Period of Disunion
220 – 589:
 After the fall of the Han Dynasty China
split into rival kingdoms
 This period was filled with war
 Many nomadic people settled in
Northern China
 The culture was mixed and not unified
Sui Dynasty
581-618 CE
Religion and Culture
1. Buddhism spread from
traders and monks who
traveled the Silk Road
from India.
2. It was welcomed as a way
to escape suffering from
earlier disunion. (pg.169)
3. Many wealthy people
gave money to Buddhist
temples which were
architectural wonders.
They housed huge
statues of Buddha.
Technology and Achievements
1. The Grand Canal:
600 miles that linked
northern and southern
China. Used to
transport rice to
northern cities and
armies. (pg.167)
2. Rebuilt the Great
Wall to protect from
northern invaders.
Government and Unification
1. Emperor Yang Jian
unified China. He
restored order after
the Period of
Disunion.
Trade
1. The Grand Canal
made trade of food
and culture possible
and easier from north
to south.
Tang Dynasty
618-907 CE
Religion and Culture
1. Late in the Tang
Dynasty, Confucian
thought became
popular. It taught a
code of behavior
based on respect.
Technology and Achievements
1. Expanded and
improved Grand
Canal
2. Great artists painted
murals celebrating
Buddhism.
3. Sculpture and poetry
also became popular.
Government and Unification
1. Empress Wu: Ruled
with an iron fist in
order to unify China
and prevent disunion.
Trade
1. Began to trade
overland with
foreigners.
2. Trade with India in
the west, and Korea
and Japan in the
east. Products
included silk, rice
spices, tea, and jade.
Another period of
disunion!
 Chaos and disunion occurred as
different kingdoms competed for
power
 Lasted 53 years
Song Dynasty
960-1279
Religion and Culture
1. Confucius had
lived1500 years earlier;
Confucianism had a
resurgence during the
Song period. (pg.177)
2. Confucius taught that
people should have
respect for others (family,
government and
education) and follow
appropriate customs and
beliefs (proper behavior).
(pg.178)
Technology and Achievements
1. Dragon’s backbone
pump: scooped water
from one place in
order to dump in
canal for crop
irrigation. (pg.170)
2. Fast-ripening rice
increased food
production. (pg.171)
Government and Unification
1. A merit system for
government jobs - People
became government
officials by passing civil
service examinations. If the
examination was passed
they became very
respected scholar officials
and worked for the
government bureaucracy.
Trade
1. Porcelain (China)
was invented and
traded with
foreigners. As with
silk, they protected
this knowledge to
ensure their control
of the porcelain
trade.
Yuan Dynasty
(Mongol)
1279-1368 CE
Religion and Culture
1.
The Mongols were different
than the Chinese – They
spoke a different language,
worshipped different gods,
wore different clothing and had
different customs – The
Chinese thought the Mongols
were rude and uncivilized.
(pg.181)
2.
Mongols tolerated (accepted)
Chinese traditions and
philosophies. Many adopted
Chinese ways. (pg.182)
Technology and Achievements
1. With taxes collected
from the Chinese,
they built new roads
and palaces (pg.182)
2. Created a postal
system.
3. Built new capital,
Dadu. (pg.182)
Government and Unification
1. 1211: Genghis Khan
Organized a fierce army
and started to attack China
in the north (pg.180)
2. 1279: Kublai Khan
(grandson of Genghis)
declared himself Emperor
of China. (pg.187)
3. They heavily taxed the
Chinese but allowed them
to keep their own belief
systems. (pg.182)
Trade
1. Mongols traded by sea and
by land which, increased
contact with the West.
2. The military protected
overland trade routes, which
made it safer for foreign
traders.
3. Marco Polo: Italian merchant
who served under Kublai
Khan’s court. He determined
that China was highly
civilized. And wrote a boo
about it.
Ming Dynasty
1368-1644 CE
Religion and Culture
1. Buddhism, Daoism
and Confucianism
are still important
influences in China
today.
Technology and Achievements
1. They built the
Forbidden City in
Beijing. It had 9,000
rooms and government
buildings. Only the
upper class could go in.
(pg.184)
2. Restoration of the Great
Wall – Expanded to over
2,000 miles long! (pg.185)
Government and Unification
1. They expelled
(kicked out) the
Mongols.
2. Emperors became
more powerful.
3. Civil service system is
used (had to pass
examinations to
become scholar
officials). (pg.186)
Trade
1. Sailor Zheng He: led many
grand voyages all over Asia
and Africa. He returned
with representatives from
over 30 nations to honor the
Chinese king. (183)
2. Isolationism: Ming emperors
concluded the West has
little to offer so they
restricted trade and other
interactions. (186)
3. China avoided outside
contact and fell behind other
countries in technology and
military power. (pg.186)