Unit 4 – Regional Civilizations

Chapter 13 - Civilizations of Asia (AD 220 – AD 1700)

Vocabulary

  1. Silk Road-a chain of trade routes stretching from China to the

Mediterranean Sea

  1. dynasty-a series of rulers from the same family
  2. Tang-a dynasty that ruled China for almost 300 years
  3. Song-a dynasty that ruled China after the Tang
  4. merit system-a system of hiring people based on their abilities
  5. Kublai Khan-a Mongol emperor of China
  6. archipelago-a group or chain of many islands
  7. Kyoto-the capital city of medieval Japan
  8. feudalism-a system in which poor people are legally bound to

work for wealthy landowners

  1. samurai-Japanese warriors
  2. shogun-the supreme military commander of Japan
  3. sultan-a Muslim ruler
  4. caste system-a Hindu social class system that controlled every

aspect of daily life

  1. Mughal Empire-a period of Muslim rule of India from the 1500s to

the 1700s

  1. Akbar -the greatest Mughal leader of India
  2. Taj Mahal-a tomb built by Shah Jahan for his wife

Chapter 13 – Civilizations of Asia

Section 1 – Golden Ages of China

Obj: the Tang dynasty; achievements of the Song dynasty; Mongol rule of China

In spite of its name, the Silk Road, was not a single road. It was a long chain of connecting trade routes across Central Asia.

It stretched about 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers), all the way from China to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

For centuries, camels, horses and donkeys carried traders and their precious goods along the road.

Dangers:

  • Blowing desert sands,
  • Cold and rocky mountain passes
  • Robbers

One valuable good was a beautiful lightweight fabric called silk, and was so important it gave the route its name.

The Tang Dynasty

China covers much of East Asia.

Varied landscapes:

  • East – lowland and coastal regions
  • Along the Chang and Huang Rivers – fertile valleys
  • North and west of the farmlands – great deserts and mountainous regions (the Gobi Desert in the north and the Plateau of Tibet in the west)

Goods traded along the Silk Road:

  • Tea
  • Jade
  • Ivory
  • Ceramics
  • Silk
  • New ideas
  • Religion

China became an important center of trade and culture

Dynasties Rule China

Throughout its history, China has been ruled by many different dynasties

  • 1760 BC – 1122 BC-Shang Dynasty
  • 1122 BC – 221 BC-Zhou Dynasty
  • 221 BC – 210 BC-Qin Dynasty
  • 206 BC – AD 220 -Han Dynasty
  • AD 220 – AD 265 -Three Kingdoms
  • AD 265 – AD 420 - Cao Wei and Jin Dynasties
  • AD 420 – AD 581- Various Northern Dynasties
  • AD 581 – AD 618-Sui Dynasty
  • AD 618 – AD 907-Tang Dynasty
  • AD 960 – 1279-Song Dynasty
  • 1279 – 1368-Mongol Rule

After the collapse of the Han Dynasty, China broke up into several kingdoms, but Chinese culture survived.

Buddhism spread throughout China

The arts and learning continued to develop.

The Sui Dynasty ruled for only 37 years, but they united the north and south of China for the first time in centuries.

The Golden Age Begins

  • 618 – Sui dynasty was overthrown
  • The Tang came to power and ruled China for almost 300 years
  • A golden age of political and cultural achievement
  • China grew in both area and population
  • Chang’an, its capital, was the world’s largest city at that time
  • Shaped like a rectangle and surrounded by tall walls for protection
  • A variety of foods, entertainment and fine goods available

The Grand Canal

  • Under Tang
  • Great prosperity
  • Economic strength the Grand Canal
  • A waterway that linked the Huang and Chiang Rivers
  • Longest canal ever built (1,000 miles long)
  • Helped join northern and southern China
  • Allowed the supply of grain from the south to the capital in the north

A Great Ruler

  • Under Tang
  • Tang Taizong
  • Dynasty’s greatest ruler
  • Began in the military at 16
  • A successful general
  • A scholar
  • A historian
  • A master of calligraphy
  • Worked to strengthen law and order
  • Promoted the teachings of Confucius
  • Peace and stability
  • Treat one another with respect
  • Reformed government according to Confucianism
  • Land reform

The Song Dynasty

China’s control of westernmost lands weakened after 850.

Fighting among different groups within China ended the Tang dynasty.

Order restored around 960 by the Song dynasty.

