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ruled by successive dynasties for 3500 yearsQin (221 - 206 BCE): began the Great WallHan (206 BCE - 220 CE): opened the Silk Road; civil service exam createdSui (581-618 CE): completed the Grand CanalTang (618-906 CE): golden age of Chinese art & literatureSong (960-1279 CE): reunification of China; gunpowder; paper moneyMandate of HeavenHeaven granted emperor the right to rule (could be bestowed on anyone)emperor’s virtue determined his right to ruleif emperor mistreated the people, the right to rule could be withdrawnno one dynasty had the permanent right to ruleoften used to justify rebellion successful rebellion indicated that the emperor had lost Mandate of Heavenemperor ruled with help from scholar-gentry bureaucracypurpose: balance the military with scholar elitesmust pass civil service exam (anyone could take)tested on Confucian principles and Chinese classicsusually only young men from wealthy families could afford educationdid provide some upward mobility to lower class
Confucianismemerged during the warring states period as way to bring order/peacefocused on moral, correct behavior to create harmonysociety is made of unequal relationshipsif superior person in relationship behaves with benevolence, then inferior in relationship responds with obediencefilial piety: respect/deference for parents/elders/ancestorsfamily respect becomes model for political obediencebecomes official ideology of government under Han Dynasty 200 BCEDaoismurged withdrawal into world of nature; seek balance with naturelive simple life without interference of government; disengage from public lifeopposite of Confucianism, but complementarynot mutually exclusive; many Chinese followed bothBuddhismtraveled from India to China along the Silk Road trade networkintroduced during Han; became popular during Tang Zen/Chan Buddhism: syncretic blending of Buddhism and Daoismpopularity of Buddhism led to Neo-Confucianism during Song Dynastyattempt to unify Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhismmore secular; emphasis on ethics and human nature
increased food productionChampa rice: new rice (from Vietnam) is drought-resistant and fast-ripeningcould be grown on hills/terraces; doubled rice productiondoubled China’s population from 60 million (Tang) to 120 million (Song)technological innovationswoodblock printing and movable type: lowered price of books and increased literacystronger iron and steel to build bridges, agricultural equipment, military armorship innovations: Chinese junkflat bottom for docking in shallow watersternpost rudder improved steeringcurved sails with bamboo spines for stabilitycompass: precise navigationgunpowder: used in siege warfare for rockets, cannons, bombs, minesexpanding trade networksGrand Canal connects eastern cities; moves rice north, silk/textiles southSong Dynasty protects eastern end of Silk Road, linking trade across Eurasiaartisans manufacture porcelain and silk: highly valued as export productsnew financial instrumentspaper money: made transactions quicker and more efficient than metal coinsflying cash: merchants deposit in one location, withdraw elsewhere
rural → urbanmost of China’s history, most people lived in rural areasurbanization created large cities like Hangzhoubureaucratic expansion created a new social classposition in society not determined by wealthclass structureemperor/empress: complete authorityscholar-gentry: educated government officials aristocracy: large landownerspeasant farmers/artisans: poor, but “productive” merchants: wealthy but considered “unproductive”role of womenConfucianism: respect for women; women also subordinatein Song Dynasty, gain basic rights to own/inherit propertyalways controlled by men (father/husband/sons)foot binding: wrapping young girls’ feet, often breaking bonesassociated with beauty/status; keep women meekmainly upper class (lower class women need to work)
the Middle KingdomChinese believed themselves the center/middle of civilizationall other nations would come to them as most advanced civilizationspread their culture via a sphere of influence (sinification)creates an inward-looking attitude that later cause China issuestribute systemrequired foreigners who wanted to trade to acknowledge Chinese superioritypay financial tribute, provide gifts to Emperormeet the emperor and bow (kowtow) at his feet to show respectChina also paid tribute to powerful neighborsallowed Chinese merchants to travel safely; bribe to not attack China
