1. POST-CLASSICAL CHINA, JAPAN AND THE MONGOL EMPIRE

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

6. More about the Tang Artistic Achievements
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

7. Song Dynasty ( 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

9. More about the Song Achievements Created an alliance with the Mongols
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

10. 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

11. More foot binding photos

12. JAPAN

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. Left Side: Diagram of Japanese Feudalism
Emperor
Shogun
Daimyo
Samurai
Samurai
Peasant
Peasant

17. THE MONGOL EMPIRE

18. 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

19. Central Asian Invaders 4th – 13th Centuries
Mongols 13th
Central Asia
Huns 4th-5th
Seljuk Turks 10th-11th
Mongols 13th

20. 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

21. 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)

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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)

28. Ming continued… Trade and manufacturing flourished Exploration
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, sweet potatoes and corn)

29. Voyages of Zheng He