Delia Calut/Paxton School for Advanced Studies/calutd@duvalschools.org

Han dynasty206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.What happened after its collapse?What dynasty reunify China?

Sui & Tang Empires

1. Sui, 581-618Lasted 34 yearsWhy was it significant?Could you compare it with other Chinese

dynasty?What did it built?

Grand Canal

Tang dynasty

2.Tang, 618-907Political lifeOrigins : Turkic elitesTerritory: expanded towards W ( Central

Asia)Centralized powerWho did it stop Tang’s advancement towards

W?Where?How did Tang’s advancement in Central Asia

influence the Chinese religion?

Political life751, The Battle of Talas River ( Muslim

Arabs)Get connected to India & Central Asia

Political lifeHow was the bureaucracy selected?

Political lifeA)Who introduced first the civil service

exams?B)Why these exams made a difference in

China?

Political lifeA)Han dynastyB) High educated bureaucrats the lower class could get good jobs

Religion ( early Tang)BuddhismWhy was Buddhism so successful at the

beginning of Tang dynasty?

Early Tang-Buddhism1.emperor –spiritual function of welding

humans into a harmonious Buddhist societyWhy was this important?A)What did the Buddhist monasteries offer to

the Tang princes?B)What did the Buddhist monasteries receive

in exchange for their services?

Religious lifea)Financial support, advice, prayers.b) gifts, land, exemptions from taxes

EconomyWhat was the economy based on?

EconomyTrade1.What were the main items imported?2.What were the main items exported?3.What was the most important trading

center?

Economy1.tea, sugar, spices,

cotton, textiles, Stringed

instrumentsWine,painting2.silk, porcelain3.Chang’an

Tea

EconomyExplain Chang’an significance.

EconomyChang’an –the capitalTrading center, center of tributary systemWho paid tribute? What was tribute?Religious networkCommercial networkCosmopolitan cityHub of Tang communication

TechnologyWhat kind of maritime technology did the

Chinese mariners use?

vesselcompass

Chinese vessel

Daily lifeWhat disease affected the Tang Empire?How was the disease spread?Do you know any other empire affected by

the same disease?

Military rivalsA)Who were Tang’s most important rivals?B)What did they compete for ?

MilitaryA)Tibet, UighursB) religious & political power, control of local

routes

What policies contributed to the early success of Tang?

ReligionWhy was Buddhism replace by Confucianism

towards the end of Tang?

Religion1. Undermine the Confucian idea of family2 encouraged women participation in politics( Wu Zhao) associated with social ills (foreign origin)Monasteries: own a lot of land didn’t pay taxesMonks :didn’t serve in the army

ReligionHow did the government solve the problem?When?

DeclineWhat factors did contribute to the decline of

Tang?

Decline1. internal rebellions: 755, 879-8812. nomadic tribes ( N border)3.tax-system problems, powerful military

leadersRuled China until 907After Tang, China split in 3 empires:Liao, Tanggut, Song

Song 960-1279Tang Song

Political & militaryLost the N part to nomadic tribes½ of Tang territoryCapital :Hangzhou4 times Tang’s army

TechnologyWhy was considered that Song dynasty had

an industrial revolution?

TechnologyInnovations:Calendar, compass design Greek astrolabe, junkCelestial clockGunpowderMining, iron production

ReligionWhat was Song’s religion?Who was the ideal human?

ReligionNeo-Confucianism : blend of Conf. &

Buddhism new interpretations of

the Confucian textsThe sage

TechnologyWhat were the

consequences of using the movable type?

EconomyWhat innovations were in economy?Commercial economyIndustrial developmentInter-regional credit

Money during Song dynasty

Society-the status of womenSocial restrictionSubordinationLow education, cannot remarryFoot bindingWhat was the significance of foot binding?

Foot binding

Foot binding

JapanWhat did the

Japanese borrow from the Chinese?

A legal codeConfucianismBuddhismarchitecture

Political lifeThe head of the state: the emperorNo Mandate of Heaven794 , Heian became capital

Heian 794-1185Political life: emperor lost power symbolic figureheadReal Power: 858, Fujiwara familyEconomy: Golden AgeReligion: Shintoism, Buddhism( Zen),Culture: poetry( men) epics( women)Which one was superior?Give an example of an epic.

“The Tale of Genji” by Murasaki Shikibu

Heian period

Decline Founder1156-1185 Taira-

Minamoto war Minamoto

won

Kamakura shogunateMinamoto established a new form of

government: the shogunateCapital: KamakuraDecentralized form of governmentShogunate: feudal system in which the shogun

shared the power with landowning warlords (daimyo).

ShogunDaimyoSamurai-great honor-code of chivalry: Bushido

Japanese Feudalism

KoreaUnder whose influence was Korea?How was Korea organized?

KoreaChinese influence: political, religious,

cultural.Divided in 2 kingdoms: Silla & Koryo Compare Silla & Koryo

Silla-Tang ally (collapsed when Tang collapsed)

Koryo-Song ally, unified the korean Peninsula.

Religion: BuddhismTechnology: block printing

VietnamHow was organized?What was the economy based on?Religion?

Vietnam2 states: Annam/Dai Viet ( N) Champa( S)Political & economic life centered around 2

riversN –Red RiverS-MekongEconomy: rice-based economy (wet-rice

cultivation)Religion: Buddhism & ConfucianismWomen: dispose of property, negotiating roles

Rice paddies

Cultivation Harvest