Unit 1.1 AP World History

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Ruled a smaller region than the Tang, due to invaders from Manchuria captured the northern part, and set up their own empire. Yet, China still flourished under the Song

Imperial Bureaucracy (continuity 221 BCE)

A huge organization in which chosen officials (bureaucrats) carry out the empire's rules. Expanded the number of bureaucratic positions grew.

Civil Service Exams

Confucian test given to qualify a person (based on merit), and allow for him to obtain a job in the Chinese government.

Meritocracy

Officials gained their position by showing their merit on Civil Service Exams; made it possible for more to be hired.

Grand Canal Expansion

An inexpensive and efficient waterway that allowed China to become a very popular trade in the world at the time.

Gunpowder/Guns

Was invented several dynasties ago; the Song invented the first guns. Technology of how to make these items soon spread through trade along the Silk Road.

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening rice from Modern-day Vietnam hugely impacted the growth in China by allowing farms to be able to grow rice where they couldn't; it even allows them to grow to 2 crops (summer crop & winter crop) and it helped stem the growth of specialization.

Other agricultural innovations

Such as adding manure to fields, building detailed irrigation systems, and new plows pulled by oxen contributed to China's agricultural success as well by producing an abundance of food and helped grow China's population

Steel and iron production

Discovered coal began to make iron; removed carbon made steel

Porto-industrialization

A set of economic changes in which rural area folks made more goods than they could sell

Artisans

skilled workers who make goods by hand

Textiles and porcelains for export

Change the Chinese economy from locally bought to market produced

Compass

Used in maritime navigation; allowed for sailors to be less reliant on the sky for direction

Tributes

Another source of income for the government that cemented China's power over countries such as Japan Korea and other southeast Asia kingdoms

Social classes in China

Change due to bureaucratic growth

Scholar gentry

Were taught in Confucian philosophy and were the most influential social class in China

Farmers, artisans, craftsman

These three positions were ranked below scholar gentry; farmers provided food for people;artisans made goods that could be sold, and craftsman also made goods

Confucian traditions of both respect and expected difference from women

This patriarchal view grew immensely in both the Tang and Song dynasties

Footbinding

Became common in aristocratic families was banned in 1912. Conformed girls to wrap their feet to the point where the bones did not grow properly. Specified social status and was attractive at the time and it restricted women from being a part of society and being able to go out.

Paper and printing

Created paper in the second century CE and created printing in the seventh. Was the first culture to use woodblock printing

Reading and poetry

Creation of paper and printing expanded the availability of books. Emphasis on learning led to the growth of scholar bureaucrats

Buddhism in China

Came to China from India due to the Silk Road.

Four Noble Truths

Stressed the idea that personal suffering can be easy by cutting craves and following Buddhist teachings

Eight Fold Path (Buddhism)

Buddhist teachings encompassed right speech, right livelihood, right effort, and right mindfulness

Nirvana

The state of enlightenment

Theravada Buddhism

"The doctrine of the elders"is a section of Buddhism that gains inspiration from the Pali Canon; predominantly practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Burma

Mahayana Buddhism

"The Great Vehicle" Main teaching is that salvation can be obtained only through a complete trust of Amitabha. Found in China Japan and Korea

Tibetan Buddhism

"Vajrayana" predominantly practiced in Tibet. Used Tantric ritual practices that were developed in Tibet.

Zen Buddhism (syncretic religion: blend of Taoism with Buddhism)

Emphasize direct experience and meditation instead of studying scriptures.

Confucianism

Song dynasty prefer to focus on this philosophy rather than on foreign religions

Filial Piety

The duty of family members to give up their needs to the head of the family. Allowed the Song Rulers to keep their rule in China.

Neo-Confucianism (syncretic religion: blend of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism)

Evolved in China between 770 and 840; concentrated on social and ethical believes, not religious beliefs, combining rational thinking with more out of this world ideas of Buddhism and Taoism; became immensely popular in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

Similarities to China: Japan

Promoted Buddhism and Confucianism as additions to Shintoism

Learn to woodblock print

Heian Period: mimicked Chinese traditions in politics, art, and literature

Differences from China: Japan

Did not have a central government

Governed by various clans that fought for power since it was an agricultural society

Similarities to China: Korea

Imitated Chinese politics and culture

Similar form of government

Incorporated both Buddhist and confusion beliefs

Adopted their writing system yet eventually created their own

Differences from China: Korea

Aristocracy had more power so they could stop certain Chinese reforms from being enforced

Similarities to China: Vietnam

Adopted Chinese writing system and architectural styles

Differences from China: Vietnam

Vietnamese women were more free in their marriages

Preferred nuclear families (mom, dad, and siblings)

Villages operated separately from the government: political centralization did not exist

Did not practice polygyny (husband couldn't have more than one wife)

Merit-based bureaucracy function in a way that made scholars loyal to the villagers than the government