ASIAA History of the Asian Continent

By: Jennifer Lee, Rina Lubit, Vivian Li, Alice Xue, Jace Chen, Amanda Wang, Mya Islam, and Yi Dong Zhu

Before 600 B.C.E.

Technological and Environmental

Transformations

Early Civilizations● Sumerian, Babylonians, Assyrians in Mesopotamia● Shang Dynasty in the Yellow River Valley (1700 BCE)● Rise of China’s longest dynasty, the Zhou, ~1050 BCE● Indus River Valley civilization (2600 - 1900 BCE) built organized cities● 1500 BCE: nomadic Aryans moved into Indus River Valley, fusing with Dravidians

(developed the caste system and Sanskrit)

Trade Networks● Development of the Indian Ocean Trade Network (The Horn of Africa and Egypt to

Sumeria and the Indus River Valley civilization)o monsoon season - seasonal change in wind direction

● Inventions such as the dhow, the lateen sail, the outrigger, and others allow for deep-water navigation of the Indian Ocean

● Early transplantation of important food crops (yams, taro, banana) to new habitats.● Silk Road didn’t fully develop until the Han dynasty

600 B.C.E. ~ 600 C.E.

Organization and Reorganization of Human

Societies

Korea● Gojoseon dynasty (c. 2000BC - 100BC)

o General Wiman Joseon seized throne from King Jun in the 1st century BC

Joseon created a strong economy by trading with Hans. Military-strong background

● 3 Kingdoms of Korea (57BC - 935AD)o Goguryeo (37BC - 668AD): united several regions from Gojoseon’s territory

Several conflicts with Chinese Sui and Tang dynastyo Silla (57BC - 935AD)o Baekje (18BC - 660AD)

adopted some of the Chinese technology and culture through territorial expansion

strongly influenced Japanese culture fell to Silla invasion with the assistance of Tang army

o Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje constantly fought for territory but also formed alliances with one another to dominate the peninsula together

China● 221-206 BCE: Qin Dynasty

o Shi Huangdi organized and centralized China after the period of Warring States(480-221 BCE) through military conquest. (Make a note of legalism)

o Created The Great Wall, restricted confucian ideals, and strengthened the military.o After Huangdi’s troops invaded nomadic groups, the Xiongnu Confederacy was

formed, which would later attack Northern China for a long period of time.o Huangdi was overthrown after his oppressive methods accumulated into hatred

and violence.● 206 BCE-220 CE: Han Dynasty

o split into Western and Eastern period after interception of temporary Xiu dynasty.o Liu Bang (later called emperor Gaozu) centralized China.o Development of agricultural techniques, production of silk, and porcelain.o introduction of Buddhism, and growing popularity in Daoism.o Empress Dowager Lu(195BCE) - first Chinese female leader. Rose to power when

teenager Wu was crowned emperor after Gaozu died.● 589-618 CE: Sui Dynasty

o reestablished ordero the Grand Canal was built as trade route and a mode of transport.

India● 324-184 BCE: Mauryan Empire

o Chandragupta Mauryan, the founder, and his descendants continuously expanded their empire to cover almost the entire subcontinent.

o united most of India with strong military and trade; flourished with taxation on iron, agriculture, and trade routes.

o Ashoka - 3rd ruler of Maurya. He converted to Buddhism after witnessing the destructiveness of the battle of Kalinga.

● 320-550 CE: Gupta Empireo founded by Maharaja Sri Guptao Hindu was the prominent religion. However, Guptas were religiously toleranto Considered to be the Golden Age of India because of mathematical (decimal

system, pi, and zero), artistic, and astronomic advancements.o women:urbanization and new complexity of social structure reduced women’s

rights and strengthened the husband’s control over wife. (ex: early marriage, sati/widow cremation)

o Collapsed due to external attacks (esp from Huns) and absence of a successor ● post-Gupta, India stays decentralized until after 1000 CE

