Medieval Asia

Tang Dynasty, 618-907

Northern Song, 960-1127

Southern Song, 1127-1279

Concepts

Main Idea – Tang and Song Dynasties were known for their technological innovations which changed history

Setting the Stage for Tang

The Han dynasty collapsed in 220, and nomadic peoples from the northern steppe conquered much of northern China

More than 30 local dynasties rose and fell By 589, a strong emperor named Sui (sway)

Wendi united northern and southern China, but this dynasty lasted through only two emperors

Although short-lived, the Sui dynasty did lay a strong foundation for the great achievements of the next dynasty – The Tang

Tang Dynasty618 - 907

One of the greatest emperors was Tang Taizong Under Taizong, the empire expanded. His armies

reconquered the northern and western lands lost since the Han fell.

Empress Wu Zhao held real power from 660-705, She is the only woman to ever take the title of Emperor for herself in Chinese history.

Tang Dynasty, Continued

Tang rulers expanded the central government, roads and canals to help pull the empire together.

They initially lowered taxes to gain the loyalty of the peasants

They promoted foreign trade and improvements in agriculture

Scholar-Officials

Civil Service Examination System – was begun by the Han Dynasty, but was in disarray.

It was revised and used to recruit good officials. They opened schools to train young scholars in Confucianism, poetry, and other subjects

Those few who passed the exams became part of an elite group called scholar-officials

The system created a remarkably intelligent and capable governing class of China

Decline and Fall of the Tang

The dynasty was weakening by the mid-700s. The rulers imposed harsh taxes. There was chaos as peasants left their farms and villages and turned to banditry.

In 751, Arab armies beat the Chinese at the Battle of Talas on the western frontier.

Finally in 907, Chinese rebels destroyed the Tang capital and murdered the last Tang emperor

Song Dynasty960-1279

After 53 years of confusion and rivalry among warlords, a strong general was able to reunite China and proclaim himself emperor – Song Taizu

The empire was smaller now, but it was stable, powerful and prosperous under the Song

Northern Song (960-1127)

The Song never regained the western lands lost after 751.

They never regained lands lost after the Tang decline.

They tried to keep the peace by paying hefty tribute to their northern enemies.

This failed to stop the threat and they were forced south by the Jurchen, who took the northern part of China and established the Jin empire

Southern Song (1127-1279)

The Jin forced the Song to retreat to the south. They established a new capital, Hangzhou Despite military troubles, it saw rapid

economic growth South became the economic heartland of

China Merchants grew rich from trade with the

Jin, western Asia and Europe

Impact of Tang and Song

Intense growth – China’s population doubled, soaring to 100 million

By the Song era, there were 10 cities in China with a million plus residents

It was the most populous country in the world and the most advanced…

Chinese Inventions

Block printing – (700s) the whole page was carved onto one block - time consuming and more expensive

Movable type – (1040) An alchemist named Pi Sheng appears to have conceived of movable type. Each piece of movable type had on it one Chinese character which was carved in relief on a small block of an amalgam of clay and glue. The portion that formed the character was as thin as the edge of a small coin. After the block had been hardened by fire, the type became durable.

More inventions

Porcelain (700s) – Bone hard white ceramic made of a special clay and a mineral found only in China

This is why the good set of dishes your mom or grandma has is called CHINA!

Still more inventions

Mechanical Clock- (700s) Clock in which machinery driven by running water regulated the movements

Again with the inventions! Gunpowder – ( 800s)

explosive powder made from a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal

How did this invention affect the history of warfare in this world?

You can also thank them for fireworks

Even more inventions

Paper money (1020s) -Paper currency issued - why would they replace metal coins with paper?

Magnetic Compass (1100s) – floating magnetized needle that always points north – how did this invention affect China?

Early paper money

Early float compass Later box compass

Other innovations

Advances in farming – They had to feed 100 million people

Trade flourished – armies guarded the Silk Roads which linked China to the West. (they lost control over these during the Tang decline)

China developed into the greatest sea power in the world with their inventions of navigational devices.

Golden Age of Art -the wealth of these dynasties stimulated a high level of artistic creativity and brilliance

Changes in Society

Power of the old aristocratic families faded

A much larger upper class emerged, made up of scholar-officials and their families – the Gentry

Status of women was never high, but it declined even further for upper class women during this period – one sign of this was the new practice of footbinding

This created a much smaller, useless foot called a lily-foot.

