Confucians began to adopt it. “Neo-Confucianism” developed. A social and ethical philosophy, not a religious belief, that combines rational thought with the metaphysics of Daoism and Buddhism. Popular in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The Song Dynasty was friendlier towards Buddhism, but did not go out of its way to promote the religion. Buddhism’s presences had been so strong that many Confucians had begun to adopt its ideals into their daily lives. Printing made Buddhist scriptures available to the Scholar Gentry. As a result, the scholars found that they appreciated the thoughtfulness that Buddhism devoted to issues of the soul and the meaning of life. Thus, “Neo-Confucianism” developed. It is a social and ethical philosophy, not a religious belief, that combines rational thought with the metaphysics of Daoism and Buddhism. It was very popular in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Developed the system of printing in the 7th century. “wood-block printing”, carved blocks of wood that were inked and pressed against paper. The invention of printing was linked with the spread of Buddhism, through written text. The Chinese invented paper as early as the 2nd century C.E., and they developed the system of printing in the 7th century. The first to use “wood-block printing.” Carved blocks of wood that were inked and pressed against paper.

Landscape painting flourished during this period Landscape painting flourished during this period. Based on Daoism’s emphasis on nature. Masculine identity came to be defined in terms of painting, calligraphy, scholarship, and poetry. The development of paper and printing expanded the availability of books. Confucian scholars consumed literature at a tremendous rate. They were also major producers of literature throughout the Post-Classical Era. Chinese emphasis on schooling created a scholar gentry with the leisure time to devote to poetry. They were the world’s first “Renaissance men.”

Needed to pass extremely rigorous civil service examination. Expanded good paying bureaucratic job, which made education important in Chinese culture. Needed to pass extremely rigorous civil service examination. Serving in the bureaucracy was highly respected. He expanded the bureaucracy, which developed into an important organization of Chinese government. Candidates for the bureaucracy had to pass an extremely rigorous civil service examination. Since the examination was difficult, education became increasingly important in Chinese culture. Serving in the bureaucracy was highly regarded. Communities took pride in their natives who won a good position working for the government. Aristocratic families had greater access to high-level positions in the bureaucracy than did any other group, due to their ability to obtain better education.

Song China had growing urban centers. Hangzhou was home to one million people. The cultural center of southern China. Trade brought diversity, including a thriving community of Arabs. Like the Abbasid civilization, Song China had growing urban areas. Hangzhou was large, it was home to one million people. It was the cultural center of southern China. Home to poets and located on the Grand Canal. Its trade brought diversity to the city, including a thriving community of Arabs.

Developed a process of converting coal to coke. Coke has fewer impurities than in coal. Chinese could make metal that was stronger, leading to better plows, weapons, and bridges. Chinese metal smelting skills increased, as they developed a process of converting coal to coke, a process that removes many of the impurities found in coal. By using coke, the Chinese could make metal that was stronger, leading to better plows, weapons, and bridges.

Discovered gunpowder in the 9th century. Technology spread along the Silk Road. Triggered the development of cannons in Europe. During the 9th century, Chinese researchers, trying to find elements that would lead to eternal life, discovered gunpowder. They soon learned to use gunpowder to produce fireworks and weapons. The first guns were made in the Song Dynasty. Over time, this invention spread along the Silk Road to Europe.

Economics Tang: Introduced the “equal-field system” (8th century). Ensure that all families had land to cultivate. Wanted to take control away from the landed aristocracy. The aristocracy bribed government officials to keep their land. The Tang Empire reintroduced the “equal-field system” (8th century) which attempted to ensure that all Chinese families had a parcel of land to cultivate. The goal was to take control away from the landed aristocracy. The reforms lasted for about 100 years resulting in increased rural wealth. But the aristocracy used their wealth to bribe government officials and keep their land.

Agricultural Improvements: Used manure (human and animal) to enrich the soil. Built irrigation systems; ditches, water wheels, pumps, and terraces. New heavy plows pulled by water buffalo or oxen allowed unusable land to be cultivated. To control public thought, books that were not in keeping with Qin’s own belief were burned, and hundreds of scholars were buried alive. Anyone who resisted his authority could be executed or sent into exile. Many dissenters were sent north, to work on building the Great Wall.

Fast-ripening rice (champa rice) added to surpluses. Native to northern Vietnam. Allowed farmers to grow two crops a year. Contributed to the doubling of the Chinese population during the Tang and Song dynasties Fast-ripening rice (champa rice) added to Chinese surpluses. The grain is native to northern Vietnam, which came to China during the Tang Dynasty. This allowed farmers in southern China to grow two crops a year.

Did away with government labor tax. Paid people to work on public projects. Increased money in circulation, promoting economic growth. The Song did away with the requirement that people labor for the government. Instead, they paid people to work on public projects. This increased the money in circulation, thereby promoting economic growth.