India

Japan● 400 BC-250 CE: Yayoi period

o marked start of weaving, rice farming, and iron and bronze making● 250-538 CE: Kofun period

o saw establishment of strong military states centered around powerful clans (zoku)

o established Yamato polity and origin of Japanese imperial lineage Yamato used Shintoism to legitimize rule

● centered around nature worship● 538-710 CE: Asuka period

o Yamato polity gradually became centralized state with code of laws Taika Reforms, Taiho Code

o buddhism introduced to Japan

Regional and Transregional Interactions

600 C.E. ~ 1450 C.E.

China - The Tang Dynasty● Tang Empire was founded by Li Shimin in 618, ended in 907● Culture was a combination of Inner Asian nomadic culture and Chinese tradition● Buddhism was used politically - Mahayana Buddhism specifically

o Tang princes enlisted monastic leaders and counsel aristocrats for tax exemptions, land privileges, and gifts in return

● Tang Empire expanded west and Chang’an, the capital, was the center of communication for material goods and cultural influences with Central and Inner China. Unified China and part of Central Asiao Transportation network included well-maintained roads and water transport.

The Grand Canal was a significant part.● Made pottery and crossbow weapons

● Tributary system: countries sent embassies to pay tribute to capital and acknowledge the emperor

● Empress Wu Zhao ruled from 690 to 705

● Tang had conflicts with Tibetans and Turkic Uighurs starting in 750

● Elites feared Buddhism was undermining Confucian family ideals and encouraging women in politics

● In 840, government attempted to undermine Buddhism by closing monasteries that had tax exemptions

● Military lost morale and funding after Chinese expansion was stopped by Arabs in the Battle of the Talas River in 751

● An Lushan, a Tang general, led rebellion with 20,000 soldiers in 755. Emperor fled while the rebellion continued for eight years.

● Huang Chao led rebellion with poor farmers and tenants from 879 to 881. Put down by local warlords, but prevented Tang emperors from rising to power again.

● Liao people ruled Northern China from 960 to 1126.● The Tanggut controlled the Inner Asian frontier from 1038 to 1227. ● Song Empire ruled central and southern China from 960 to 1126.● After Liao challenged Song power, they made a truce in 1005 where the Song paid

cash and silk to the Liao. After a century, Song broke the truce and allied with Jurchens, who destroyed Liao capital and established Jin empire - ruled from 1127 to 1279.

● Jin seized the Song capital Kaifeng in 1127 and captured the emperor. The Song gave up central and north China to Jin. New capital of Song was Hangzhou. Period in which Song paid Jin is called “Southern Song”

● Song further developed technology and science from the Tang. Developed print culture, had rise in urban populations and commercial activity. Dominated military technologyo Used movable type instead of woodblock. May have been invented by Korea

China - The Tang and Song Dynasties

China - Beyond the Song● Neo-Confucianism developed. It was a new approach to Confucian texts● Women were still subordinated - maintained the home. Property was given to

husbands. Couldn’t remarry. Footbinding became widespread. ● Strengthened ties with Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia● Genghis Khan and his successors took over China in the 1230s and imposed

oppressive tax-farming system● Genghis Khan’s grandson Kublai established the Yuan Empire in 1271 and created

secure trade routes and exchanged ideas and skillso Yuan culture combined Mongol and Chinese traditionso Mongols (warriors) were at top of society, then Central Asians and Middle

Easterners (tax collectors), followed by northern Chinese, and then southern Chinese

o China was organized into provinces o Strengthened Eurasian trade

● Conflict between Mongol princes cause farmer rebellions and inter-Mongol feudso Zhu Yuan Zhang took over and established Ming in 1368

Japan● 710-794 CE: Nara period

o buddhism virtually became state religiono most of Japanese society agricultural, population rural and lived in

villageso most villagers followed kami, heavily based on shintoism

● 794 -1185 Heian Era: o Japan’s classical erao start of the figurehead emperor regimeso Marked by the appearance of distinctly Japanese culture

Lady Murasaki’s Tale of Genji● 866 - 1180: Fujiwara influence● 1185-1333: Kamakura Shogunate

o Beginning of Japanese feudal era o Power is concentrated in the hands of the shogun and the daimyoo Zen Buddhism is introduced to Japano Rise of Bushido.