Changes in Government

  • New capital located at Kaifeng (Ky fung), along the Grand Canal
  • After Song lost control of northern regions, capital moved to Hangzhou, near the coast
  • Advances in government
  • Expanded merit system
  • Before Song, officials came from rich and powerful families
  • Hiring based on ability rather than wealth or position greatly improved the Chinese government

Improvements in Agriculture

  • New strains of rice
  • Better irrigation methods
  • Could now produce two crops a year instead of one
  • Food surplus allowed for other trades or pursuing the arts

The Arts and Trade

  • Chinese rulers supported many different forma of art
  • music
  • poetry
  • landscape paintings on silk
  • art objects
  • porcelain (a white, hard ceramic)
  • because originated in China, is sometimes called “china”
  • silk
  • caterpillars called silkworms
  • exposed secret punishable by death

Printing, Books and Learning

  • Song discover new way to print books
  • Books became less expensive
  • More people (including women) learned to read and write
  • Farming books
  • Medical books
  • Religious books
  • Poetry books
  • Books helped spread knowledge throughout China

The Mongols Conquer China

Nomads from the plains of Central Asia, north of China

  • Fierce warriors
  • Tough military force by the 1200s
  • Leader Genghis Khan
  • Forged an empire including :
  • China
  • Korea – in the east
  • Russia – in the north
  • Eastern Europe – in the west
  • The Persian Gulf – in the southwest

Kublai Khan, Mongol Ruler of China

  • Genghis Khan conquered northern China by 1215
  • Southern Song empire resisted
  • Kublai Khan (Genghis’ grandson) completed the conquest of China
  • 1259 – came to power and toppled the Song empire
  • His capital is present-day Beijing
  • His new dynasty named “Yuan” (which means beginning)

China Under Mongol Rule

  • The Mongols centralized government in China
  • Did not allow old Chinese ruling class to govern
  • High government positions held by Mongols
  • Even given to foreigners before Chinese
  • Mongols kept their own language and customs
  • Did not adopt Chinese culture
  • They DID allow the practice of many religions
  • Visitors from all lands were welcome at Kublai Khan’s court
  • Ibn Batthta – African Muslim
  • Marco Polo – Christian from Europe
  • His writings sparked increased trade between Europe and China
  • 1368 – Chinese peasant led an uprising that overthrew the foreign rulers and ended Mongol rule of China

Chapter 13 – Civilizations of Asia (220 – 1700)

Section 2 – Medieval Japan

Obj: the geography of Japan; changes that occurred during the Heian period of Japanese history; feudalism and the rule of the shoguns in Japan

A Country of Islands

  • Japan is an archipelago (chain of many islands)
  • In the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Asian mainland
  • The islands were formed by volcanoes
  • Earthquakes are common in this region

The Heian Empire

  • 794 – 1185 – ruled by emperor Yozei
  • Before this time, Japan borrowed much of its culture from China
  • Literature
  • Laws
  • Religion
  • After the 800s, emphasized on its own traditions
  • Relations between Japanese and Chinese governments ended in 894
  • Japanese isolation would last for more than 500 years

An Impressive Capital: Kyoto

  • New capital
  • Tree-lined streets
  • Mansions for the nobles
  • Two marketplaces
  • A palace for the emperor
  • Buildings made of wood, fires common
  • Canals running through Kyoto provided water

The Japanese Nobility

  • Heian period a mostly peaceful time
  • Japanese culture thrived; for the nobles
  • Fine architecture
  • Literature
  • Beautiful gardens
  • For most of the population, very different way of life
  • Poor were usually:
  • Farmers
  • Fishers
  • Traders
  • Builders
  • Spent time doing hard work
  • Differences among nobles were depicted by different color robes

Feudalism in Japan

During 1000s

  • Emperor began to lose power
  • Continued to rule capital, but lost control over rest of Japan
  • Nobles gained greater power and wealth
  • Owned estates outside the capital
  • Peasants did the work on the estates
  • Feudalism

Samurai Warriors

  • Rich estate owners often disobeyed the emperor
  • Hired private armies
  • Nobles paid these armies to defend them, their estates and the peasants who worked for them.
  • Armies made up of warriors called samurai
  • Followed strict set of rules for behavior (bushido)
  • Swore an oath to follow these rules without question
  • Honor meant more than wealth of even life itself
  • Must never show weakness or surrender to an enemy
  • No fear of death
  • Would rather die than shame himself
  • Expected to commit ritual suicide rather than betray the code of bushido

A New Class Gains Power

  • Samurais grew in number and formed their own clans
  • Each clan promised loyalty to a powerful warlord (daimyo)
  • Daimyo expected his samurai to be willing to give their lives for him
  • As the different warlords grew in power, small wars broke out among them
  • Minamoto clan became the most powerful
  • 1192 – emperor gave the title of shogun to the leader of the Minamoto clan.
  • Minamoto Yoritomo became the supreme ruler of all Japan
  • Set up Kamakura shogunate (militaries dynasties)

Japan and the Outside World

Within a century after shogun rule began, Japan was threatened by outsiders.

