Gallery

AP World History

Home

Textbook notes

Class

Resources

Explore

Content

1. The Global Tapestry

1200-1450

1.1 Developments in East Asia

China

Political

ruled by successive dynasties for 3500 years

Qin (221 - 206 BCE): began the Great Wall

Han (206 BCE - 220 CE): opened the Silk Road; civil service exam created

Sui (581-618 CE): completed the Grand Canal

Tang (618-906 CE): golden age of Chinese art & literature

Song (960-1279 CE): reunification of China; gunpowder; paper money

Mandate of Heaven

Heaven granted emperor the right to rule (could be bestowed on anyone)

emperor’s virtue determined his right to rule

if emperor mistreated the people, the right to rule could be withdrawn

no one dynasty had the permanent right to rule

often used to justify rebellion

successful rebellion indicated that the emperor had lost Mandate of Heaven

emperor ruled with help from scholar-gentry bureaucracy

purpose: balance the military with scholar elites

must pass civil service exam (anyone could take)

tested on Confucian principles and Chinese classics

usually only young men from wealthy families could afford education

did provide some upward mobility to lower class

Cultural

Confucianism

emerged during the warring states period as way to bring order/peace

focused on moral, correct behavior to create harmony

society is made of unequal relationships

if superior person in relationship behaves with benevolence, then inferior in relationship responds with obedience

filial piety: respect/deference for parents/elders/ancestors

family respect becomes model for political obedience

becomes official ideology of government under Han Dynasty 200 BCE

Daoism

urged withdrawal into world of nature; seek balance with nature

live simple life without interference of government; disengage from public life

opposite of Confucianism, but complementary

not mutually exclusive; many Chinese followed both

Buddhism

traveled from India to China along the Silk Road trade network

introduced during Han; became popular during Tang

Zen/Chan Buddhism: syncretic blending of Buddhism and Daoism

popularity of Buddhism led to Neo-Confucianism during Song Dynasty

attempt to unify Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism

more secular; emphasis on ethics and human nature

Commercialization

increased food production

Champa rice: new rice (from Vietnam) is drought-resistant and fast-ripening

could be grown on hills/terraces; doubled rice production

doubled China’s population from 60 million (Tang) to 120 million (Song)

technological innovations

woodblock printing and movable type: lowered price of books and increased literacy

stronger iron and steel to build bridges, agricultural equipment, military armor

ship innovations: Chinese junk

flat bottom for docking in shallow water

sternpost rudder improved steering

curved sails with bamboo spines for stability

compass: precise navigation

gunpowder: used in siege warfare for rockets, cannons, bombs, mines

expanding trade networks

Grand Canal connects eastern cities; moves rice north, silk/textiles south

Song Dynasty protects eastern end of Silk Road, linking trade across Eurasia

artisans manufacture porcelain and silk: highly valued as export products

new financial instruments

paper money: made transactions quicker and more efficient than metal coins

flying cash: merchants deposit in one location, withdraw elsewhere

Social

rural → urban

most of China’s history, most people lived in rural areas

urbanization created large cities like Hangzhou

bureaucratic expansion created a new social class

position in society not determined by wealth

class structure

emperor/empress: complete authority

scholar-gentry: educated government officials

aristocracy: large landowners

peasant farmers/artisans: poor, but “productive”

merchants: wealthy but considered “unproductive”

role of women

Confucianism: respect for women; women also subordinate

in Song Dynasty, gain basic rights to own/inherit property

always controlled by men (father/husband/sons)

foot binding: wrapping young girls’ feet, often breaking bones

associated with beauty/status; keep women meek

mainly upper class (lower class women need to work)

Neighbors

the Middle Kingdom

Chinese believed themselves the center/middle of civilization

all other nations would come to them as most advanced civilization

spread their culture via a sphere of influence (sinification)

creates an inward-looking attitude that later cause China issues

tribute system

required foreigners who wanted to trade to acknowledge Chinese superiority

pay financial tribute, provide gifts to Emperor

meet the emperor and bow (kowtow) at his feet to show respect

China also paid tribute to powerful neighbors

allowed Chinese merchants to travel safely; bribe to not attack China

Vietnam

controlled by China 111 BCE - 938 CE

history of violent rebellions against China

Trung Sisters Rebellion: 40 CE

Tang collapses, Vietnamese rebels push Chinese out in 10th century

participated in tribute system with China

adopted many aspects of Chinese government

emperors ruling with Mandate of Heaven

merit-based civil service exam

provided some social mobility for commoners

elites adopt Confucianism, commoners adopt Buddhism

unique culture distinct from China

greater role for women socially/economically

“female Buddha”, free-choice marriages

own property, husbands live with wife’s family

could be political leaders/warriors

developed own writing system: chu nom

Korea

maintains independence with Korean Dynasties

Unified Silla (688-900), Koryo (918-1392), Joseon (1392-1910)

became a tributary of China

voluntarily adopted Chinese-style government

centralized state with bureaucracy

Korean civil service exam existed, but not as important

aristocracy maintained monopoly on bureaucracy

adopted both Confucian and Buddhist beliefs

educated elite studied Confucianism

masses tended to gravitate towards Buddhism

Koreans adopted the Chinese writing system

by the 15th century: develops its own writing system, hangul

Korean women lost rights under Confucianism

free choice marriages, remarriage after widowed/divorced

female inheritance of property

Japan

physical separation: never invaded by China

selective adoption of Chinese culture

participated in tribute system for a time, but stopped

feudalism: no centralized government

emperor was largely ceremonial

shogun (general/warlord) controlled large regions of japan

daimyo (landowner aristocrats) had local power

developed their own military power: samurai

distinct Japanese culture

bushido: way of the warrior (honor, loyalty, martial skill)

Zen Buddhism and Confucianism popular among elite

Shinto (animism) faith still practiced by commoners

develop unique writing script

mix of Chinese characters & phonetic symbols

elite men wrote in Chinese; noble women wrote in Japanese

The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu was the first novel

more rights for women

inherit property, divorce, remarriage

married couples lived with the wife's family

1.2 Developments in Dar al-Islam

Abrahamic religions

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.