POST-CLASSICAL CHINA, JAPAN AND THE MONGOL EMPIRE

The Big Questions:• What were the major civilizations of Asia in the post-classical

era?• What were the effects of the Mongol invasion?• What were the achievements of Ming China?

Introduction• China entered a long period of turmoil and unrest

after the collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220 A.D.• As in the West, the advance of the Huns helped

plunge China into disunity• Several warring kingdoms arose, and science, art ,

and culture declined• At the same time, Buddhism spread through much of

China• This period in China’s history is known as the Six

Dynasties, and it took several hundred years before China re-emerged as a leading civilization

Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 A.D.)

• Gave China a “Golden Age”• Suppressed peasant uprisings• Reunited China and brought peace and

prosperity• Expanded into Korea, Manchuria, and parts

of Central Asia• Government took census, restarted civil

service exam, and built public works• Peasants paid taxes of grain and silk

More about the Tang• Empress Wu Zetian• Implemented government reforms• Built a new capital city of Chang’an (largest city in the world – merchants and officials from Persia, India, Arabia, and Syria could be found there)

• Artistic Achievements• Pottery with painted glazed figures• Metalwork and jade• Poetry and painting• Unique gardens

• Mapmaking, medicine, and block printing• Encouraged Commerce

Song Dynasty ( 960-1279 A.D.)• Ruled a much smaller area than the Tang• A time of great social and economic progress• Paper currency and standardized coins of copper and

iron• Eliminated forced labor for the emperor (increased

farm production, leading to greater wealth for China’s people and government)

• The most populous and advanced civilization of its day• Merchants, craftspeople, and scholars lived in larger

towns and cities• Traded with many other parts of the world

More about the Song• Achievements• The Grand Canal – connected Beijing, the Hwang Ho, and the

Yangtze Rivers (used to ship grain within China)• Caravans carried silks over the Silk Road• Large ships carried goods to Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, India,

and Africa• Science and Technology• New instruments for astronomers• Acupuncture• Advanced mathematics• Gunpowder in war• Compass for navigation• Moveable type

• Created an alliance with the Mongols

Chinese Society• Buddhism and Confucianism influenced society• Women• Had to obey father, husband, and son• Left family when they married• Widows could receive a portion of husband’s land• Divorce was allowed if both husband and wife accepted it

• Footbinding• Limited female mobility• Practiced by the wealthy

More foot binding photos

JAPAN

Introduction• Japan was deeply influenced by China• Spread by Chinese and Korean scholars and

merchants• Confucianism – loyalty to family and ruler• Buddhism – renounce selfish desires• Daoism – love of nature• Chinese writing was adopted• Influenced music, art, dance, and cooking

• Although greatly influenced, Japanese society was not an exact copy, and changed as time passed

Japanese System of Rule• Emperors free some nobles from tax burdens• Nobles began to raise their own private armies• Imperial government grew weaker (less

money)• In 1192, the most powerful noble had the

emperor appoint him “Supreme Military Governor” or Shogun• For the next 600 years, Shoguns were the real

rulers of Japan (emperors were only figureheads)

The Hierarchy of Japanese Feudal System• Shogun – real ruler, Emperor a figurehead• Samurai – warriors (knights on horseback with

armor or leather and iron, and swords). Swore an oath of loyalty to the emperor and his local daimyo• Daimyo – noble landowners. Provided the

samurai with social status and economic support

• Bushido – a strict code of honor promised by samurai that emphasized loyalty to the Daimyo

Left Side:Diagram of Japanese Feudalism

Emperor

Shogun

Daimyo

SamuraiSamurai

Peasant Peasant

THE MONGOL EMPIRE

Introduction• The Steppes – a treeless grassland stretching across

Eurasia (from the Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe to Manchuria in NE Asia)• Inhabited by nomadic people since earliest times• Used as pastures for herding livestock• Provided a unique environment for people to learn

horsemanship and fighting skills• The Huns• Repelled by the Chinese, but contributed to the fall of the

Roman Empire• Attila was the most famous Hun leader

• The Turks • Came from Central Asia to create empires in the Middle East

Central Asian Invaders 4th – 13th Centuries

Central Asia

Huns 4th-5th

Mongols 13th

Seljuk Turks 10th-11th

Mongols 13th

THE MONGOLS• Established the greatest land empire the world had ever seen• Divided into several loosely organized tribes• Slept in domed tents made of felt• Excellent horsemen and archers (used stirrups)

• Ghengis Khan (Chinggis Khan)• United Mongols by 1206• Conquered Mongolia, China, & Muslim States of Central Asia• Although a brutal warrior who used terror, he was tolerant of religions• Promoted trade• Used local administrators• Ordered a written script for Mongol language

The Empire after Ghengis Khan

• Ghengis Khan’s successors extended Mongol rule into Persia, Russia, Iraq, and the rest of China• This was the largest land empire the world has seen• There was a “Pax Mongolia” – people could trade

safely from one end of the empire to the other• The empire was so vast, it was soon divided into

four kingdoms (each ruled by a different descendant of Ghengis Khan)

THE YUAN DYNASTY• Ruled by Kublai Khan (Grandson of Ghengis) -1260 A.D.• Was born Mongolian, but was fascinated with

Chinese culture, traditions, and art• Mongols served as military aristocracy• Chinese officials helped rule• Mongols were encouraged to adopt Chinese ways• Kublai Khan claimed the Mandate of Heaven

Yuan Dynasty continued…• Marco Polo (a venetian merchant) journeyed

along the Silk Road to visit China• Astounded at the magnificence of Kublai Khan’s court• Chinese were technologically superior to European of

the day• Was impressed by gunpowder and burning of coal for

heat

Mongol Influence on Russia• Mongols controlled Russia for 200 years• Mongol words, customs, and clothing styles were found in

Russian culture• Moscow and its surrounding territories (Muscovy) was the

strongest Russian state• Muscovites eventually rebelled against Mongols

• In 1480, Ivan the Great declared Muscovy’s independence• Proclaimed himself Tsar (“Caesar” or Emperor”)• Soon increased Muscovy’s size by conquering neighboring

lands

Tamerlane

• Expanded his kingdom from Samarkand into Persia, Afghanistan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and N. India• Known for his brutality and massacre of civilian

populations• Empire collapsed soon after his death

MING DYNASTY (1388-1644 A.D.)• Overthrew the Mongols to take over• 300 years of peace and prosperity• Constructed an imperial palace in Beijing , The

Forbidden City. (Became home to Chinese emperors who were revered as gods)• Two main social classes• Peasants – largely illiterate, lives centered around family

and village• Scholar gentry – owned land, respected learning

• Restored civil service exam (focused on Confucian teachings)

Ming continued…• Trade and manufacturing flourished• Merchants and craftsmen lived in the cities• Excelled at printing and producing silks and porcelains

• Exploration• Great naval expeditions were sponsored by the emperor in

the 1400s to spread the news of China’s wealth and power• Zheng He sailed to India and Arabia• Emperor stopped voyages in 1430

• In 1557, Portuguese traders established a settlement in China• Catholic missionaries soon followed trying to convert Chinese

to Christianity• Established a global pattern of trade (exported silk and

porcelain and imported silver, sweeet potatoes and corn)

Voyages of Zheng He

“Now there was on this spot a great and noble city called Beijing. As regards the size of this city, it is 24 square miles, since each side is 6 miles long. It is walled around with walls of earth, 10 paces thick at bottom, and a height of more than 10 paces.