  • One group from Mongolia – north of China
  • Kublai Khan
  • Conquered China and Korea
  • Tried and failed to invade Japan twice
  • 1200s – Mongols defeated, few foreigners came to Japan

The Arrival of Europeans

  • 1543 – several Portuguese ships blown off course and landed on Japan’s coast
  • Japanese showed great interest in these foreigners and their “guns”
  • Trade developed between the East and West
  • Traders and missionaries helped Japanese convert to Christianity
  • This European influence in Japan did not last long

The Tokugawas Unify Japan

  • 1603 – Tokugawa Leyasu became shogun
  • Determined to bring order to the country
  • Divided Japan into about 250 regions
  • Daimyo of each region promised to serve the shogun and swore loyalty in return
  • they were required to live in the shogun’s capital Edo (present-day Tokyo) for several months every other year
  • ruled Japan until 1867
  • a period of peace
  • economy thrived
  • food was plentiful
  • population increased
  • trade flourished
  • merchant class developed
  • cities grew
  • arts flourished
  • Zen (type of Buddhism) became popular
  • Emphasized meditation
  • Theater and poetry thrived
  • Haiku
  • Plays featuring life-size puppets
  • Kabuki theater (drama, dance and music)

Japan Becomes Isolated Again

Tokugawa shogunate was isolating Japan from foreign influences

Worried that Europeans might try to conquer Japan

Tokugawa Leyasu:

  • Decided Japan should remain isolated from Westerners
  • Outlawed Christianity
  • Forced Europeans to leave
  • By 1638 – closed Japan’s ports, banning most foreign travel and trade
  • Stopped building large ships that could travel long distances
  • Japan would remain cut off from the outside world for more than 200 years

Section 3 – The Great Mughal Empire in India

Obj: the geography of the subcontinent of India; the Delhi Sultanate, a period of Muslim rule; the founding and achievements of the Mughal Empire

India’s Geography

  • Triangular subcontinent forms the southernmost part of Central Asia
  • Himalaya mountains stretch across the north of India
  • The Himalayas helped to isolate Indian from lands to the north, only some conquerors from the north entered through its passes
  • To the west – the Arabian Sea
  • To the east – the Bay of Bengal
  • South of the Himalayas – a large plain dominated by major river systems (Indus and Ganges)
  • Land well suited to farming
  • Farther to the south are highlands and plains

The Delhi Sultanate

  • 1000 – Muslim invaders began raiding India
  • From 1206 – 1526 – a series of sultans controlled northern India as well as parts of present-day Bangladesh and Pakistan
  • This period named after the capital city of Delhi

A Hindu Revival

  • 600 – Hindus began the revival by accepting many gods, but they believe that all of these gods are just different aspects of one supreme being.
  • Also believed that social classes are part of the natural order of the universe
  • The Hindu caste system was in place
  • Caste determined a person’s job and status
  • Top-priests, teachers and judges
  • Second-warriors
  • Third-farmers and merchants
  • Forth-artisans and laborers
  • Last-the “untouchables” – poor and powerless people
  • Muslims who controlled the Delhi Sultanate did not become part of the Hindu society
  • Difference in beliefs caused conflicts between the two groups

***Religious disagreements still divide the Hindus and Muslims who live in India today

The Fall of the Delhi Sultanate

  • 1526-Mongol prince, Babur, took advantage of the weakened Delhi Sultanate
  • Babur, Muslim descendant of Mongol conqueror Timur
  • Timur (sultan) armies outnumbered Babur and his troops almost 10 to 1
  • Sultan’s forces had 100 elephants
  • Babur had none
  • Mongols had cannons and were better fighters
  • Prince defeated the sultan and went on to control the capital city, Delhi
  • A new period of India’s history would now begin

The Mughal Empire

Founded by Babur

Mughal is another word for Mongol

  • 25 years after Babur’s death, his grandson controlled the empire
  • Akbar
  • Would become the greatest Mughal leader of India

Akbar the Great

  • Came to power when he was 13 years old
  • Became a talented soldier
  • Expanded the empire through conquest, treaties and marriage
  • Encouraged the arts
  • Consulted with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians
  • He, himself, was Muslim
  • Religious toleration of Hindus
  • Ended unfair taxes of non-Muslims
  • Created a strong central government
  • Gave government jobs to qualified people
  • Helped keep peace between Hindus and Muslims
  • Together, they strengthened Mughal power in India
  • 1605 – Akbar died
  • Controlled most of northern India at the time
  • He ruled the empire for 49 years
  • Earned the nickname “the Great”
  • His system of government allowed the empire to continue developing and expanding for the next 100 years, even under rulers who were less capable

The Reign of Shah Jahan

100 years after Akbar’s death

  • Mughal Empire began to fall apart
  • Akbar’s grandson, Shah Jahan became emperor in 1628
  • Shah Jahan
  • Spend a fortune on extravagant buildings
  • Taj Mahal ( a tomb for his wife)
  • When his wife died, he was overcome with grief. The two were constant companions and confidant. Built the tomb “as beautiful as his wife”

Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb, spend more money of expensive wars

  • Reversed Akbar’s policies toward Hindus
  • Tried to force Hindus to convert to the Muslim faith
  • Began to tax non-Muslims again
  • As a result:
  • Hindus rebelled
  • Fighting began and cost Aurangzeb more money
  • 1707 – Aurangzeb died
  • Empire split into small kingdoms