1. China The Land of Great Mystery

2. China The Tang Dynasty: lasted nearly 300 years
Before the Tang Dynasty, China had broken into 17 kingdoms. War and poverty were everywhere.
Chinese warlords – what is a warlord?
Warlords fought with each other while nomads conquered parts of northern China

3. China During the separation, China lost some land.
Korea decided to end Chinese rule of their country. They broke away and built their own country.

4. Korean Peninsula First, what is a peninsula?
Body of land surrounded by water on three sides.
Talking about Korea.
What do we know about it today?

5. Korea
North Korea – today, under communist rule. Former leader Kim-Jung II, died December 2011.
New leader, his son, Kim-Jung Un. Names supreme leader of North Korea December 2011
South Korea – today, USA occupies some of South Korea, Korea’s separated at the 54th parallel.

6. Unified China
581 A.D. General Wendi unified China, declared himself Emperor.
Had to win several battles to unite China
New Dynasty founded: Sui (SWEE)
Wendi was succeeded by his son: Yangdi (YAHNG-DEE)
Wanted to expand expand Chinese territory.
Sent army to invade Korea, Chinese were badly beaten.

7. Unified China
Yangdi was an ambitious builder: Yangdi had rebuilt the Great Wall.
Hand-out for Yangdi…
Please read.

8. Tang Dynasty
After Yangdi’s death, in 618 A.D., one of Yangdi’s generals took over China.
Tang capital was in Changan.

9. Tang Dynasty

10. Tang Dynasty Worked to strengthen government. Carried out reforms.
What is a reform?
Most powerful emperor was Taizong
(Ty-zawng)
He restored the civil service exam system.
Government officials were once again hired based on how well they did on their exam rather than family connections.

11. Tang Dynasty A woman named Wu ruled China as empress, late 600’s A.D.
Only woman to rule in Chinese history.
Added more government jobs and strengthened China’s military forces.

12. Tang Dynasty
Under Tang, China regained much of its power in Asia and expanded its control and boundaries.
The Tang Dynasty lost control due to the Turks moving in on Central Asia and seizing control of the Silk Road.
It was a slow process, but by 907 A.D. the Tang’s had been overthrown.

13. Song Dynasty For 50 years or so, military leaders ruled China.
The economy weakened.
The Song Dynasty ruled from 960 – 1279 A.D.
Was a period of prosperity and and cultural achievement

14. Song Dynasty Problems faced threatened their hold on China.
Tibet broke away, nomads control much of Northern China.
Song capital was Hangzhou (Hahng-joh)

15. Song Dynasty

16. Buddhism