1. CHINA: CE
Section of the Great Wall in Beijing, China, April 19, [© AP Images]

2. The Han Dynasty ended in 220 CE (due to corruption and civil unrest)

3. Sui Dynasty ( CE)
In 581, after 300 years, the Sui Dynasty restored order.
Accomplishments:
Reunited China
Grand Canal, linking the
Huang He (Yellow) and the
Chang Jiang (Yangtze) Rivers.
Emperor Sui Yangdi:
Cruel
High taxes
Extravagant in Spending
Military failures
Rebellion & Assassination in 618

4. Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 CE) Gave land to peasants
Restored civil service examination
Confucian principles
Expanded borders to Tibet
Korea offered tribute
Silk Road Revived
Block printing (communication)
Empress Wu Zhao (690 CE)
China’s first and only female empress
Ruthless, but effective
In 755: Bloody Civil War
due to abuse of power
In 907: Dynasty collapses
due to civil unrest
Empire had even hired “Uighurs” outside group to fight for the dynasty

5. Song Dynasty (920 - CE) Quelled rebellions, restored order.
Invention of gunpowder and fire lance.
Use of steel & cotton
Silk Road Revival continued
Exports: tea, silk, and porcelain
Imports: exotic woods, precious stones,
tropical fruits
Moved capital south to Hangzhou
Due to threats from the north
Formed a defensive alliance
with the Mongols
It didn’t last

6. The Mongols – Genghis Khan
Mongols: people from area north of China (modern day: Mongolia)
Genghis Khan:
born “Temujin” around 1162
His father was chief of minor clan
Father poisoned, difficult upbringing
Various conquests in effort to avenge father’s death
Legend grew
In 1206, elected “Genghis Khan” (strong ruler) at massive Mongol meeting
Conquered much of Asia & central Europe
Amassed largest land empire in history
Set up capital city at Karakorum (Mongolia)
Died in 1227
Official court painting of Genghis Khan, now held at National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan

7. The Mongols Conquer China
Kublai Khan
After Genghis Kahn’s death, the empire split in to several territories called khanates.
In the 1260s, Mongol forces attacked the Song Dynasty in China.
They learned about the use of gunpowder and the fire lance.
By the end of the13th century, more effective guns in use.
By the end of the 14th century, firearms had spread to Europe.

8. The Mongols – Kubla Khan
Kublai Khan
Grandson of Genghis Khan
In 1279, completed conquest of China
Established the Yuan (or Mongol) dynasty
Establish capital at Khanbalik (Beijing)
Continued to expand the empire
Vietnam
Attempted to conquer Java, Sumatra and Japan, but failed.
Kublai Khan

9. The Yuan Dynasty (Mongols)
Mongols held highest positions
Brought prosperity to China
Built Khanbalik into magnificent city
Collapsed due to corruption, overspending, internal instability.
Overthrown by Zhu Yuanzhang, who established the Ming Dynasty.
Kublai Khan

10. Chinese Society Primarily agricultural Manufacturing/Technology grew
Marco Polo (traveler/merchant) described Hangzhou as the “finest and most splendid city in the world.”
Entertainment: playing cards, chess from India), horseback riding
Scholarly-gentry: landowners who became the political and economic elite.
Females
considered less valuable
Practice of foot binding (Song)
Crippled women
But more education
Inheritance if no male heir

11. Religion Buddhism Brought from India
Grew after collapse of Han dynasty
Considered a “foreign” religion
Lost favor due to corruption by
acquiring too much land and power
Late Tang dynasty:
Government destroyed temples
“Material world just an illusion” conflicted with
Confucianism’s devotion to family and hard work
Neo-Confucianism:
Confucian’s response to Buddhism and Daoism.
Material world and spiritual world. Goal is to observe moral
principals to reach union with Supreme Ultimate.

12. Culture
Development of Printing (7th century: woodblock; 11th century: movable type)
Poetry: 48,000 poems written during Tang dynasty.
Li Bo: free-spirit, nature poems
Du Fu: serious Confucian
Painting and Ceramics:
Paintings in Daoism -humans depicted as small, insignificant in midst of nature.
Porcelain: ceramic made of fine clay baked at very high temperature.
The Diamond Sutra - A Chinese Block Printed Book (868 CE)