Unit 3
An Age of Exchange and Encounter:
500 to A.D. 1500

Chapter 12
Empires in East Asia,
600 - 1350 A.D.
Section 1
Two Great Dynasties in China

Empires in East Asia,
600 –1350
600
CHAPTER
12
618 Tang Dynasty begins
300-year rule in China.
Scholar-officials managed the Tang government.
Time Line
935 Koryu Dynasty controls Korea.
794 Heian period begins in Japan.
960 Song Dynasty established in
China.
1185 Kamakura shogunate rules
Japan.
1350
1279 Kublai Khan conquers China.

Two Great Dynasties in China
Objectives
• To identify the main rulers of the Tang Dynasty and the extent of their empire.
• To describe the causes and effects of the Song family’s flight south.
• To summarize the achievements of the Tang and Song empires.
• To describe changes in Chinese society.
• Vocabulary: Tang Taizong, Wu Zhao, movable type, gentry

Sui Wendi - 589 AD
– united China after 350 years
– completion of Grand Canal
Tang Dynasty - 618 - 907 AD
– Tang Taizong
• reconquered former Han lands
– Manchuria to Vietnam
– Wu Zhao
• only female emperor in China
• oversaw Korea addition
• networks of roads and canals
• prospered thru foreign trade
• Confucianism reform
– civil service exams
• Fall due to crushing taxes

Song Dynasty - 960 - 1279 AD
– smaller than Tang
– paid tribute to invaders
• forced to flee south by Jurchen
– rapid economic growth
• trade with Asia and Europe
Most Populous and Advanced
– movable type
• used more than once
– gunpowder
– porcelain
– mechanical clock
– paper money
– magnetic compass

Agriculture
– two rice crops annually
Trade
– Silk Road
– greatest sea power
• Buddhism; tea
Art
– Li Bo - life’s pleasures
• natural landscapes
Society
– social mobility
– social advancement
• civil service system
• gentry - upper class

1. Who were the Tang’s main rulers?
2. Why did the Song family retreat south?
What was the effect of the flight?
3. What are some of the achievements of the
Tang and Song Empires?
4. What were some changes in Chinese society?

Two Great Dynasties in China
Section 1 Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
Explain the similarities and differences between the
Tang and Song dynasties.
Tang Only
Expanded the empire, had a female ruler, reformed the civil service
Both
Prospered through trade, improved agriculture, created great art and literature
Song Only
Ruled smaller empire, developed into great sea power, created paper money and movable type

Chapter 12
Empires in East Asia,
600 - 1350 A.D.
Section 3
Empire of the Great Khan

Empire of the Great Khan
Objectives
• To summarize Kublai Khan’s conquest of China.
• To describe Mongol rule in China.
• To identify the importance of Marco Polo’s journeys.
• To describe the fall of Mongol rule in China and elsewhere.
• Vocabulary: Kublai Khan, Marco Polo

Kublai Khan
– grandson of Genghis Khan
– Great Khan
• ruler of entire Mongol Empire
– 1st foreigner to rule China
• Yuan Dynasty - 1279-1368
– 1st to unite China in 300 years
– open China to foreign contacts
– lived most of life in China, not on steppe (Mongolia)
• capital at Beijing
• Japan
– 1274 and 1281
– largest seaborne fleet until WW II

Separation
– Mongols lived apart from Chinese
– Chinese institutions
– Chinese in low govt positions
• Mongols and foreigners
• Marco Polo
– Venetian trader
– encouraged foreign visits
• Silk Road
• End of Mongol rule
– 1368 - Chinese rebels (Ming)
– Khanate of the Golden Horde
• 1480 AD

1.
Describe Kublai’s conquest of China.
– Conquers southern China after 40 years
– Founds Yuan Dynasty
2. How did the Mongol’s govern China?
– Tolerated Chinese culture; made few changes
– Mongols and foreigners in key positions
3. Why was Marco Polo’s journey to China important?
– Western look into Kublai’s China; trade
4. What were some of the reasons for Mongol decline in the 1300s?
– Kublai’s death; taxing wars; rebellion

Empire of the
Great Khan
Section
3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List seven events that show the impact of
Kublai Khan on East Asia.
Conquered China
Established a
Mongol dynasty
(Yuan)
Extended foreign trade
Kublai Khan
Improved communication within China and across Asia
Fought unsuccessful wars in Southeast Asia
Reunited China
Failed to conquer Japan

Feudal Powers in Japan
Section
4
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Summarize the main periods and events in Japanese history between the years
300 and 1300.
Event Two
500
Koreans bring Buddhist images and scriptures to Yamato court.
Event Four
794
Capital moved to
Heian.
Event Six
1192
Yoritomo becomes first shogun.
Event One
300
Chinese writings first mention
Japan.
Event Three
600s-800s
Japan adopts aspects of
Chinese culture.
Event Five
1000-1200
Feudal system develops.
Event Seven
1274 and
1281
Japan turns back Mongol invasions.

Chapter 12
Empires in East Asia,
600 - 1350 A.D.
Section 5
Kingdoms of Southeast Asia and
Korea

Kingdoms of Southeast Asia and Korea
Objectives
• To describe the kingdoms of Southeast Asia and the influence of India and China.
• To summarize early Korean history.
• Vocabulary: Khmer Empire, Anghor Wat,
Koryu Dynasty

SE Asia
• Geography
– between Indian / Pacific Oceans
– tropical, humid climate
– mainland south of China
– island chain
• Culture
– never unified culturally/politically
• rivers and straits
• Political Power
– trade routes
– harbors

Indian Influence
– monsoon winds
– Hinduism and Buddhism
– Sanskrit
Chinese Influence
– political tribute
Khmer Empire - 800-1200 CE
– Cambodia; main SE Asian power on mainland
– dominate sea trade
– rice cultivation
• 3-4 crops annually
– capital at Angkor Wat
• city and temple complexes

Sailendra Dynasty
– Java; sea trade
– Borobudur Buddhist temple
Srivijaya Empire
– Java, Borneo, Sumatra
– wealth via taxing trade
– Palembang as learning center
Ly Dynasty
– Hanoi, Vietnam
– expansion via conquest
– fought off Mongols

Koryu Dynasty - 935-1392 CE
– isolation
– Korea
• strong Chinese Han influence
– govt. modeled after China
• Confucian civil service
– social divisions
• landed aristocracy = haves
• all others = have nots
– Mongol occupation
• 1231-1350 CE
• tribute

Kingdoms of Southeast
Asia and Korea
Section 5 Assessment
1. List six important kingdoms or dynasties covered in this section, and at least two major accomplishments of each.
Kingdom or Dynasty
Khmer
Srivijaya
Sailendra
Vietnam
Silla
Koryu
Accomplishments
Built irrigation system and Angkor Wat
Dominated Strait of Malacca; created center of Buddhist learning
Prospered through agriculture; built Borobudur
Gained independence from China; defeated the Mongols
United Korea; developed writing
Established civil service; produced celadon pottery