China: Tang and Song Dynasty
Mongol Conquest of Asia and Europe
Japan
Korea
East Asia (Khmer, Dai Viet, Island Kingdoms)
100
How did the Tang dynasty rise to power?
The people rebelled against the cruel leader, Sui Yangdi. Li Yuan, a general in the Sui Army, seized the capital city of Chang'an, and proclaimed himself emperor.
100
Identify where and describe how the Mongols lived.
The Mongols were pastoral nomads who lived in yurts (or ger) and moved around with clans in the Eastern (Asian) Steppe. From an early age they learned how to ride on horseback. They drank mare's milk and horse blood.
100
Identify a few characteristics of Shintoism.
The essence of Shinto is the Japanese devotion to invisible spiritual beings and powers called kami, to shrines, and to various rituals. Shinto is not a way of explaining the world. What matters are rituals that enable human beings to communicate with kami.
100
Who was the legendary founder of the first Korean state?
According to a Korean legend, the first Korean state was founded by the hero, Tan'gun, whose father was a god and whose mother was a bear. (Another legend says it was a descendant of the Shang dynasty in China).
100
In what way was the Khmer Empire influenced by India?
The Khmer built extensive city-and-temple complexes at their capital in Angkor. Angkor Wat is a symbolic mountain dedicated to Vishnu and was also used as an observatory.
200
Why was the Song dynasty divided into two periods (Northern Song 960-1126) and (Southern Song 1127-1279)?
The Jurchens continuously attacked the border of the Song dynasty. The Song leaders paid them tribute but eventually the Jurchens invaded the capital of the northern Song Kaifeng, thus forcing the Song to move further south and establish their capital at Hangzhou.
200
What practices enabled the Mongols to conquer all of Europe and Asia?
They allowed their enemy kingdoms to surrender and if they didn't Genghis Khan would kill everyone in the population to instill fear in future enemies. They wore leather protection and tightly-woven silk tunics that were lighter form of armor. They were expert horseman who could shoot forwards and backwards while riding. Their nomadic lifestyle and ability to live off horse blood allowed them to travel through inhospitable lands such as the Gobi Desert. Genghis Khan integrated captives into his army and scattered them so they would not be able to unit together. Genghis Khan made use of different captives that had skills, such as artisans and scholars.
200
What was the Bushido?
Bushidō is a moral code concerning samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle. The Samurai code, Bushido, guided the Japanese warriors in life, battle, and death. It was the unwritten code of principles and morals, and taught obligation and honor.
200
How was early Korea influenced by Chinese culture?
Under Silla rule, the Koreans built Buddhist monasteries and produced elegant stone and bronze sculptures. They also developed a writing system suitable for writing Korean phonetically while also using Chinese characters. Inspired by Song porcelain artists, Korean potters produced the much-admired celadon pottery, famous for its milky green glaze. Korean artisans produce many thousands of large wooden blocks for printing Buddhist scriptures. In the Koryu dynasty the Koreans modeled their central government after China's with a civil service exam system.
200
How were the Vietnamese people influenced by China?
The Vietnamese absorbed much of Chinese culture, including Buddhism and China's model of centralized government. Rulers called themselves emperors Adopted state Confucianism and Introduced Civil Service Exam.
300
Identify a three policies implemented by Tang Taizong in the Tang Dynasty.
led military expansion North into Manchuria, west to the Aral Sea and south to Vietnam, redistributed land to peasants, expanded civil service system (including schools), implemented flexible criminal code of laws,
300
What was the Pax Mongolica and what was its impact on the Mongol Empire?
The Pax Mongolica refers to the period of relative peace that followed the Mongol conquests during the mid 1200s through mid 1300s. This ensured safe passage along the Silk Road allowing trade to flourish in Europe and Asia.
300
Identify and briefly describe the different levels of Japan's feudal social hierarchy during the Heian period (794-1185 AD).
