Tang & Song Dynasty

581-618: Sui Dynasty lasts for two emperors and falls

618-907: Tang Dynasty rules for nearly 300 years

960-1279: The Song dynasty rules, lasts 3 centuries

Areas in Green indicate the extent of the Chinese Empire under the Tang

Tang Emperor who began the Great Achievements of China

Ruled: 626-646

Wu Zhao First Empress of China to assume control in 690

Expanded China’s land into Korea

http://z.about.com/d/geography/1/0/Q/K/china.jpg

Moveable Type: individual characters were carved on blocks of wood and arranged in a frame – the characters could then be reused and rearranged for another page. Magnetic Compass:

Chinese were able to use this for trade- ships carried goods to Korea and Japan. Buddhism spread due to the travel in this area

Gunpowder: Eventually gunpowder led to cannons, small rockets, bombs and grenades

Fast-Ripening Rice: China had a huge population which means it needed a lot of food. They imported a fast-ripening rice from Vietnam- this allowed for two crop harvests a year

Landscape painting: Chinese artists focused on the beauty of nature- much of the painting was done in black ink.

Porcelain: China made beautiful porcelain objects such as plates and vases- most were white decorated with blue nature scenes. It was a luxury item and was an item they traded to others.

Example of Chinese Landscape and Nature Painting, the artist’s signature is the red stamp at the top.

Chinese Dynasties-Up to this point:

• Sui (581-618) (Roman Empire)• Tang (618-907)* Fall of Rome• Song (960-1279)* Dark

Ages/Byzantine *Golden Age!!

Empire/Islamic Empire

The Mongols

• Around 1200: A Mongol leader emerges…his name: Temujin• He will unify the Mongols and become….

“Universal Ruler”

http://www.groovyyurts.com/html_en/accueil_eng.html

The Mongol Empire

• 1211-1225: Mongol power stretches from China into Central Asia

• 1227: Genghis Khan died, the empire continued to grow

• 1250’s: Mongols focus their attention on Persia

• 1260: The empire was divided into four regions, or khanates

The Mongol Empire

• Mid-1200’s-Mid-1300’s: the Mongols imposed stability and law throughout their empire, this was known as the “Pax Mongolica”

• During this time, safe passage for trading caravans along the Silk Road was guaranteed for all travelers and missionaries = Bubonic Plague?

The Four Khanates, created after the death of Genghis KhanWhich Khanate contains China?Which Khanate included Russia?

“In Xanadu did Kubla KhanA stately pleasure-dome decree:Where Alph, the sacred river, ranThrough caverns measureless to manDown to a sunless sea…”-Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1816

The Mongol Empire

• 1260: Kublai Khan assumes the title of Great Khan

• 1274: Kublai Khan tries to extend power into Japan, but fails

• 1279: Overtakes the Sung; founds the Yuan dynasty

• 1294: Kublai Khan dies, leaving the Yuan dynasty to fail…

The Mongol Empire

• 1275: Marco Polo, his father, and uncle arrived at the court of Kublai Khan

• Polo spoke various Asian languages, so Kublai Khan had him go out on government business

• 1292: The Polo’s leave China after serving for 17 years at the court

Geography of Japan

Japan: “Land of the Rising Sun” • Archipelago-more than 1,200 miles long• Four Largest Islands: Hokkaido, Honshu,

Shikoku, and Kyushsu• Southern Japan: Mild climate with rainfall• Northern Japan: Cooler climate with snow• Very Mountainous: 12% of land is suitable for

farming• Natural Resources: coal, iron, oil, but in short

supply• Threats from natural disasters: typhoons,

earthquakes, and tsunamis

Japanese FeudalismLeader with little power- symbolic

Actual ruler- have the real powerCan promote people socially

Powerful land owners, usually families,Governors & Generals

Protectors of the daimyos, serve bothThe Shogun and their Daimyo

Subjects of the daimyos: Artisans: CraftspeopleMerchants: Lowest ClassPeasants: 90% of the populationFishermen & Farmers