Chapter 4 - The Expansion of Asian Cultures

samurai

Japanese warrior

What did Chinggis Khan control?

an empire that included Chine and Russia

Shang Dynasty

earliest known dynasty in China

Who did China carry on extensive trade with?

other nations

What did China develop the production of?

silk

Who was regarded highly in China?

scholars

What did the Japanese borrow from China?

Buddhism

Who was considered dangerous in China because of their wealth and mobility?

Merchants

What did the Mongols use effectively in battle?

siege warfare

What empire was named for their homes?

“Golden Horde”

Where did Mongol soldiers live?

on their horses and even slept on them during marches

Who demonstrated great brutality and built an empire that collapsed shortly after his death?

Tamerlane

What part of China did Chinggis Khan invade?

northern China

Who successfully repelled two Mongol invasions?

Japan

What type of iron was developed by the Chinese?

Cast iron

What was China the first nation to use as a form of money?

paper

Song Dynstasy

Also known as the Northern dynasty. They experienced strong economic growth. But during the early 1200s, this region fell to the Mongols.

dynasty

a progression of leaders from the same family

technology

putting knowledge to effective use whether by an idea or process.

paper

Developed by the Chinese, perhaps as early as a few years before the birth of Jesus.

gunpowder

Discovered by accident by the Chinese when they were trying to create a substance that would give them eternal life.

compass

Probably used by the Chinese first, it helped align buildings and find directions. The Song dynasty learned to use it for directions first.

saltpeter

a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. It is commonly referred to as gunpowder. It burns rapidly and produces hot solids and gases. These gases can be used to propel a bullet or to launch and create beautiful fireworks displays. The Chinese mixed ingredients with it to make medicines.

woodblock printing

Developed by the Chinese, this carved images into a block of wood and then applied ink or paint. The woodblock was then pressed against paper or cloth. A reversed image of the carving would be imprinted on the material.

ancestor worship

The family is very important in Chinese culture. The cult of ancestor worship became the leading religion early in Chinese history. Almost every home in China contained an altar where the Chinese burned incense to honor their dead. They hoped this would cause their ancestors to bless and guide them.

Confucianism

a philosophy based on 5 human relationships: father and son, elder and younger brothers, husband and wife, friend and friend, ruler and subjects.

Buddhism

an influential religion developed in India, that the Chinese adapted. It’s founded on Four Noble Truths: 1) suffering is a part of all existence 2) suffering has a cause - selfish desires 3) Suffering can be overcome by destroying selfish desires 4) If man follows the Eightfold Path, he will destroy selfish desires and end suffering.

Eightfold Path

Part of Buddhism. It includes right beliefs, intentions, speech, conduct, labor, effort, thoughts, and mediations.

Taoism

developed in China from the teachings of Lao-tzu. He claimed that peace and harmony could be found by living in harmony with nature. This is a very passive religion that rejects striving after power, wealth, and learning.

Lao-tzu

developed Taoism

Which dynasty was the Shang dynasty?

the first

How the size of the Song dynasty change?

the population doubled

What type of export was silk for the Chinese?

a major export

4 most important discoveries/inventions made by the Chinese?

paper, compass, gunpowder, printing, cast iron

What type of class were the merchants considered?

the lowest

What contributions did merchants make that led to the development of cities?

They bought and sold good. This produced a need for labor and provided jobs for more people. Cities grew out of centers of trade. This led to economic development. Economic development led to greater prosperity for more Chinese people.

feudalism

a system whereby European land was subdivided from king to nobles and then to serfs in exchange for loyalty and allegiance

shogun

“great general”. This title was given to Yoritomo and he began to change Japan into a warrior state.

Bushido

“the way of the warrior”. An unwritten military code used by the samurai that required the warrior to display traits such as loyalty, honor, duty, and courage.

hara-kiri

required the warrior to commit suicide

Shintoism

an ancient form of Japanese religion. It was originally a form of nature worship. The Japanese believed that everything in nature that was unusual, such a fire, a waterfall, or a high mountain, possessed deity (a god).

Zen Buddism

came to Japan from China near the end of the 12th century. It’s a version of Buddhism that had a great impact on the military class of Japan. It required its followers to develop intense mental concentration. This enabled the samuari to endure the hardships of battle.

Angkor Wat

a temple in Angkor (Cambodia)

What written thing did Japan borrow from China?

written language

Who was the first Japanese leader to recieve the title shogun?

Yoritomo

What kingdom was eventually overtaken by the Dai Viet kindgom?

Champa

Vietnam developed from what 2 kingdoms?

Dai Viet and Champa

What modern country developed from Angkor?

Cambodia

How were the characteristics of Zen Buddhism applied to the military class in Japan?

intense mental concentration, which enabled the warrior to endure hardships of battle; self-control and concentration of energy, which proved vital for success on the battlefield.

yurts

round tents the Mongos lived in

Chinggis Khan

Had the title “Great Ruler”. His unified the Mongols and created Great Yasa, the Mongol’s law code.

Great Yasa

a law code written by Chinggis that death with every area of life.

siege warfare

an effective method in which the Mongol soldiers fired arrows and flaming objects into the cities for weeks.

pretend retreat

the Mongol soldiers would pretend to be beaten and appear to leave their camp empty.

kamikaze

a “divine wind” the Japanese monks said protected Japan.

Batu Khan

grandson of Chinggis. He led Mongol forces into Europe.

Tartars

The name for Mongol forces in Europe

Battle of Liegnitz

Battle of combined force of Poles, Czechs, and Germans who tried to stop the Mongols.

Tengri

“the great god of heaven”. A fake god that the Mongols believed was the supreme god who ruled all spirits.

shamans

certain men the Mongols believed had power over the spirits

Tamerlane

A Mongol leader also known as Timur the Lame. He was crippled, but he still became a powerful conqueror. He was unusually cruel and focused on collecting treasures instead of building a great ruled empire.

What was the Japanese term for the “divine wind” that prevented Mongol invasions?

kamikaze

The Mongol leader who invaded Russia

Batu Khan

The name of the Mongol empire in western Asia?

Golden Horde

What Chinese dynasty followed the explusion of the Mongols from China?

Ming

The Mongol leader whose empire extended from Turkey to India

Tamerlane

Tamerlane’s rule in light of other Mongol empires

most brutal, lasted the shortest amount of time

Why were merchants prevented from serving in government in China?

They were mobile and wealthy. The leaders considered them to be a threat.

Why did Japan descent into feudalism?

the decline of central government

What impact did the invention of the compass from lodestone have on China?

Initially, the impact was minimal because they did not realize how important the compass could be for travel and determining direction.

The irony of the Chinese discovery of gunpowder in their quest for eternal life.

Gunpowder has been used in wars to kill countless people. The use of gunpowder shortened the lives of many while giving non eternal life.

Why was cast iron a great improvemtn over pure iron?

It has a lower melting point and is able to be cast into many forms, is durable, and will not bend or lose its shape.

Why were Japanese warriors trained in history, literature, and writing?

They needed to know about history in order to appreciate how previous wars were won or lost. They needed to know literature to appreciate the less tangible aspects of culture. Writing was an essential tool for communicating battle plans or information about enemy troop movement.

How did the rise of the warrior class in Japan affect culture?

It led into a lengthy periods of isolation and feudalism. Most people were bound to their feudal lord and had little or no freedom, and they had limited contact beyond their local region. There was little opportunity for the development of civilization (part of the Creation Mandate.)

How did the silk shirts minimize the damage to a Mongol soldier from an arrow strike?

The could not easily penetrate raw silk. The shirt protected the wounded soldier from the arrow tip, allowing the wound to heal more quickly.