controlled by China 111 BCE - 938 CEhistory of violent rebellions against ChinaTrung Sisters Rebellion: 40 CETang collapses, Vietnamese rebels push Chinese out in 10th centuryparticipated in tribute system with Chinaadopted many aspects of Chinese governmentemperors ruling with Mandate of Heavenmerit-based civil service examprovided some social mobility for commonerselites adopt Confucianism, commoners adopt Buddhismunique culture distinct from Chinagreater role for women socially/economically“female Buddha”, free-choice marriagesown property, husbands live with wife’s familycould be political leaders/warriorsdeveloped own writing system: chu nom
maintains independence with Korean DynastiesUnified Silla (688-900), Koryo (918-1392), Joseon (1392-1910)became a tributary of Chinavoluntarily adopted Chinese-style governmentcentralized state with bureaucracyKorean civil service exam existed, but not as importantaristocracy maintained monopoly on bureaucracyadopted both Confucian and Buddhist beliefseducated elite studied Confucianismmasses tended to gravitate towards Buddhism Koreans adopted the Chinese writing systemby the 15th century: develops its own writing system, hangulKorean women lost rights under Confucianismfree choice marriages, remarriage after widowed/divorcedfemale inheritance of property
physical separation: never invaded by Chinaselective adoption of Chinese cultureparticipated in tribute system for a time, but stoppedfeudalism: no centralized governmentemperor was largely ceremonialshogun (general/warlord) controlled large regions of japandaimyo (landowner aristocrats) had local powerdeveloped their own military power: samuraidistinct Japanese culturebushido: way of the warrior (honor, loyalty, martial skill) Zen Buddhism and Confucianism popular among eliteShinto (animism) faith still practiced by commonersdevelop unique writing script mix of Chinese characters & phonetic symbolselite men wrote in Chinese; noble women wrote in JapaneseThe Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu was the first novelmore rights for womeninherit property, divorce, remarriagemarried couples lived with the wife's family
developed 4,000 years ago in modern day Israel & Palestinemonotheistic (believing in one God) when most religions were polytheisticholy book: Torahnot a proselytizing religion, so numbers have stayed smallJewish diaspora: dispersion through Eurasia, often by invasion/deportation
emerged from teachings of Jesus, a Jew who sought to reform Judaismtaught that salvation required faith aloneRoman Empire executed Jesus 33 CE, religion will spread after his deathRoman Empire persecuted Christians until Emperor Constantine convertedbecame official religion of Roman Empire (both Western & Eastern)holy book: The Bible (Old Testament is the Torah)
developed in city of Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula in early 600s CEProphet Muhammad founded religion after receiving messages from Godholy book: Quran: God’s word spoken directly to MuhammadMuhammad and followers persecuted; forced to flee to Medina629 CE: returns to Mecca, conquers city, imposes Islamlaunches campaigns to conquer; controls Arabia by his death 632 CEIslam continues to expand via conquest throughout Middle East
Arabia patriarchal but Arab women had rightsinherit property, divorce, engage in businessimpact of Islam on womenwomen spiritually equal to men but socially inferiorwomen’s testimony in court viewed as half a man’sQuran outlawed female infanticide, dowries go directly to womenQuran and Islamic law recognize descent through male linesocial/sexual lives of women highly controlled by male guardiansmen can take up to 4 wiveswomen can only have 1 husbandveiling of womencustom in Mesopotamia, Persia, Middle East before Muhammadtradition of modestyIslam will incorporate veiling into the faith
the House of IslamIslamic Empire that stretches from Spain to Indiaconnected via elaborate trade networks over land and seadiverse civilizationmany peoples: Arab, Persian, Turkic, Greco-Roman, South Asian, Africamany religions: Muslims, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhistssuccession crisisMuhammad’s death leads to division over a new leader (caliph)Sunni: believe Muhammad wanted Muslims to elect a leader → Abu Bakr (advisor)Shia: believe Muhammad designated a successor → Ali (son-in-law)Ali’s assassination leads to civil warUmayyad Caliphatewins civil war; continues Muslim conquests capturing Spain (al-Andalus)
1. The Global Tapestry
1200-1450
1.1 Developments in East Asia
China
Political
Cultural
Commercialization
Social
Neighbors
Vietnam
Korea
Japan
1.2 Developments in Dar al-Islam
Abrahamic religions
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Women
Dar al-Islam
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