What belief did the practice of footbinding reflect?

It was impractical and rendered the woman unable to walk normally – she hobbled or was carried

In Chinese society this reflected the husband’s wealth and prestige – that he could afford a beautiful but impractical wife

Mongol Conquests

Nomads of the Asian Steppe

Steppe – a vast, dry grassland that stretches across Europe and Asia from Hungary to Manchuria

Little rain, lots of wind. It supports short, hardy grasses.

Extreme temperature variations – from

-57°F in winter to 96°F in summer The western steppe has more rainfall and

is milder than the eastern steppe

Nomadic people were pastoralists –they herded domesticated animals (present day Mongolians still live much like this)

They lived and traveled together in kinship groups called clans.

The differing ways of life between settled peoples and nomads led to constant interaction – they traded peacefully many times, but the nomads were often tempted by the wealth of settled communities and raided the towns

Occasionally, a powerful group like the Mongols were able to conquer a large area and become its rulers. Often, they would adapt to the civilization they conquered.

The Rise of the Mongols

Around 1200, a Mongol khan, or clan leader, named Temujin unified the clans under his leadership

In 1206, he accepted the title Genghis Khan, or universal ruler (could also mean Lord of the Ocean)

Over the next 21 years, Genghis Khan and his Mongols conquered much of Asia.

First goal was China, but after invading the Jin empire (Northern China), his attention turned toward the Muslim region west of Mongolia

By 1221, central Asia was under Mongol control

Genghis the Conqueror

He was a brilliant organizer He was a gifted strategist He adopted new weapons and

technology Used cruelty as a weapon – if a city refused

to open its gates to him, he might kill everyone after capturing it. This led to many cities surrendering without a fight

The Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan died from illness in 1227 His son Ogedei became the Great Khan His successors continued to expand the

empire – in less than 50 years, they conquered land from China to Poland

Ogedei died in 1241 and the westward campaign ended – they had to elect his successor

Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis, named himself the Great Khan in 1260

Mongols as rulers

Many areas conquered never recovered Populations of some cities were wiped out The Mongols destroyed ancient irrigation systems in

areas like the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys Some adopted the culture of the areas they

conquered: the Golden Horde and the Ilkhanate became Muslims

The Great Khan adopted Chinese institutions The growing cultural differences led to the splitting up

of the empire

Mongol Peace – From the 1200s to the 1300s, the Mongols imposed stability, law and order across much of Eurasia

They guaranteed safe passage of trade caravans, travelers and missionaries across the empire

Goods and ideas spread between Europe and Asia like never before

Some historians speculate that this openness led to the spread of the bubonic plague that devastated Europe in the 1300s.

Empire of the Great Khan

Marco Polo at the Court of Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan Conquers China Kublai Khan completed the conquest of China begun

by his grandfather, Genghis Khan The Southern Song dynasty was overwhelmed by the

Mongol armies in 1279 The new emperor, Kublai Khan, founded a new

dynasty called the Yuan dynasty Although it lasted less than a century, it was very

important 1. Kublai united China for the 1st time in 300 years 2. China was opened to greater foreign contacts and

trade 3. He tolerated Chinese culture and made few

changes to the government system

Kublai Tries to Conquer Japan

In 1274 and 1281, Kublai sent fleets to try to conquer Japan – they were turned back both times

A typhoon helped the Japanese defeat the second fleet – for centuries they referred to the kamikaze, or “divine wind” that saved Japan

Marco Polo

Marco Polo – a Venetian trader who traveled by caravan on the Silk Roads to China

He spoke several Asian languages and was welcomed by Kublai Khan, who used him as a government emissary for 17 years

Two years before Kublai Khan died, Marco Polo and his family went back to Europe

Marco Polo

End of Mongol Rule Problems began in the late years of

Kublai’s reign Suffered many defeats as he tried to

expand empire into Southeast Asia Differences between the luxuries at court

and the overtaxed peasants were a problem

Yuan dynasty remained for 74 years after Kublai died – but it was a power struggle among family members

