1.1: East Asia, 1200-1450

East Asia

Major Dynasties

Sui

  • 581-618

  • Founded by Yang Jian

  • Reunited China through conquest of Chen Dynasty

  • Constructed Grand Canal between Yellow and Yangtze Rivers

  • Fostered trade networks between Northern and Southern China

Tang

  • 618-907
  • Created strong, centralized Chinese government
  • Era of peace and prosperity
  • Cosmopolitan culture built by trade and art
  • Many distinct forms of artistic expression
    • Song, dance, art, writing
  • Military campaigns against Turks
  • Succeeded by Five Dynasties and Ten Kings Period

Song

  • 960-1279
  • Expanded trade
  • Standardized paper currency
  • Strong central government with merit-based administration, beginning the civil service exam system and introducing the scholar gentry social class
    • Bureaucracy: a large, complex organization that is characterized by a hierarchical structure, a division of labor, and a set of rules and procedures that govern the way it operates
    • Meritocracy: a society or organization in which individuals are selected and promoted based on their merit, or their ability and talent
    • Scholar gentry: a social class in ancient and imperial China that comprised well-educated individuals who were involved in the administration of the government

Chinese Social Structures

  • Hierarchical
    • Top tier: Emperor
    • High middle tier: Scholar gentry, nobility
    • Low middle tier: Peasants
    • Botton tier: Merchants
  • Patriarchal
    • Dominated by men/fathers rather than women/mothers

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