Extra China

Qin Dynasty

The Dynasty united much of China today. Protected on one side by mountains, only have potential rivals for power in one geographic direction which ultimately gives them an advantage.

The Terracotta Army

Refers to the thousands of life-size clay models of soldiers, horses, and chariots which were deposited around the grand mausoleum of Shi Huangdi.

Silk Road

Under the Han Dynasty, China took control of this trade route. It is a valuable trade route through Central Asia, Northern China, and the Mediterranean. Control of the road gives additional wealth and political power.

The Red Eyebrows

The Red Eyebrow rebellion is an attempt by desperate and essentially conservative peasants to reverse some of Wang Mang’s riskier reforms, and one of the two major peasant rebellion movements against Wang.

Eastern Han

The newer, but different version of the old Han Dynasty. This dynasty had a long succession of minor and ineffective rulers. Much of the power of government rested in the hands of the court, whom were eunuchs who were believed to be less corrupt because they could not father children.

Yellow Turban Rebellion

A failed rebellion against the leadership of the Eastern/Later Han Dynasty, resulting in more political power in the hands of the generals. The rebellion was finally ruthlessly crushed by the poet-warrior Cao Cao.

The Han Dynasty

Dynasty that left several lasting legacies including the invention of paper by Cai Lun and the beginning of the Chinese civil service examination system. Emperor Wen of Han introduced recruitment to the civil service through examination. Modern China still identifies itself with its Han past, most chinese people today consider themselves Han Chinese.

Medieval Era: Sui Dynasty

Most of the Far East adopts aspects of Chinese culture during the Medieval era, such as Chinese writing, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

Shotoku Taishi

Japanese regent, who prepared Japan’s first real constitution in seventeen articles based on Confucian principles. He drafted and imported many ideas from China such as city planning and political arts. He is regarded as the first Japanese aristocrat to understand basic Buddhist doctrines.

Medieval Era: Tang Dynasty

2nd Medieval Chinese Dynasty. Their rule is noted for the ongoing struggle against northern “barbarians,” most notably Turks, who raided Chinese territory. 

Song Dynasty

This Dynasty is dominated by the Confucian bureaucracy, considered the peak time of Confucian influence. The rise of the school of Neo-Confucianism led by Zhu Xi.

Bi Sheng

Chinese inventor who created the world’s first known movable type system for printing. His printing system was invented during the Song Dynasty. The new innovative printing system created by Chinese porcelain made books faster to print.

Rice Cultivation

During Song Dynasty, new developments in rice cultivation—especially the introduction of new strains of rice from Central Vietnam, along with improved methods of water control and irrigation— increased rice yields and allowed the population to grow.

Song Dynasty loses territory to nomadic civilizations, two important cultural features emerge…

1. the Chinese discover gunpowder, first discovered as a failed attempt to an elixir to give emperors immortality. The scientists Gongliang and Yang Weide write a paper, in which they record formulas for making even more powerful powders to use.

2. Many aristocratic women undergo a torturous process called foot binding, bending their feet out of shape. Foot binding shows that as aristocrats, such women have no need to be on their feet for work purposes.