CH. 8-Medieval China

CH. 8-Medieval China

What legacy did China leave to the modern world?

Objective: Analyze how philosophy, religion, and technology molded Chinese society and government.

Lesson Objectives

1-describe how China was reunified under the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties

2-identify how the Age of Buddhism saw major religious changes in China

3-analyze great Chinese inventions and determine which one had the greatest GLOBAL impact

Wendi's Rule

• Han Dynasty, which began in 206 BCE, ruled for centuries

• collapsed in 220 CE due to weak rulers, rebellions, powerful warlords,

• 400 years of civil war followed

• in 581, Wendi (pictured) seized power & created Sui (Sway) Dynasty (581-618)

• reunified northern & southern China

• strengthened central gov't, limited power of nobles/bureaucracy, new law code

• promoted religious tolerance

Multiple Choice

Wendi promoted this popular religion, which originated in India.

• Judaism

• Islam

• Buddhism

• Confucianism

Multiple Choice

Buddhism promoted a balanced life in which the sum of a person's deeds, or karma, results in ______, or rebirth, into another life.

• mandate

• reincarnation

• nirvana

• chaos

BUDDHISM

Buddhism teaches the following principles: suffering is a part of life; the reason people suffer is that they are too attached to material possessions and selfish ideas; by living in a wise, moral, and thoughtful way, people can eventually learn to escape suffering. During the first century CE, missionaries and traders carried Buddhist teachings to China. Buddhism became widely practiced after the Han Dynasty fell.

Multiple Choice

Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the—

• "one who suffers"

• "almighty"

• "great one"

• "enlightened one"

CONFUCIANISM

Based on ideas of Confucius. For centuries, the Chinese looked to Confucianism for comfort and guidance. Taught moral virtues and ethics—ideas of right and wrong. Emphasized the following principles: use relationships to produce social order; respect family & older generations; educate individuals & society; act in morally correct ways. He thought society should be organized around five basic relationships: 1-ruler/subject 2-father/child 3-husband/wife/ 4-older sibling/younger sibling 5-friend/friend

Multiple Choice

According to the new Confucianism, morality, which is the highest goal a person can reach, can be achieved through what?

• education

• family

• love of country

• prayer

The Tang Dynasty

• started in 618 & ruled for 300 years

• China expanded its borders on all sides

• expanded network of roads & canals

• adopted Confucian ideas for gov't

• founded by Taizong & his father, Gaozu

• Taizong came to power in 626 after killing his two brothers & ten nephews

• used violence to rise to power

Multiple Choice

The Tang Dynasty—

• encouraged economic growth through agricultural reform and trade

• used civil service examinations to select government officials

• is best known for its masterful and lively poetry

• all answer choices are correct

Tang Continued

• 690, Wu Zhao (pictured) declared herself emperor

• only woman to occupy China's throne

• reconquered Korea

• Xuanzong (shwan-zung) came to power in 712 & ruled for 40 years

• literature/art reached great heights

• political instability sparked civil wars

• poor rulers, corruption, rebellions weakend empire. lost power in 907

Multiple Choice

The Tang government system was one of the most advanced and complex in the world at the time.

• true

• false

CHINESE GOVERNMENT

The Tang government was like a pyramid. An emperor ruled at the top, and many people served in various levels below him. Tang rulers created a new code of law. It listed all of the laws of China so that the same laws would be used everywhere. This new code proved highly effective. China used it from about 624 until the late 1200s. 

THE SONG DYNASTY

• ruled from 960-1279

• improved the exam system

• set up more schools

• Confucianism back as main philosophy

• art & literature thrived

• technology led to new inventions

• agriculture expanded

Multiple Choice

During the Song Dynasty, China printed the world's first paper money.

• true

• false

PROSPERITY FROM TRADE AND FARMING

Under Tang and Song rule, China’s economy grew. In fact, China became the wealthiest and most developed nation in the world. 