● Ashikaga Shogunate o came to power after the Kamakura Shogunate, but allowed greater

decentralization, which led to peasant revolts and civil wars.

Southeast Asia

● Khmer Empire (~500 CE - 1400 CE) emerged in Cambodia.● Srivijayan Empire controlled much of Indonesia and parts of the Malay Peninsula.● Both the Khmer and the Srivijayan Empires were strongly influenced by Indian

culture. (Example: Angkor Wat, architectural masterpiece influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism)

● Both states eventually lose power as kingdoms such as Burma, Thailand, Annam and Champa (Vietnam), and city-states rise.

Trading Networks● First Greek and Phoenician interactions in the Indian Ocean● Indian Ocean Trade Network expands to include parts of the Roman Empire and

ports on the coast of the South China Sea● Rise of the Silk Road as a major trading network (Marco Polo, Pax Mongolica,

Mongol Empire)○ Pax Mongolica: Silk Road was stationed with soldiers to protect tax

collecters, travellers, merchants, and consumer goods → decrease in bandit attack

● Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Jainism throughout Southern and Eastern Asia

● Rise of China as a major trading power under the Tang and Song dynasties● Voyages of Zheng He, 1405-1433 --Chinese junks, Chinese advancement of

oceanic voyaging (compass)

Global Interactions

1450 ~ 1750

JapanEra of Independent Lords: This was a period from the 1460s - 1500s. During this time, civil war took place because leaders (shoguns) had little control, daimyos fought each other, and the economy was weak.

-The Jesuit Francis Xavier and Catholic missionaries as well as European traders (Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch) came to Japan to introduce religion, gunpowder weaponry, and more.

- Japan was reunified in 1615 (by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu).

-The Tokugawa Shogunate instilled a policy of isolationism that ended in the 1720s. The Shogunate lasted from 1603 - 1868 and during this period, there was much prosperity, peace, and overall stability.

- Japanese Culture:

-Social stratification

-Confucianism

-Restriction of guns, only the samurais could keep swords

-The state regulated gunpowder weaponry (monopoly).

-During the 1720s, Japan traded with foreigners only through Nagasaki (restricted trade)

-Japan was afraid of large numbers of gunpowder being imported.

-Barbarism

-Some Christians were even killed (dislike of foreign culture, Christianity, etc).

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)- The first ruler (and the creator) of the Ming Dynasty was a man named Hong Wu.- He had originally been a monk, but ended up as a bandit chief who proved to be an

excellent general. After a 13 year campaign, he captured Beijing and drove the Mongols back, and soon became emperor.

- Hong Wu ruled China for 30 years, guarding against Mongol invasion and restoring peace and prosperity.

- Chinese culture: There were literary works, china (porcelain), architecture, and more.- European explorers travel to China during this period to create embassies and trading

houses, and Catholicism was being spread.- The Ming Dynasty went downhill during the 1600s because of: (1) weak rulers (2)

inflation (3) rapid population growth (4) famines and other disasters (5) military expenses

- There was a peasant revolt that was the more immediate cause. Shortly after, the Manchus from Manchuria take over.

Qing Dynasty -The Manchus established an empire in China and had a system of social stratification put in place (as in Japan). This empire lasted from 1644 - 1911 and covered Manchuria, China, and later what is now known as Taiwan.

-During the Qing Dynasty, foreign trading mainly took place in Canton only.

-The state watched over the trades and made sure that the number of exports were greater than the amount of imports (trade protection helped keep the economy strong).

- Promotion of Confucianism, scholarship, art, education, etc.

-China received tribute from Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Burma, and Vietnam.

-China saw Europeans as inferior. They generally did not welcome foreign culture and goods. Christianity was banned in 1724.

-Chinese exports included silk, porcelain, and tea!

