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