7.3.1, 7.3.3, 7.3.6

Chinese Dynasties Cornell Notes

Tang DynastyObjectives:

7.3.1a : Describe the reunification of China under the Tang Dynasty

7.3.1b : Describe the reasons for the spread of Buddhism

7.3.3a : Analyze the influences of Confucianism [in Chinese society and government].

Background

• After the fall of the Han Dynasty:– China became disunified– Life was hard– Buddhism entered China.

• During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the core of China was reunified and Chinese tradition and culture were restored.

Background• The Tang Dynasty saw the rebirth of Confucian

ideas. This “Tang Revival” was continued into the Song Dynasty.

• Chinese culture has a strong history of following tradition. – Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist belief systems (called the

Three Doctrines or the Three Teachings) are some of the most important traditions in Chinese society.

Confucianism is one belief system that heavily influenced the development of Chinese government.

“Tang Revival” (Describe the reunification of China)

• 1. Reunifying the Empire

Empire expands– Conquer independent

Chinese kingdoms– Conquer non-Chinese

territories• Tibet, Manchuria,

Vietnam, • Korea (Tributary

Kingdom)

Think – Pair – Share:When Empires Expand…

• Why do empires want to expand?

Think – Pair – Share:When Empires Expand…

• Why do empires want to expand?– Gaining more territory (land) means…

Think – Pair – Share:When Empires Expand…

• Why do empires want to expand?– Gaining more territory (land) means…

• More crops• More population• More money

Bigger, Better, Stronger economy

$$$

Vast empire, large population

• 2. Connecting the Empire

Build roads and canals to connect empire– Trade

• Connects North/South• Connects Eurasia

– Communication– Imperial control

strengthened

Trade Routes (Silk Road)

What kinds of benefits does trade bring to an empire?

What kinds of benefits does trade bring to an empire?

Tax $$$New ideas

New inventions

The Foundations of the“Imperial State”

• 3. Strengthening Imperial Control

• Government = more bureaucracy

• Imperial government expands to control local levels

• Constant evaluations of civil servants

Scholar-Official Class

• China developed a scholar-official class

• Scholar officials– higher social status– Function: to standardize (make

everything the same):• Legal Codes• Writing• Patterns of thought

• Civil Service Examinations• This is an example of a

meritocracy - A system of government where leaders must prove their ability (talent) for their jobs – (merit means to be

deserving/to be worthy)

• Reasons for the Spread of Buddhism

1. One of the Three Doctrines (tradition)

2. Early support from imperial family

3. Travels along Silk Road4. Monasteries

1. Social Role: schools, charity, lodging, social events

2. Economic Role: property = $$$, manor-like (production), play a banking role—tax exempt

Title: Song Dynasty

Objectives:1. Analyze the changes in Confucian

thought during the Song Dynasty.

Analyze changes in Confucian thought during Song Dynasty

• Song Dynasty • Confucianism EXTREMELY important during Song Dynasty

• Civil Service Exams/Scholar-Officials– Many scholar-officials

from upper class • Afford education to pass

civil service exams

• Song Dynasty • Did not control as much territory as Tang (lost the North, but prospered in the South)

• Improved government organization – Confucianism IMPORTANT

• Golden Age—Inventions, agriculture innovation,

Title: Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty

7.3.3 Analyze changes in Confucian thought during Mongol period (Yuan Dynasty)

7.3.4 Understand the importance of trade between China and other civilizations.

Background

• Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan – Largest continuous empire EVER

• Period of Mongol control sometimes called “Mongol Ascendancy”– Ascendancy: Dominance in position or power

Background

• Traditionally, China had been uninterested in blending other cultures with their own. They liked their Chinese culture.

• The Mongols were not afraid of other cultures—they were nomads and they were used to culture blending.

• The Mongols took over China in the 1200s, and established the first foreign dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty.

• Yuan Dynasty– (1279-1368)

• Kublai Khan– Established Yuan

Dynasty officially in 1279

• Mongol Government– Adopt many Chinese

traditions– Also encourage other

ideas (Islam, Christianity)– Ended civil-service

exams• Confucianism DECLINES• Keeps power out of

Chinese hands

• Yuan Dynasty • Encouraged Trade and contact with other cultures!– Safer trade routes

overland– Safer Sea trade – Welcomed foreigners

• Marco Polo – From Venice, Italy published a book about his adventures in Yuan China

– Chinese inventions spread, inventions and ideas from the West come to China

Title: Ming Dynasty

7.3.6a : Describe the development of the Imperial State

7.3.6b : Describe the development of the scholar-official class

Background

• A peasant leads an army that overthrows the last of the Mongol Emperors.

• 1368 – Ming Dynasty established• Hongwu Emperor tries to erase all cultural

traces of Mongol rule in China

Develop Imperial State, ending corruption—return to strict Chinese traditional rule

• Ming Dynasty– Hongwu Emperor (aka

Ming Taizu)– Return to ethnic Chinese

rule

• Imperial State really develops during Ming Dynasty (more power to the emperor!!)– Seizing land– Abolishing prime minister

(giving that power to emperor)– Secret councils– Builds Forbidden City

• Built on old Mongol capital (Imperial City/Beijing)

• Nobody can come/leave without emperor’s permission

• Return to Confucian Scholar-Officials