Global trade declined after collapse of the Roman and Han Empires. Arab merchants from the Abbasid Empire revived the land and sea routes of the Silk Road. After the collapse of the Roman and Han Empires, trade along the Silk Road decline greatly. However, by the 8th and 9th centuries, Arab merchants from the Abbasid Empire revived the land and sea routes of the Silk Road.

Technology/trade items from China: 1. Compass Paper 3. Printing 4. Gunpowder 5. Porcelain 6. Tea 7. Silk But perhaps the greatest contributor, to the Han dynasty economy’s affluence was the silk trade and the opening up of the Silk Road. The Silk Road was not a road, it was an overland route where merchants carried goods for trade. It was really two routes. One that connected the eastern Mediterranean with Central Asia. And one that when from Central Asia to China. The Silk Road involved sea routes: Many goods reach Rome via the Mediterranean, and goods from Central Asia found their way across the Pacific to Japan and even Java.

Developed a new financial system. Merchants deposited “paper money” in one location and withdraw the same amount at another location. Abacuses were used to calculate transactions. System became the model for the modern banking system. To manage the increasing trade, China developed a new financial system. Copper coins were too heavy to transport for trade, so the government a system of credit known as “flying cash.” Merchants could deposit “paper money” under their name in one location and withdraw the same amount at another location. Merchants and tax collectors used abacuses to calculate their transactions. This system became the model for the modern banking system. Later, Chinese governments would prohibit merchants and businesses from making paper money, reserving that right for themselves.

The transformation of southern China from a subsistence economy to an export-oriented economy was due to the Indian Ocean trade. Advances in naval technology allowed China to control trade in the South China Sea. 1. The Magnetic compass 2. Improved rudder 3. The Chinese junk was similar to the Asian dhow, had multiple sails and at least triple the size of typical Western European ships of the time. The hull of the junk was divided into compartments, making the ship stronger in rough voyages.

Two goods led the way; porcelain and silk. Song China went through “proto-industrialization,” meaning a phase that precedes and enables full industrialization. Two goods led the way; porcelain and silk. The Silk Road shaped the lives of everyone living in Africa, and Eurasia for three reasons; 1. Wider economic impact. Relatively few people could afford silk, but a lot of people devoted their lives to making that silk. As the silk market grew, more and more people chose to go into silk production rather than doing something else with their lives. 2. Trading ideas. The Silk Road didn’t just trade luxury goods. The most important thing traded along the Silk Road was ideas. The Silk Road was the primary route for the spread of Buddhism. Through contract with other cultures, Buddhism grew and flourished and became one of the great religious traditions of the world. Many merchants on the Silk Road became strong supporters of monasteries which in turn became convenient weigh stations for caravans. Buy endowing the monasteries, merchants were buy a form of supernatural insurance. Monks who lived in the monasteries would pray for the success of trade missions and the health of their patrons. 3. Disease. Worldwide interconnectedness of populations led to the spread of disease. Measles, and smallpox traveled along the Silk Road, as did the bubonic plague, which came from the East to the West in 534, 750, and 1346 C.E. The last plague, known as the Black Death, resulted in the largest decline in human population, in history. Nearly, half of Europe died in a four year period. From that stand point, the interconnectedness brought the Silk Road has affected people just like today’s globalization offers both promise and threat to each of us.

Urban areas grew in prominence. Social Urban areas grew in prominence. Song Dynasty was the most urban civilization in the world.

Created new social class, the “scholar gentry.” Expanding the bureaucracy opened up well-paying jobs to lower class men. Created new social class, the “scholar gentry.” Educated in Confucian philosophy, they became the most influential social class in China. At the top of the Han Dynasty social structure was the emperor. No subject was allowed to address the present emperor by name lest they take the risk of punishment. The most powerful relative of the emperor was the empress dowager or the wife of the previous emperor. Empress dowagers have the power to issue edicts and pardons as well as to appoint a new emperor in the case of the present emperor passing away without a designated heir.

Scholar gentry considered merchants the lowest class. Didn’t produce anything. Simply profited from the exchange of others’ labor. Certain nobles were also present during different periods of the Han Dynasty. During the early Western Han, some military officers were designated as Kings and they ruled over semi-autonomous fiefs. Later on, only the emperor’s male relatives were given that designation.

Small feet was a sign of beauty. Women’s lives were more restricted in the Song dynasty than in the Tang dynasty due to the revival of Confucianism. Small feet was a sign of beauty. “Foot binding”, a girl had feet tightly wrapped, to deform bones. A social status, not prevalent among peasants. A patriarchal society, Chinese men ruled and women assumed subordinate roles. This system was strengthened during the Song and Tang Dynasties. Young aristocratic girls had their feet wrapped so tightly that the bones did not grow naturally. Small feet were considered a sign of beauty. Foot binding was very painful and often made it difficult to walk. Many women had to use canes to get around. Because it restricted the woman’s movement, foot binding was not prevalent among rural peasants. Thus, it was a social status.

That concludes Song and Tang Dynasties. Any questions before the quiz on the next slide?