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