Unit Test Study Guide: Song China, Japan, Mongols

Tang Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, known for its cultural and political achievements.

Emperor Xuanzong

Tang emperor from 713 to 756 AD under whom the dynasty reached its peak, but later known as a poor ruler.

An Lushan Rebellion

A rebellion in 755 AD led by General An Lushan against the Tang Dynasty, leading to significant weakening of the dynasty.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese philosophical concept used to justify the rule of a king or emperor, claiming they had divine approval to govern.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that rose after the Tang, ruling from 960 to 1279 AD, known for its significant advancements in technology and culture.

Neo-Confucianism

A revived form of Confucianism during the Song Dynasty that emphasized personal morality and was hostile to Buddhism.

Wang Anshi

A chief minister of the Song Dynasty who implemented reforms in the 1070s aimed at improving the dynasty's finances.

Flying cash

The first paper money developed in China, which allowed merchants to avoid carrying heavy coins.

Champa rice

A fast-ripening rice variety from Vietnam that allowed for double cropping and contributed to population growth in China.

Jurchen

A tribal group in Northeast China who formed the Jin Dynasty, which defeated the Liao and later invaded the Song.

Gunpowder

An explosive mixture developed in China, used for fireworks and later in weapons, originating in the 9th century.

Footbinding

A Chinese custom that involved tightly binding the feet of young girls to prevent growth, reflecting the restrictions on women's freedom.

Samurai

The warrior class in Japan, serving bushi and adhering to a strict code of honor.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Chinggis Khan and founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China, ruled from 1260 to 1294.

Pax Mongolica

A term referring to the period of peace and stability across the Mongol Empire which facilitated trade along the Silk Road.

Gempei Wars

A series of conflicts in Japan (1180–1185) between the Taira and Minamoto clans, which led to the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate.

Ilkhanate

A Mongol khanate that ruled over Persia and parts of the Middle East, known for its religious tolerance.

Timur (Tamerlane)

A Turkic conqueror who sought to revive the Mongol Empire, responsible for extensive conquests in the 14th century.

Yuan Dynasty

The dynasty founded by Kublai Khan in China, marking the Mongol rule over China from 1271 until 1368.

Battle of Kulikova

A significant battle in 1380 in which Russian forces defeated the Golden Horde, establishing a turning point in the decline of Mongol power in Russia.

Chinese junks

Advanced Chinese ships that dominated maritime trade during the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Chagatai Khanate

One of the four divisions of the Mongol Empire, located in Central Asia, which became decentralized over time.

Southern Song

The period of the Song Dynasty that lasted from 1127 to 1279 AD after the northern regions were invaded by the Jurchen.

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

A period of political fragmentation and division in China from 907 to 960 AD following the fall of the Tang Dynasty.