Tang & Song Dynasty : Sui Dynasty lasts for two emperors and falls : Tang Dynasty rules for nearly 300 years : 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: Wu Zhao First Empress of China to assume control in 690 Expanded China’s land into Korea

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 ( ) (Roman Empire) Tang ( )* Fall of Rome Song ( )* 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”

The Mongol Empire : 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 Khan  Which Khanate contains China?  Which Khanate included Russia?

“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down 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 Feudalism Leader with little power- symbolic Actual ruler- have the real power Can promote people socially Powerful land owners, usually families, Governors & Generals Protectors of the daimyos, serve both The Shogun and their Daimyo Subjects of the daimyos: Artisans: Craftspeople Merchants: Lowest Class Peasants: 90% of the population Fishermen & Farmers