to elect new leader

Khanates • • • By 1260 empire divided into 4 Khanates Khanate of the Great Khan (China and Mongolia) Khanate of Chagatai (central Asia) Ilkhanate (Persia) Khanate of Golden Horde (Russia)

Peace • Mid 1200’s to Mid 1300’s relative peace and stability • Trade flourished due to Mongol protection • So did disease (plague)

Kublai Khan • Grandson of Genghis • Made Great Khan conquered all of China by 1279 • The first foreign invader to take China

Yuan Dynasty • Kublai Khan makes self emperor Yuan dynasty • Lasted less than a century • Important period – united all of China • China opened to greater foreign trade • Tolerated Chinese culture and made very few changes to government

Kublai Khan • Spent almost entire life in China • Did not hate civilization – enjoyed living luxurious lifestyle • Maintained summer palace • Built capital in Beijing

Conquer Japan • • • Tried twice to extend rule into Japan Huge fleets attacked Used Korea to help – almost ruined Korea Second attack 150, 000 troops invade Japanese troops held attackers to standstill • Divine wind – kamikaze (saved Japan)

Government • Mongols ruled China but remained separate • Chinese kept out of high offices… but allowed to serve at local level • Many positions given to foreigners – Muslims and Christians • Extended grand canal – and built a paved road next to it

Trade • Kublai encourages trade • Invited foreign merchants • Silk roads took Chinese silk and porcelain to Europe • Other Chinese inventions went west as well

Marco Polo • Venetian trader • Served the Chinese gov’t • Told of great stories and adventures • Collected all in a book • Believed China greatest civilization in the world

End of Mongols • Near end of Kublai reign empire began to crack • Needless wars • Extreme luxuries • Kublai died in 1294 • Overthrown by Ming dynasty 1368 • Mongol empire starts to fall apart by 1330 s • 1480 the end of the Mongols

Effects of Mongols • • Many people killed Cities and their supports destroyed Valleys ravaged Over time Mongols adopted traits of vanquished • Ilkhans and Golden Horde became Muslim • Empire is split

Japan & Korea 12 -11 -08

Japan • “Japan” comes from Chinese “ri ben” meaning origin of the sun • Japan borrows from Chinese people • 4, 000 Islands • From Canada to northern Florida

Geography • Advantages – Mild Climate – Plenty of Rainfall – Island is good for protection • Disadvantages – Mountainous leaves little room for farming – No natural resources • Coal • Oil • Iron – Late summer typhoons occur – Earthquakes – Tidal waves

Japanese Religion • Shinto – way of the gods • No rules or philosophy • Based on respect forces of nature • Worship of ancestors • Any beautiful or unusual tree, rock or waterfall contained kami (divine spirits that dwell in nature)

Yamato Emperors • By 7 th Century Yamato clan became leading clan • Claimed to be from the sun goddess Amaterasu • Never overthrown – when a clan would lose power it would rule in the emperors name

Adapting to Chinese Customs and Ideas • Mid 700’s Buddhism become an official religion • Did not give up Shinto beliefs – Buddhist rituals became Shinto, temples were used by both • Adopted Chinese system of writing • Art mimicked Chinese art • Everyday things – Drinking tea, cooking gardening hairdressing

Government • Even tried to model government on China • Introduced a strong central gov’t • Tried to introduce exam system for gov’t jobs • Failed to take hold • Instead Noble birth remained central to Japan gov’t

Heian Japan • 794 the Capital moved to Heian from Nara • Many noble families moved also • Nobles would fill days with ritual and art • Etiquette important – no loud laughter or mismatched clothing (women dyed clothes to match seasons) • Everyone at court was expected to write poetry or paint

Feudalism Erodes Imperial Authority • Heian central gov’t was very strong • Eventually challenged by great landowners • Fujiwara family very powerful (eventually more concerned with luxury and art than governing) • Landowners living away from capital set up private armies

Decline • Countryside became lawless • Armed soldiers on horses preyed on farmers • Pirates ruled seas • Farmers would exchange land for protection from local warlords

Samurai • Each warlord surrounded himself with bodyguards • Lived by a code of behavior (Bushido) – – Reckless courage Reverence for the gods Fairness Generosity towards those weaker than himself – Dying an honorable death more important than long life

Shogunate • For 30 years in the late 1100’s two most powerful families in Japan fought for power • Emperor gives title of Shogun to man named Yoritomo • Kamakura shogunate

Shogunate • Emperor still ruled from Kyoto (Heian rebuilt after war) • Real power was at the hands of Shogun • This lasted for centuries • Local warlords loyal to Shogun would have incredible power • Kamakura Shoguns held off invasions of Kublai Khan • But after wars – too expensive – they were unable to pay samurai • Local warlords once again in power

Southeast Asia

Geography of SE Asia • Between the Indian and Pacific Oceans • Islands almost all the way to Australia • Never been united • Rivers flow south through here • Mountains in the area keep people isolated • Key to control is trade routes • Influenced by China and India

Kingdoms and Empires • Khmer Empire: located in Cambodia main power in SE Asia – Improved rice cultivation – Irrigation and waterways – Built complex capital • Island trading kingdoms – Sailendra and Srivijaya ruled islands south of Mainland – Taxed trade and navigation

Kingdoms and Empires • Vietnam – Influenced by primarily China – Remained under China control for almost 1000 years – Built own capital at Hanoi in 1000’s – Three time attacked by Mongols – but each time forced them to withdraw

Korea

Korea History • Clans controlled different parts of country • Han Empire conquered much of Korea • During this time Clans united into 3 kingdoms • Silla – mid 600’s – defeated other kingdoms • Became Buddhist country • Created a phonetic alphabet using Chinese characters

Koryu Dynasty • 935 a rebel officer named Wang Kon gained control of Korea • Created Koryu Dynasty (935 -1392) • Modeled government after China • Wealthy nobles built a huge power base • Rebellions in 1100 s • Mongols occupy in 1231 -1350 • After Mongols removed revolts lead to end of Koryu • New Dynasty Choson (or Yi) would rule for 518 years

Koryu Culture • Created pottery – milky green glaze • Wrote poetry and history • Korean printers printed entire cannon of Buddhist scriptures • 81, 000 blocks still remain today

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