Emperor (figurehead)
Shogun (military commander)
Daimyo (heads of the aristocratic families), Samurai (soldiers who fought for the daimyo)
Peasants
Artisans
Merchants
300
What happened when Kublai Khan took over Korea?
The Koryu dynasty faced a decline when the Mongol Yuan Dynasty took over Korea. Kublai Khan demanded 20,000 horses, clothing for 1 million soldiers, and many children and artisans to be slaves. He forced the Koreans to build ships so he could invade Japan.
300
Which kingdom built this and where?
The Sailendra kings left behind the Buddhist temple at Borobudur. Built around 800, this temple reflects strong Indian influence.
400
Identify a two of the misdeeds and accomplishments attributed to Wu Zetian (Wu Zhao).
According to her contemporary critics, she killed her sister, butchered her elder brothers, murdered the ruler, poisoned her mother.”
According to one historian, under Wu "military expenses were reduced, taxes cut, salaries of deserving officials raised, retirees given a viable pension, and vast royal lands near the capital turned over to husbandry."
400
Identify four policies Kublai Khan implemented while ruling China (Yuan Dynasty).
Mongols lived apart from the Chinese and obeyed different laws.
They kept the Chinese out of high government offices (reserved for Mongols) but retained as many Chinese officials as possible to serve on the local level.
Kublai Khan restored the Grand Canal and extended it 135 miles north to Beijing.
Along the banks of the canal he paved a highway that ran 1,100 miles, from Hangzhou to Beijing.
Trade flourished: silk, porcelain, gunpowder, paper currency, playing cards
400
How was early Japan influenced by Chinese culture?
During the 400s, the Japanese had more contact with mainland Asia. In the mid-700s, the Japanese imperial court officially accepted Buddhism. By the eighth or ninth century, Buddhist ideas and worship had spread through Japanese society. The Japanese adopted Chinese culture: Writing, landscape painting, cooking, gardening, tea-drinking, hairdressing, and centralized model of rule.
400
What impact did implementing China's civil service system have on society in the Koryu Dynasty?
The Koryu Dynasty modeled its central government after China's. It also established a civil service system. However this system did not provide the social mobility for Koreans tthat it did for the Chinese. Koryu society was sharply divided between a landed aristocracy and the rest of the population including the military, commoners and slaves. Despite the examination system, the sons of nobles received the best positions and these positions became hereditary.
400
What is this place? It was in which kingdom?
Built in the 1100s in their capital Angkor, the Khmer rulers built extensive city-and-temple complexes. One of these was called Angkor Wat, which is still the world's largest religious structure.
500
Describe a few aspects of cultural life in the Tang and Song dynasty.
gunpowder, steel, woodblock printing, publishing many different books, urban, many restaurants, women had less freedom (except under Wu Zhao), footbinding emerges, proliferation of foreign trade along the Silk Road,
500
Who was Marco Polo and what did he see in Kublai Khan's China?
Polo was a young Venetian trader who traveled by caravan on the Silk Roads with his father and uncle, arriving at Kublai Khan's court around 1275. He witnessed charcoal, he saw how the people bowed and played music every time Kublai Khan drank, he saw many palaces and mansions in Hangzhou.
500
What happened when Kublai Khan attempted to invade Japan?
In 1281, Kublai Khan's fleet were destroyed by a typhoon called the "divine wind" or kamikaze by the Japanese. The Kamakura shogunate withstood the two naval invasions led by Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281, but this drained the shoguns' treasury.
500
How did the Koryu dynasty fall?
Its economy was crippled by the tribute that had to be paid to Kublai Khan. In 1392, a group of scholar-officials and military leaders overthrew the Koryu dynasty and implemented land reforms. They created a new dynasty – the Choson (or Yi) Dynasty, which would rule for the next 518 years.
500
How did the island empire Srivijaya become so prosperous?
It grew wealthy by taxing the trade that passed through the Strait of Malacca and other waters around the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java.