Unit 5: East / Southeast Asia A History of the Regions

Early History of China The Shang Period (1700s-1100s B.C.E.) -a farming society that settled along the Huang River -domesticated water buffalo -used system of irrigation -made improvements in bronze casting -Grand tombs, shell money, fairly accurate calendar, chopsticks, and musical instruments are other Shang-era achievements

Early History of China The Qin Dynasty (200s B.C.E.) -first Chinese imperial dynasty -emperor ordered the connection of ancient walls which would become the Great Wall of China -the term China comes from the Qin (pronounced Chin) dynasty

Early History of China The Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E C.E.) -built a strong military -rapid growth of cities -art & architecture flourished and spread to the south -Today the Chinese call themselves Han after this great era

Early History of China The Tang and Sung Dynasties (618 C.E. – 1200s C.E.) -after the decline of the Han, China was divided and ruled by several warlords -around 618 C.E. unity was restored under the Tang and Sung dynasties -China became the most advanced culture in the world -after the defeat of the Mongols in the 1200s, culture thrived, but rulers limited trade and outside influences

Early History of Korea -earliest inhabitants came from northern and central Asia -108 B.C.E. the Chinese invaded Korea and had major influence on Korean culture -After recapturing the peninsula, Korean culture flourished and became known in Asia for its architecture, ceramics and painting

Early History of Japan Japan’s earliest inhabitants were the Ainu (I-noo) -believed to be the descendants of people who migrated from N. Asia thousands of years ago -300 B.C.E. invaders from Asia drove the Ainu into N. Japan and introduced rice farming to the islands -today the Ainu number around 20,000 and still live in the northern Hokkaido where they farm and fish

Early History of Japan 700s C.E. Japan developed unique political order similar to Europe’s feudal system and established a capital at Kyoto. -this political system was controlled by the emperor as well as powerful warlords called SHOGUN -these shogun ruled over wealthy landlords called daimyo who controlled their own local territories and were protected by SAMURAI warriors

Early History of Japan European traders and merchants arrived in Japan around the 1500s, but were forced out by Japanese leaders in the 1600s for fear that European influence might cause instability in Japanese society -Japan remained culturally isolated for almost two-hundred years

Early History of Southeast Asia Earliest inhabitants date back 40,000 years -important center of plant and animal domestication (3000 B.C.E.) -800 C.E. the Khmer were the largest developed culture in the region (primarily Hindu) -1200s C.E. the Thais migrated to the region from China -Buddhism is introduced from India and becomes primary religion -early 1500s the region was colonized by Europeans and became known as Burma (Britain) and French Indochina

Modern History of China China’s earliest contact with the outside world was via trade along the “Silk Road,” which extended from China to the Black Sea -Europe made contact via the seas in the 1500s and quickly attempted to dominate trade relations -China was unprepared to handle aggressive trade relations & falls victim to European, Japanese and U.S. domination Britain takes Hong Kong Japan takes Taiwan

Modern History of China 1912 rebels under the leadership of Sun-Yat-sen overthrow the last dynasty and establish the Republic of China - After Sun-Yat-sen’s death, Nationalist Chiang-Kai-shek became leader and overthrew China’s warlords -1930s Japan takes advantage of China’s political divisions and assumes control of resource- rich Manchuria, and much of Eastern China, until 1940s

Modern History of China After Japan’s defeat in 1945, Mao Zedong and the Communist Party take power in China and established the People’s Republic of China -Mao Zedong takes control of all land and private property and sets up government controlled system of farms, labor and economy -inefficient use of land for industry leads to mass famine / millions die -Nationalists flee to Taiwan and set-up rival government the Republic of China

Modern History of China 1960s and 70s Communist led “Cultural Revolution” persecutes critics, elderly, intellectuals & scientists -schools and universities are closed -many are killed

Modern History of China A New China -after death of Mao Zedong in 1976, Deng Xiaoping came to power -Xiaoping helped China modernize and become a productive nation with a healthy market economy -about half of China’s industrial workers still work in inefficient state-owned industries

Modern History of Japan 1853 Commodore Matthew C. Perry helped open Japan to foreign influence and trade a group of Samurai overthrow the last of the Shogun and restore the Emperor’s power in what became known as the Meiji Revolution (enlightened rule) -this sparked a period of mass reform including western influenced education, government, and industry in effort to expand, Japan took Taiwan from China and annexed Korea

Modern History of Japan In 1940 Japan signed an alliance with Germany and Italy and entered World War II by attacking U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor -Japan took control of most of Southeast Asia and many Pacific islands -Allied forces pushed Japan back and in 1945 the U.S. dropped atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki -Japan surrenders -sets up democratic government that includes the diet, prime minister and an emperor

Modern History of Korea Japan lost Korea after the war. -the U.S. and Russia divided the country along the 38 th parallel -in the north the Russians set up a communist government called The People Republic of Korea

Modern History of Korea 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea and sparked the Korean War -U.N. / U.S. troops pushed back N. Korean troops, but China’s communist government sent troops to support N. Korea the two side sign an armistice to end fighting and set up a demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 38 th parallel -the peninsula is still divided today

Modern History of Southeast Asia The Japanese invaded Southeast Asia during WWII -after the war, nationalist groups tried to end colonialism in the region -four newly independent nations emerged: French Indochina became Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia and British controlled Burma became Myanmar in this independence was not easy and sparked civil war in Vietnam (Vietnam War) -U.S. became involved in an attempt to help stop the spread of communism