Imperial China

Instructions: Look at the images on the following slides, write down some thoughts for each, & think-pair-share before we discuss as a class.

Example below:

Image # Ideas/Descriptions/Notes#1 (Description of pictures &

slide goes here)

200 B.C.E.0 C.E.

200 C.E.400 C.E.600 C.E.800 C.E.

1000 C.E.

1200 C.E.1400 C.E.1600 C.E.

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE)

Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)

Warring States (220-581 CE)

Tang Dynasty (581-907 CE)

Song Dynasty (907-1279 CE)

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 CE)

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE)

Fall of Rome(476 CE)

Roman Empire Starts (27 BCE)

Beginning of Islam (610 CE)

Columbus sails to New World (1492)

Fall of Byzantine Empire (1453)

This will be our area of focus for this unit.

Dynasty

Definition: A line of family members that rule over a country

Political System of China

*******China was divided for long periods of its history, with different regions being ruled by different groups. At times like these, there was not any single dynasty ruling a unified China.*******

Sui Dynasty (589-618)

Founder: Wendi Began reunification of China

Restores old political traditions Allows people to follow own beliefs

Builds Grand Canal (canal definition--An artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation)

Rebuilds parts of Great Wall Sui falls because commoners revolt (definition: attempt to overthrow authority (government)—too many taxes and forced labor to complete huge projects

Emperor Wendi

Grand Canal

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

Borrowed ideas from Sui Dynasty: Sui government model (Confucian teachings) Sui tax system Sui capital (Chang’an—located on trade routes)

Golden Age of Medieval China Progress/Stability

Canals, Roads, Poetry, Painting, Literature, Technological Advances, Buddhism spreads, Population growth

Innovation: improvement on an existing idea/invention

Political/Cultural influence in Korea, Japan, Vietnam

Tang Dynasty (Continued)

Emperor Taizong (626 CE): Fair taxes, redistributes land to poor

Empress Wu Zhao (690 CE): Only woman emperor Reconquers Korea

Chinese Government

Emperor

AdvisorsBureacracy: government divided into departments

Local governments report to the central bureaucracy

Imperial State

Imperial = having to do with an empire

Definition: The way an empire’s government and territories are organized—local areas have some autonomy (they function mostly on their own) and they answer to the next step up in the government pyramid.

Tang Law Code (624-late 1200s)

SIGNIFICANT BECAUSEListed all laws of China so the same laws would be used everywhere

Scholar-Officials

Definition: An educated person with a government position—must pass a civil service exam

Civil-Service Exam: Tests knowledge of Confucian ideas, poetry, and other subjects (MOST PEOPLE FAILED)

Song Dynasty (960-1127)

Political/Military Turmoil Jin, Mongols attack constantly

High-point of Chinese innovation (new ideas/methods, improving older inventions)

1. Early Ripening Rice Population growth

2. War Military Advancements (gunpowder)