-During the mid to late 18th century, China became more vulnerable to foreign influence because of increased poverty and population, lack of technological/scientific advancements, and more.

Korea: The Choson Dynasty● Founded in 1392, this dynasty lasted for over five centuries, making it the longest

lasting Confucian dynasty in history, as well as the last Korean dynasty● Confucianism was dominant over Buddhism and played a major role in Korean

philosophy and society, with neo-Confucianism as the official state religion● Similar to China, Korea also had a form of civil service examinations but only the

higher class Koreans could take the exam.● In the late 16th century, Korea was invaded by Japanese warlord Toyotomi

Hideyoshi, who intended to use Korea as a stepping stone to reach China ● The Japanese were able to conquer most of southern Korea, but the occupation only

lasted for six years. This also suspended relations between Korea and Japan for a decade

● Not long afterward, the Manchus made two invasion attempts● After the second invasion, Choson became a tributary state of the Qing Dynasty● Every year they had to send tributary missions to China, but otherwise, they

adopted a system of seclusion and the period between 1600 and 1800 was a peaceful time

India: The Mughals (1504-1750s)

● A descendant of Genghis Khan, a man named Babur was the leader of a tribe known as the Moguls, a variation of the word “Mongol”

● In 1504, they invaded Kabul, Afghanistan, and by 1526, they successfully invaded the Delhi sultanate in India with guns and soldiers from the Ottoman empire.

● Babur’s grandson Akbar, who became emperor at 13, ruled for 50 years until his death

● Akbar created a new religion, the “Divine Faith” that combined aspects of Islam and Hinduism

● He promoted religious unity as well as legitimized the ruler as the leader in religious matters as well as state affairs

● Akbar established a policy of cooperation with Hindus: he abolished the jizya (non-Muslim tax) and permitted Hindus to take high-ranking government positions

● He was a famous patron of the arts, as were his descendants, including Emperor Shah Jahan, the emperor who built the Taj Mahal

● Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb wanted to rid India of all Hindus and wasted much of the treasury’s money on numerous wars

● This led to peasant uprisings and the end of Mughal India

Indian Ocean Trade Network● First European interactions within the trade network: Vasco da Gama, 1498, resulted

from the spread of navigational technology from Asia and development of shipbuilding and mapmaking in Europe

● Advanced weapons and navigation allow for European dominance in the region● This region had long been a vibrant trade route, but with the introduction of

Europeans, it transformed from an Asian-centered economy to a global economy● The main motivations for European exploration included the search for resources,

new trade routes to Asia, and the desire to spread Christianity● Since many Asian goods such as pepper, ginger, and nutmeg were very expensive,

the Europeans wanted to find a direct route to Asia and cut the middleman● In the 1600s, the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company

created factories and bases in India, not to conquer, but to control trade● The English and Dutch also used joint stock companies, where investors rather than

governments funded expeditions

Southeast Asia● Like India, Southeast Asia also saw the arrival of the Europeans.

● Portugal was the first country to play a role in the Southeast Asian trade routes

● Soon, however, the Spanish and Dutch surpassed the Portuguese as the primary European powers in the region

● Spain began to colonize the Philippines in 1599, while the Dutch East India company established a trading base at the city of Sunda Kelapa, now known as Jakarta, Indonesia

● During this time, Qing influence decreased slightly as many Southeast Asian countries were being occupied by European powers

● The British were not particularly interested in this area until the late 18th and early 19th centuries

Industrialization and Global Integration

1750 ~ 1900

Effects of the Industrial Revolution

● In Japan- The U.S government sent navy ships to force open the trade door with Japan in the 1850s. Japanese government did not respond with resist, but instead altered its government, society, and industry

- Built factories that specialized in silk textiles as a part of their Western style industrialization

● In India- England established its raj at the beginning of this era (Indian Ocean Trading Net.)

-was a leading grower of cotton and was the primary supporter of England’s textile mills. At the end of the era, production of hand-made textiles began to decline -->machinery

● China rejected most things western in this era and remained largely out of the production end of the Industrial Rev.

