Asian Empires

Ch 12

Empires of China

Section 1

Tang Dynasty

• Who: Li Yuan; Li Shimin; Chinese & Tang family• What: a dynasty that was formed in China after a

revolt that brought back China’s glory by reunifying it• Where: China• When: 618-907• Why: this dynasty restored China’s earlier glory;

carried the empire to new heights, conquered some of central Asia = expanded China; rebuilt bureaucracy & enlarged the civil service system; eventually lost territ. & there was corruption & famine = downfall

Tang Taizong• Who: founder of the Tang dynasty; ruler of China (Li

Shimin) • What: a brilliant general, government reformer, Historian• Where: China• When: 618-• Why: he became China’s most admired emperor; revolted

from his father to est. new dynasty; Tang rulers carried the empire & built China to new heights; conquered territories= expanded china = China had more power; founded Tang dynasty = imp dynasty in China

Tributary States

• Who: Chinese emperors & people• What: independent state that has to acknowledge the

supremacy of another state & pay tribute to its’ ruler• Where: Asia• When: 220-618• Why: Tibet, Korea, & Vietnam were self-ruling &

governing however they had to acknowledge Chinese supremacy in the region of Asia; they had to send regular tribute ($$) to the Tang Empire; kept China in power & # 1

Land Reform• Who: Chinese Tang Emperors• What: broke up large agricultural holdings & redistributed

land to the peasants; a policy that the Tang dynasty had • Where: China• When: 618• Why: this policy strengthened the central government by

weakening the power of large land owners= increased government revenues; Tang emperors more powerful; peasants now could own land & would be able to pay taxes

Tang (workbook)

• Tang Taizong founded the dynasty by overthrowing his father & starting new

• Land Reform= increased gov’t revenues, made central power more powerful

• Rebuilt the bureaucracy• Developed a flexible new law code• Enlarged the civil service system• Set up schools to prepare males for civil service

exams = could get govt jobs • Conquered centralAsia = more land = more power

Tang Dynasty (workbook)

• Tang Taizong founds the dynasty• Reinstated a powerful bureaucracy & centralized

government• Created a new law code = helped to strengthen the govt• Instituted the land reform system=took power away from

nobles & gave to emperor• Set up schools to educate the men for Civil Service exams

= become Civil service workers= merit based for the 1st time

• Conquered Central Asia = expanded land = more pwer• Decline due to corruption, famine, & losing territ

Song Dynasty• Who: Zhao Kuangyin, scholarly general, Song Chinese• What: a dynasty that ruled China for 319 years after the Tang

but controlled less territ• Where: China• When: 960-1200s• Why: they faced constant threat of invaders from the North;

during the Song period- great time of achievement= Chinese econ expanded b.c. improved farming methods & open border policy; the Grand Canal reached its peak during this time; foreign trade flourished= govt issued paper money (didn’t exist anywhere else!) ; well ordered society- gentry & peasants

Gentry

• Who: scholars & officials• What: a wealthy landowning class of people• Where: China• When: 960-1200s• Why: they could afford to spend years studying

the Confucian classics in order to pass the civil service exams & get govt positions; when not in govt positions they served in provinces as allies to the emperors

Dowry

• Who: Chinese brides• What: the payment that a woman brings into a

marriage to give to husband & she can never remarry• Where: China• When: 500-1650• Why: famlies valued boys more than girls; when girls

married she brought this dowry as a gift to the husband’s family- she now became part of his family & left to live with them- this dowry was to give her hubby’s fam $$ for taking her in

Pagoda

• Who: Chinese • What: a multi-tiered structure with eaves that curve

up at the bottom that evolved from India’s Stupa• WherE: China• When: 500-1650• Why: many important Chinese nobles used this as

their house; Buddhist themes dominated Chinese architecture & created a large Indian/Hindu influence throughout China

Section 2

Genghis Khan• Who: Mongol chieftan• What: united warring tribes as one under his control and

then conquered Asia; brilliant Mongol leader, “Universal Ruler”; greatest conqueror in history

• Where: Mongolia, invades Asia & Europe• When: 1162-1227• Why: under his leadership he united the Mongols & they

conquered a vast empire from Pacific Ocean all the way to E. Europe; had highly trained armies; imposed strict military discipline & demanded loyalty; ruled his lands with toleration & justice; tried to conquer China but didn’t live to complete- his grandson started the Yuan dynasty in China

Kublai Khan• Who: Genghis Khan’s grandson; founder of Yuan dynasty• What: finished invading China for the Mongols & started

the Yuan dynasty (the foreign run dynasty) in China• Where: from Mongolia, took over Northern China• When: 1279• Why: he ruled all of China & Korea & Tibet; he tried to

prevent the Mongols from being absorbed into Chinese civilization; he decreed that only Mongols could serve in the Chinese military & hold govt positions- keeping Mongols on the top of society

Yuan Dynasty

• Who: Khublai Khan & the Mongols• What: a foreign run, Mongol dynasty in China• Where: China• When: 1227-1368• Why: this dynasty was foreign-run by the Mongols in

China= they wanted to stay Mongol, not become Chinese= strict social structure- Mongols are at the top (govt, milit jobs), other foreigners- middle & Chinese at the bottom = Chinese don’t like them; Khublai rebuilt & extended the Grand Canal to reach his capital; Blended Mongol & Chinese cultures, customs, & traditions

Marco Polo• Who: Italian merchant• What: a traveler & merchant from Venice, Italy who

traveled to China during the Yuan dynasty• Where: from Italy, went to China• When: 1254-1324• Why: he visited China during the Yuan dynasty; he got

there in 1271; he traveled across Persia & Asia- spent 17 years in China learning about it; when he returned to Italy he wrote about his travels= educated Europe about Asia= Europeans wanted to get there for the goods= Exploration

Ming Dynasty

• Who: Zhu Yuanzhang, Zheng He• What: new dynasty of China that sought to

reassert Chinese greatness after years of foreign rule

• Where: China• When: 1368-1435• Why: (I will have the why up tomorrow)

Zheng He• Who: Chinese explorer, Admiral & diplomat• What: he commanded 7 exploration expeditions for the

Chinese Ming dynasty• Where: China• When: 1405-1433• Why: he wanted to explore to promote trade & collect

tribute from lesser powers across the western seas; he explored the seas of SE Asia, India, Red Sea, & E. Africa= Chinese settled in these regions; exotic animals returned to China & these voyages showed local rulers the power & strength of the Chinese empire.