Imperial China

Geography

About the same size as the United States

Mountains and deserts cover the land

2 major riversYellow River

Yangtze River

Climate goes from bitterly cold to hot and humid

Civilization began around the Yellow River and spread outward

Review from 6th Grade

Divided into periods ruled by dynasties

4 Dynasties:

Shang – Worshipped AncestorsZhou – Mandate from HeavenQin – First Magnificent Emperor – legalistHan – Followed Confucius, lasted 400 years

Divided ChinaHan Dynast falls in 220AD due to corrupt officials

China was broken into small separate kingdoms

China reunites under the Tang Dynasty Lasts for 300 years

Tang Dynasty 618-907 AD

Strengthened central government

Period of wealth and power

In order to control such a large country, there had to be a lot of people working for the government

Bureaucracy

Officials collected taxes, oversaw building and irrigation projects, enforced laws, and made sure the army had supplies

Tang Capital

Chang’an – Population 2 million

Designed in the shape of a square

Two Markets on either side of the cityGreat trade city

Known for potteryHorses and camels

Quickwrite

Government jobs often come with a lot Government jobs often come with a lot of power and are well paid. During of power and are well paid. During ancient times they were also very ancient times they were also very corrupt.corrupt.

How can governments make sure they How can governments make sure they hire the best people for the positions?hire the best people for the positions?

Foreign Contact Under Tang618-907 AD

Welcomed contact with foreignersTrade along the Silk Road and from camel caravans brought new ideas goods and fashions to China

China Traded: Silk, paper, porcelain, iron and jade

Received: Cotton, perfume, spices, and horses

New foods like peas and spinach were introduced

Upper classes enjoyed the new wealth and goods from foreign lands

Changing AttitudesToward the end of the Tang Dynasty foreigners became less welcomedWealth of Buddhist monasteries made people angry

they did not have to pay taxes and had lots of money

Tang government takes over Buddhist propertiesMonks and nuns were forced to give up their way of lifeTemples and shrines were destroyedBuddhist statues were melted down and the metal given to the government

Exams?

Early on, emperors chose aristocrats to fill high level jobs

Hired based on who your father was, what family you married into, or someone else’s recommendations

Civil Service ExamsOpened to everyone but…

Geared toward the wealthy who could afford the books to study

Song Dynasty

Meritocracy – Officials got jobs based on merit (or ability)

Civil service exams were opened to more people

State run schools and universities for lower classesExams had questions about political and social problems as well as essay and poetry writing parts

Exams based on ConfucianismPeople should respect their eldersElders should act kindly, wisely, and honestly to set an example for those below them

Only a small percentage passed the exams

Had to move far away from their hometown so they couldn’t play favoritesDidn’t have to pay taxes or be in the military

Mongols invade!A group called Mongols from the north captured the capital of China

Kublai Khan took the title of emperor and his dynasty ruled for 100 years.

Ended civil exam programChose other Mongols and family members to have government positions

Many Mongols couldn’t read and there were not enough of them to fill the positions

Foreign Contact Under MongolsDeveloped and improved maritime trade

From India: Pearls and diamonds

Encouraged cultural exchangeSet up rests stops along the Silk Road every 20 milesChristian missionaries increased but made few convertsPersians brought advanced knowledge in math, astronomy and medicineEuropeans learned about gunpowder

ContinuedForeign merchants were respected and did not have to pay taxes

Received better treatments and fair laws than the native ChineseNative Chinese begin to resent foreigners and Mongols

Work on the Great Wall stopped No one left to keep out

Ming

Mongols make so many enemies of the native Chinese that the people rebel

Chinese set up their own government called the Ming Dynasty

Rules for 300 years

Reestablish the exam system

Continued in the 17th century

Foreign Contact Under Ming

Believed China to be the oldest, largest, most civilized, and most important country in the world

Other nations should pay tribute because of this

Wanted to find many tributes

Sent explorers to show off China’s power and collect gifts

Many tributariesHad to submit to China

China provided military help and allowed trade with them

Turning Inward

Fighting Mongol invasions

Wanted to protect Chinese from foreign influences

Travel outside China Forbidden

Contact with foreigners had to be approved by the government

Move back toward traditional values

Eventually the government became to stiff to change and fell in 1644 after a rebellion