● New industrial powers (Western Europe, U.S, Russia, Japan) forced spheres of influences in China and at the end of this era the nations accepted the U.S’s proposal for an “open door policy” with China.

Imperialism in Asia ● European nations found that much of Asia could be brought into their empires

because their governments were strong enough to keep the Europeans at bay● Japan was becoming a major power and Europeans desired China’s economic assets

more than its land● Biggest example was India, England’s “jewel in the crown” of colonies and England

established rule over South Asia with significant help from the British East India Company

● Japanese Imperialism-When Japan changed it’s gov’t in the 1860s during the Meiji Restoration, it was eager to to become a world power aside the US and Germany.

● Japan began an aggressive campaign to start a pacific campain.● Early test of Japan’s westernized army was the Sino-Japanese War and later, the

Russo-Japanese War (1905)● French military force and diplomacy in Indochina

Local Reactions to Imperialism● Similar to Africa, In Asia the same pattern of local people rebelling violently while

other tried to “fit in” to the colonial powers’ way of life.● Military resistance to European occupation occurred in Afganistan (against the

British), the Philippines (against the U.S) and in China (against foreigners in general)● India- Sepoy Rebellion which also resulted in the end of the Mughal Dynasty● Examples of cooperation were also seen here because many Indian soldiers

remained loyal to the British in the Sepoy Rebellion.● The King of Siam (Thailand) decided to proactively deflect European colonization by

inviting British representatives to help “westernize” his country

European Imperialism leads to Nationalist Movements

● Best know nationalist was in India against the Bristish raj.● The Indian National Congress was founded in the late 19th cent.

with the aim of gaining independence from the British● Another nationalist movement arose in India in the early 20th

century with a different goal- the Muslim League

Accelerating Global Change and Realignments

1900 ~ present

Early 20th Century Asian Change

● The fall of Qing China in 1911 gave way to the installment of the Chinese Republic in 1912 with Sun Yat Sen as the first president.

● Sun Yat Sen - known as the Founder of Modern China, he promoted three principles: nationalism, democracy, and livelihood.

● Japan humiliates Russia in the Russo-Japanese war, which demonstrated its industrial power, and ultimately led to imperialist ambitions from the Japanese.

● Indians began to feel nationalistic feelings after the British assumed direct rule, due to policies that they did not like and disconnects between the two cultures. This was further amplified by the return of Mohandas Gandhi.

World War 2 in Asia● The Japanese industrial might allowed it to conquer all of Eastern Asia all the way to

British India during its expansion period from 1931 to its height in 1942. ● China’s civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists weakened the

country, which allowed for a takeover by Japan. ● Asia was a big war zone for most of WW2, with the Japanese fighting the Allied-

backed Asian countries.

Post WWII, Impacts of the Cold War, and Communism in Asia

● Japanese defeat leads to demilitarization of the country and a permanent presence by the US.

● After WWII, the Chinese resume their civil war, with the Communists defeating the US-backed Nationalists in 1949.

● Korea is split in 2 by the US and the USSR after the war, which eventually leads to the Korean War.

● Vietnam is split in 2: the US-backed south, and the Communist-backed North. Fighting between the 2 leads to the Vietnam War.

● Khmer Rouge’s rise to power in Cambodia due to US bombings during the Vietnam War leads to a genocide that kills millions.

● India is granted independence, largely due to the efforts of Gandhi. It is later separated into Pakistan and India due to religious conflict.

Modern Asia● ASIAN TIGERS: (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan) are

free and developed economic powers that experienced rapid economic growth between the 1960s to the 1990s.

● Japan also experienced rapid economic growth during the post-war, and is now the third-largest economy in the world.

● Post-Tiananmen China is now much more free-market than previously, with trade deals with Western countries, especially the US. Second largest economy in the world, surpassing Japan recently.

● Tensions still exist between Pakistan and India, with both countries possessing nuclear weapons.

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