Unit 6 - Civilizations of Asia

Wendi

A Chinese general who declared himself emperor when China reunited. He founded a new dynasty called the Sui Dynasty.

Grand Canal

The 1,100-mile (1,700-kilometer) waterway linking the Huang He and the Chang Jiang Rivers. It was begun in the Han period and completed during the Sui Empire. The canal provided a vital route for trade between the northern and southern cities.

Tang Dynasty

an imperial dynasty of China spanning the 7th to 10th centuries; often referred to as China's Golden age (618-907 AD).

Tang Taizong

Chinese emperor (626-649 AD) who founded the Tang Dynasty.

Wu Zhao

From 660 AD she held the real power during the Tang Dynasty. She became Empress Wu in 690 AD. She assumed the title herself (as weak emperors sat on the throne)- the only woman in China to do so.

bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Civil Service Examination

An elaborate Chinese system of selecting bureaucrats on merit, first introduced in 165 CE, developed by the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century CE, and refined under the Song Dynasty. It contributed to efficient government, upward mobility, and cultural uniformity.

Failures of Tang Dynasty

Tang rulers imposed crushing taxes in mid-700's to meet the rising costs of government. These taxes brought hardships to the people and it failed to cover the costs of military expansion and new building programs. The Tang military struggled to control the vast empire it had built. Eventually, they were defeated by the Muslim armies in 751 AD at the Battle of Talas.

Song Dynasty

an imperial dynasty that began in 960 CE and lasted until 1279 CE. The Song dynasty placed much more emphasis on civil administration, industry, education, and arts other than military.

Taizu

Chinese general, reunited China and became first Song emperor in 690 CE.

movable type

blocks of metal or wood, each bearing a single character, that can be arranged to make up a page for printing.

gunpowder

Development of gunpowder led to the creation of explosive weapons such as bombs, grenades, small rockets, and cannons.

Achievements of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Development of porcelain, the mechanical clock, paper money, and the use of the magnetic compass for sailing.

terraces or step farming

step-like ridges constructed on hill or mountain slopes which helped the soil retain water and prevented it from being washed downhill in heavy rains.

Silk Roads

a vast network of caravan routes so named because traders used them to bring silk from China to western Asia and then on to Rome.

cultural diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another.

Confucianism

A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.

Golden Age of Poetry and Art

Tang period produced great poetry- Li Bo who wrote about life's pleasures and Tu Fu, who praised orderliness and Confucian virtues.

Chinese painting was influenced by Daoism that urged people to live simply and in harmony with nature. Artists emphasized the beauty of natural landscapes and objects.

gentry

a class of powerful, well-to-do people who enjoy a high social status. The gentry attained their status through education and civil service positions rather than through land ownership.

Status of Women in Chinese society

Women had always been subservient to men in Chinese society. Their status further declined during the Tang and Song periods. Women's work was deemed less important to the family's prosperity and status. Peasant women worked in the fields and helped produce their family's food and income.

foot binding

Chinese practice of tightly wrapping girls' feet to keep them small, begun in the Tang dynasty; an emphasis on small size and delicacy was central to views of female beauty. The practice produced pain and restricted women's movement; made it easier to confine women to the household.

steppe

A vast landscape of dry, flat and grass-covered plains. The geography produces very little rainfall, dramatic temperature changes, and dry winds.

pastoralist

a member of a nomadic group that herds domesticated animals.

clans

Kinship groups of nomadic families who claim to descend from a common ancestor.

Rise of the Mongols

The Mongols originated in the Central Aslian steppes, or dry grasslands. They were pastoralists, organized loosely into kinship groups called clans. Their movement almost certainly began as they sought new pastures for their herds, as had so many of their predecessors. Many historians believe that a severe drought caused the initial movement, and that the Mongol's superior ability as horsemen sustained their successes. Around 1200 CE, a Mongol khan (clan leader) named Temujin unified the clans under his leadership. His acceptance of the title Genghis Khan, or "universal leader" tells us something of his ambitions for his empire.

Genghis Khan

In 1206 CE, Temujin accepted the Title of Genghis Khan. Mongol warrior and ruler; he forged the Mongol tribes into a fighting force that conquered much of Asia, including parts of China.

Leadership of Genghis Khan

He was a brilliant organizer. Gifted strategist. Created a mighty and powerful army. He placed his most battle proven and loyal men in command of his units. Used tricks and manipulation to confuse his enemies. He also used cruelty and fear to terrify his enemies into surrendering.

Pax Mongolia

the "Mongol Peace"- the period from the mid-1200's to the mid- 1300's when the Mongols imposed stability and law and order across much of Eurasia.

Mongolian Trade

They conquered and ruled the Silk Roads for a long time. Trade between Europe and Asia had never been more active.

Kublai Khan

Mongolian emperor and founder of the Yuan Dynasty, grandson of Genghis Khan; he continued his grandfather's wars of conquest in China. He moved the Mongol capital to China and expanded his empire beyond China.

Yuan Dynasty

Dynasty in China set up by the Mongols under the leadership of Kublai Khan, replaced the Song Dynasty (1279-1368 CE).

Failure to conquer Japan

After conquering China, Kublai Khan tried to extend his rule to Japan. In 1274 and again in 1281, the Great Khan sent huge fleets against Japan which ultimately led to defeats.

Marco Polo

Venetian traveler in China; he worked for Kublai Khan and was sent on missions throughout the Mongol empire and in India.

End of Mongol rule in China

After the death of Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty began to fade. Rebellions broke out in many parts of China. The Chinese people resented their Mongol rules. The rebellions were also fueled by years of famine, flood, and disease, along with growing economic problems and official corruption.

Geography of Japan

About 4000 islands make up the Japanese archipelago or island group which extends in an arc more than 1,200 miles long. Most Japanese people live on the 4 largest islands. It is so mountanious that only about 12 percent of the land is suitable for farming. Natural resources such as coal, oil and iron are in short supply. There are typhoons, earthquakes, and tidal waves.

Early religions of Japan

Hundreds of clans across Japan worshiped their own nature gods and goddesses which had varies customs and beliefs. They concepts eventually led to the development of Shinto, meaning "way of the gods".

Shinto

the native religion of Japan.

kami

Shinto worshipers believed in kami, divine spirits that dwelled in nature. Any unusual or especially beautiful tree, rock, waterfall, or mountain was considered the home of a kami.

Buddhism

A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha. In the mid-700's, Japan accepted Buddhism. By the eighth or ninth century, Buddhist ideas were worshiped and spread throughout Japan.

Heian Period

The era in Japanese history from 794-1185 CE where a refined court society arose, especially among the upper class. Arts and writing flourished during this time among gentlemen and ladies who had elaborate rituals and pursuits.

The Tale of Genji

written by Lady Murasaki; first novel in any language; relates life history of prominent son of the Japanese emperor's son; evidence for mannered style of the Japanese society.

Japanese Fuedalism

the warrior class surpassed nobles. By 12th century, power in Japan spread among larger pool of noble families who were fighting for control over their small territories. The Fujiwara family of the Heian period became useless, only cared about art and poetry.

samurai

one of the professional warriors who served Japanese feudal lords.

Bushido

the strict code of behavior followed by samurai warriors in Japan. "The way of the warrior". The samuri was expected to show reckless courage, reverence for the gods, fairness, and generosity toward those weaker than himself. Dying an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life.

shogun

in feudal Japan, a supreme military commander who ruled in the name of the emperor.

Kamakura Shogunate

(1192-1333 CE) military government founded under Minamoto Yoritomo to create a more centralized government to strengthen the state of Japan. The first of Japan's decentralized military governments.