Multiple Choice

_____ became China's staple, or main crop. From 750-1100, It helped double China's population to 100 million.

• tea

• bamboo

• rice

• sugar cane

CHINESE INVENTIONS

• wood-block printing

• moveable type

• paper

• magnetic compass

• porcelain

• kite

• gunpowder

• ​tea

• ​silk

Multiple Choice

This Chinese invention was first used as a medicine; today, it is the second most popular drink in the world, behind water.

• bamboo

• rudder

• stirrup

• tea

Multiple Choice

This Chinese invention was able to detect the occurrence of earthquakes.

• seismograph

• telegraph

• rudder

• crossbow

Multiple Select

Which of the following is a Chinese invention?

(select all that apply)

• mechanical clock

• kite

• umbrella

• acupuncture

HISTORIC INFLUENCE

Chinese technology shaped history in China and the West in many different ways. The technology of paper-making spread to the Arab world in the 700s and later to Europe. Gunpowder, used first for fireworks, changed warfare by making deadly new weapons possible. Compasses helped make the European Age of Exploration possible. 

THE MONGOLS

• nomadic warriors who lived in the vast plains to the northwest of China

• conquered China in the 1200s

• first foreigners to rule China

• in 1206 Genghis Khan (pictured) united the Mongol tribes

• largest land empire in history

• present-day Korea to Hungary

• more than 100 million people

Multiple Choice

Genghis Khan was born with the name Temujin. His name means this.

• "universal ruler"

• "scourge of men"

• "man of steel"

• "king of kings"

MONGOLS continued

• Genghis Khan died 1227, his son Ogadai took power

• he captured rest of northern China

• extended Mongol rule as far west as Russia and Persia

• empire divided into four khanates

• Genghis's grandson Kublai Khan (pictured) came to power in 1260

• defeated the Song in 1279

• would rule China until 1368

Multiple Choice

_______ was the first ruler in 300 years to control all of China.

• Genghis Khan

• Kublai Khan

• Ogadai

• Chagata Khanate

YUAN CHINA

• Kublai Khan created Mongol empire called Yuan Dynasty

• kept many aspects of Chinese rule

• built capital in Beijing

• gave key jobs to Mongols

• adopted Confucian ideas for gov't

• rebuilt China after years of warfare

• reopened Silk Road, made them safer & had contact with foreign people/cultures

Multiple Choice

The most famous European visitor during to Mongol China was _____. He was a young trader from Venice, Italy. He traveled the Silk Roads to China with his father and uncle. He arrived around 1275 and stayed for 17 years.

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Christopher Columbus

• Marco Polo

RETURN TO CHINESE RULE

• after Kublai Khan's death 1294, Mongol rule slowly weakened

• In 1368, rebel army led by Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Mongols

• established Ming Empire (pictured)

• became first emperor: Hongwu

• encouraged Confucianism & brought back state exams

• rebuilt and extended Great Wall

• lowered taxes & provided land

Multiple Choice

The Ming Dynasty declined after almost 300 years in power. Weak rulers, high taxes, and poor harvests led to rebellion. "Ming" means what?

• "power"

• "bright"

• "glory"

• "universal"

MING continued

• Hongwu died in 1398

• Yongle (yung law), his son, declared himself emperor

• empire reached its height

• sponsored sea expeditions

• built schools for commoners

• Imperial Palace-"Forbidden City"

• 1 million workers/15 years to complete

Multiple Choice

China completed seven long voyages between 1405 and

1433. Admiral _____ led the fleet. He had as many as 300 ships and nearly 28,000 crew members. He sailed around Southeast Asia to India, Arabia, and Africa. He returned with tribute that included gold and jewels. China’s foreign trade and reputation grew because of his voyages.

• Gaozong

• Taizu

• Zheng He

• Zhengtong

Multiple Choice

China's last dynasty was the ____, or Manchu, which lasted until 1911.

• Qing (ching)

• Yuan

• Beijing

• Yungang

Draw

Draw a Chinese invention.