Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, B.C.E.  Established China’s first empire   Shi Huangdi ( B.C.E)  Legalist rule   Bureaucratic administration  Centralized control  Military expansion  Book burnings  targeted Confucianists  Buried protestors alive!  Built large section of the Great Wall

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers & Cavalrymen

Cavalry

Individual Soldiers

The Details of an Individual Soldier

Individual “Tombs”

The Great Wall with Towers

The Eastern terminus of the Great Wall, Shanhai Pass

Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.  “People of the Han”  original Chinese  Paper invented [105 B.C.E.]   Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many  Buddhism introduced into China  Expanded into Central Asia

Han – Roman Empire Connection

Chang’ an The Han Capital

Liu Sheng Tomb (d. 113 BCE) His jade suit has 2498 pieces!

Emperor Wudi, B.C.E.  Started public schools.  Colonized Manchuria, Korea, & Vietnam.  Civil service system   bureaucrats  Confucian scholar-gentry  Revival of Chinese landscape painting.

Han Artifacts Imperial Seal Han Ceramic House

Ceramics, Later Han Period

Trade Routes of the Ancient World

Multi-Cultural Faces -- People Along the Silk Road

Ruins of Jiaohe, Turphan depression. Han dynasty outpost in Central Asia

Sui Dynasty, C.E.  “Land Equalization” System  land redistribution.  Unified coinage.  Grand Canal constructed.  Established an army of professional soldiers.  People were overworked and overtaxed!

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal Today

Tang Dynasty, C.E.  Imperial examination system perfected.  Liberal attitude towards all religions.  Spread of Buddhism in China  Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries.   Japan, Korea, Persia

Tang Government Organization

Tang Dynasty, C.E.  New technologies:  Printing  moveable print   Porcelain  Gunpowder  Mechanical clocks  More cosmopolitan culture.  Reestablished the safety of the Silk Road.  Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia. 

Empress Wu Zetian,  The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.   Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court.  Construction of new irrigation systems.  Buddhism was the favored state religion.  Financed the building of many Buddhist temples.  BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.

Foot-Binding in Tang China  Broken toes by 3 years of age.   Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Foot-Binding in Tang China Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Foot-Binding in Tang China  For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

The Results of Foot- Binding

Song Dynasty, C.E.  Created merchant, middle class.  More education & cheap printed books.  Magnetic compass

Song Peasant Family

Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

Mongolian Steppes

Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol] “Yurt”

Mongol Invasions

Mongol Warriors

Mongol Archer

Gold Saddle Arch – Mongols, 13c

Gold Saddle, Front View

The MONGOLS  Temujin --> Genghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”] 

The MONGOLS  Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:  If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children.  If you do not have children, we will take your wife.  If you do not have a wife, we will take your head.  Used cruelty as a weapon

Mongol Nobleman

Robe of a Mongol Nobleman, early 14c

Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c

The Extent of the Mongol Empire

Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, C.E.  Kublai Khan [ ]  Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”]  Tolerated Chinese culture but lived apart from them.   No Chinese in top govt. posts.  Believed foreigner were more trustworthy.  Encouraged foreign trade Marco Polo

Marco Polo ( )  A Venetian merchant.  Traveled through Yuan China:  “Black Stones” [coal]  Gunpowder.  Noodles.

Marco Polo’s Travels

Yuan Porcelains & Ceramics

Yuan Dynasty Decline  The Black Plague  Sent fleets against Japan.  Defeated by kamikazi [“winds of the gods”] 

China’s last native imperial dynasty!

The Forbidden City

Revived the Civil Service Exam

Ming Silver Market   Spanish Silver Convoys   Triangle route:   Philippines to China to Japan.   Silver floods Chinese Market:   Causes devaluation of currency & recession   Adds to reasons for Chinese immigration overseas.   Reduces price of Chinese goods in Europe   Increases interest in Chinese culture & ideas in Europe.   Helps fund conquest of New World    Encourages Europeans in conquest & trade.

Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)   Ming “Treasure Fleet”   Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide

Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)   China’s “Columbus?” 

  > Da Gama reached Calcutta, China’s favorite port.

Ming Porcelain / Ceramics, 17c–18c

Ming Vases, 18c

Ming Carved Lacquer Dish 15c

Ming Scroll Painting “Travellers in Autumn Mountains”

Ming Painting – “Taoist Scholar”

Ming Painting – “Birds and Flowers”, 16c

Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16c

Imperial China’s Impact on History  Removed religion from morality.  Beginnings of political philosophy through which a ruler must prove he/she is legitimate.  Mandate of Heaven  Secular law.  Valued history  The Dynastic Cycle