Mongol Empire Falls Apart

Rebellion broke out in the 1300s 1. Chinese resented Mongol rule 2. Years of famine, flood and disease, growing

economic problems and corruption In 1368, Chinese rebels overthrew the Mongols –

start of the Ming Dynasty Many Mongols returned to their homeland Ilkhanate of Persia fell apart in the 1330s Chagatai Khans ruled to 1370s Only the Golden Horde in Russia stayed in power

Main Idea

Although the empire was short-lived, it was important

Chinese influence on Western ideas and culture began under Mongol rule with the advancement of trade

JapanJapan

Japan is an Japan is an archipelagoarchipelago – a chain of islands – a chain of islands The majority of the people live on four main The majority of the people live on four main

islands – Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushuislands – Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu Mild climate with good rainfallMild climate with good rainfall Very mountainous, though so not much land can Very mountainous, though so not much land can

be farmed!be farmed! Violent weather, earthquakes and volcanoes.Violent weather, earthquakes and volcanoes.

Early JapanEarly Japan

Early religion was Early religion was ShintoShinto (way of the gods) (way of the gods) It was based on respect for forces of nature It was based on respect for forces of nature

and ancestor worshipand ancestor worship Early Japan was not unified – hundreds of Early Japan was not unified – hundreds of

clans controlled their own territoryclans controlled their own territory By 5By 5thth century A.D., the Yamato clan was the century A.D., the Yamato clan was the

leading clanleading clan By 7By 7thth century they called themselves emperors century they called themselves emperors

and claimed descent from sun goddess and claimed descent from sun goddess Amaterasu Amaterasu

Japanese adapt Chinese ideasJapanese adapt Chinese ideas

By 500, there was more contact with mainland AsiaBy 500, there was more contact with mainland Asia Koreans migrated to Japan bringing Chinese Koreans migrated to Japan bringing Chinese

influencesinfluences Buddhism was brought in – they ended up combining Buddhism was brought in – they ended up combining

Shinto rituals with Buddhist ceremonies and artShinto rituals with Buddhist ceremonies and art Adopted Chinese style of writingAdopted Chinese style of writing Followed Chinese styles in other matters – drinking Followed Chinese styles in other matters – drinking

tea, gardening, cooking, hairdressingtea, gardening, cooking, hairdressing Retained their own traditions while adapting Chinese Retained their own traditions while adapting Chinese

ways to suit their needsways to suit their needs

Feudalism erodes Imperial AuthorityFeudalism erodes Imperial Authority

Decline of Central power – court families lost interest Decline of Central power – court families lost interest in governing and more interested in luxury and artistic in governing and more interested in luxury and artistic pursuitspursuits

Large landowners outside of capital set up private Large landowners outside of capital set up private armiesarmies

Countryside was dangerous, pirates took control of Countryside was dangerous, pirates took control of seasseas

Small landowners and farmers traded parts of their Small landowners and farmers traded parts of their lands for protection by local lordslands for protection by local lords

Local lords grew strongerLocal lords grew stronger Created a system similar to feudalism in ancient Created a system similar to feudalism in ancient

China and medieval EuropeChina and medieval Europe

SamuraiSamurai

Each lord surrounded Each lord surrounded himself with loyal himself with loyal warriors called warriors called samuraisamurai

Samurai lived Samurai lived according to Bushido according to Bushido – the way of the – the way of the warriorwarrior

Bushido is reckless Bushido is reckless courage, reverence courage, reverence for the gods, fairness for the gods, fairness and generosity toward and generosity toward the weakthe weak

ShogunShogun

In the late 1100s, a war between two powerful In the late 1100s, a war between two powerful families ended with the Minamoto family winningfamilies ended with the Minamoto family winning

The emperor gave the leader of the Minamoto the title The emperor gave the leader of the Minamoto the title of Shogun – supreme general of the emperor’s armyof Shogun – supreme general of the emperor’s army

Everything was under his controlEverything was under his control The emperor still reigned from Kyoto (built on ruins of The emperor still reigned from Kyoto (built on ruins of

Heian, destroyed in the war)Heian, destroyed in the war) Real power in Japan was at the shogun’s Real power in Japan was at the shogun’s

headquarters in Kamakuraheadquarters in Kamakura

Main Ideas/ImportanceMain Ideas/Importance

1. Japanese civilization was shaped by the 1. Japanese civilization was shaped by the cultural borrowing from China, and the rise of cultural borrowing from China, and the rise of feudalism and military rulersfeudalism and military rulers