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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