Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
1) Evaluate changes and continuities in the role of religion in Chinese society from 600 – 1450

Major Religions in China at the time: Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism

Confucianism emphasizes accepting your place in society and respect of those above you
(and below you)

Taoists believe one should never seek “the way”, just let what is destined to happen to
you, happen Essentially, whatever your level in society, don't try to change it, just go
with it and if it’s destined to change it will

Religion helps justify extreme societal stratification, limiting social and economic
mobility

Religion also justified gender bias

Emperors used religion to claim their “mandate of heaven”

Religion increased stability by emphasizing the acceptance of one’s status and class

Major change is the introduction of foreign religions, mostly Islam and Christianity due
to an increase in missionary activity and the West’s increasing interest in the East

Under the Tang and Song, people enjoyed freedom of religion, later however there were
large anti-foreign religion movements

Buddhism attacked during the 800’s due to its non-Chinese origins and Buddhists
exemption from taxes

During the Yuan (Manchu rulers) foreign religions (Islam and Christianity) were even
classified as higher, socially, then native Chinese religions This was because the Yuan
were invaders and so the Chinese were less loyal to them then the foreigners
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
2) Analyze cultural and political changes and continuities in Chinese civilization during the last
centuries of the classical era 100 CE – 600 CE

Political

Han dynasty ruled until 220 CE, ruled a powerful, advanced, unified China, under the
absolute control of the emperor who split China into states under him (this would
come back to bite the Han during the warring states period)

By the end of the 100’s the Han were in decline due to political corruption, a
stubborn elite class, and a series of harsh civil wars

The once unified China fragmented and entered it’s warring states period until the
500’s (with a brief period of unity under the Jin in the 300’s that quickly collapsed)

The Sui finally unified China again in the late 500’s with an extremely authoritative
government and a highly centralized state

Cultural

Chinese family life and society guided by Confucian system during Han; patriarchal,
system of personal relationships and respect or filial obedience.

Tang in 7th century adopted Confucian government system

As early as the 1st century, Buddhism began to enter China through trade routes from
India

Became official religion of Tang Dynasty.

Special form of Mahayana Buddhism spread throughout China

Confucian lasted as a philosophical and cultural system because it worked;
maintained order in Chinese society and government, and was flexible to different
times and governments

Buddhism also lasted because it was adapted to Chinese culture
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
3) Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in Indian civilization during the
last centuries of the classical era (300CE- 600CE)

Thesis: Throughout this period, India experienced the rise and fall of the Gupta Empire,
great intellectual and cultural growth, and increasing discrimination against women, but
managed to maintain a rigid caste system, a strong belief in Hinduism, and profitable
trade and commerce.

India was politically fragmented ever since the fall of the Mauryan Empire

Due to political disunity and a lack of patronage of the science and arts, intellectual
development was slow

Women were considered inferior to men, but still had some rights

Political change: rise and fall of the Gupta Empire Although not as centralized, India
became politically unified under Gupta rule The empire used a combination of “theaterstate” leading tactics and military force to control its territories

Cultural change: a dramatic growth in scientific discoveries and artistic achievements—a
Golden Age of intellectualism and Indian culture

Cultural Change: sharp decline in the status and rights of women because of resurgence
of Hinduism, women treated as the lowest social class, lost almost all rights, and were the
victims of new extreme religious rituals

Huns invaded India from Northwest; faced with economic hardship, Gupta Empire
collapsed and with it the Golden Age of science/arts also gradually ended

The degradation of women became imbedded in Hindu tradition, and continues in India
even in modern day

Cultural: Hinduism and the caste system were steadfast in their relevance and impact on
society The Gupta used the castes and Hinduism to validate their rule

Political—Trade and commerce continued to thrive as it had before the rise of the Gupta
Empire
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
4) Describe the cultural, economic, and political impact of Islam on South and Southeast Asia
between 1000 – 1750

The immense prominence of Islam within the South and Southeast region of Asia was
largely due to the profitable trading routes across the Indian Ocean

Between 1000 -1750, Islam has continued to be the hallmark of religious influence in the
Southern parts of Asia, but due to preexistent Hindu and Buddhist culture, the religious
doctrines of Islam were less strictly adhered to as time went on. Islam also changed the
political structure of South and Southeast Asian nations, and expanded the economy by
creating a major trading networks

Islam led to the creation of various political theocracies within the Southeast Asian
region and influenced political ideas and laws such as the establishment of the Islamic
Code which was based heavily on the Quran

Socially, Islam created various aspirations and goal that followers must attempt to
achieve, such as uphold the practices of the Five Pillars of Islam

Islam created laws governing aspects of life such as marriage, homosexuality, and slavery

An increase in trading networks and maritime powers along the Southeast Asia region
were due to Islamic influence

Islam allowed relatively isolated Southeast Asian territories to prosper through
worldwide Muslim connections, and merged Islamic religious code and tradition with
local culture to create vibrant ethnic identities
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
5) Describe changes and continuities in social, political, and economic role that Confucianism
played in both the Ming and Qing Empires of China from 1450 – 1750

Confucianism continued to be a prominent form of lifestyle in both the Ming and Qing
Empires during the period marked from 1450CE to 1750 CE

During the Ming Empire, many attempts were made to secularize Confucianism rather
than conforming to its Daoism and Buddhism beliefs

Both the ideas of filial piety and the emphasis on education, concepts developed by
Confucian values, were held in high regard throughout the longevity of both the Qing and
the Ming Dynasties

The Ming Dynasty initially separated itself from Confucianism and accepted a hybrid
form of Confucianism known as Neo-Confucianism

The Qing Dynasty's strong support of Confucianism allowed it to become a political
theology; they held literary inquisitions to prevent teachings that oppose Confucian
ideologies

Confucianism promoted the idea of cultural diffusion, thus, trading became the main
source of Chinese wealth throughout both the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
6) Changes and continuities in commerce in the Indian Ocean Region 650 – 1750
 Indian Ocean commerce:
 primarily occurred between East Africa, India, Southeast Asia
 took advantage of weather patterns in such regions and on the ocean
 influenced the development of nations surrounding the ocean
 allowed for the diffusion of European Culture
 Trade began with independent traders traveling between small port towns.
 Seclusion of such towns from mainland kept them free of national interests
 As powerful nations developed, sovereigns employed commerce for diplomacy and
economic growth
 Alternately, maritime society in Southeast Asia was always closely linked with major
kingdoms
 The maritime system catalyzed cultural diffusion in the Indian Ocean
 Initially, among the variety of traders, few had national identity or loyalty
 Traders easily settled down at foreign port cities and married into local populations,
creating multi-cultural successive generations
 Created an emergent culture among traders, separate from any one nation or region
 National interests and European merchants eventually intruded
 Such merchants sought to monopolize trade and impose European religions
 Both the Portuguese and Dutch (through the East India Company) were successful in
doing so, in addition to homogenizing local culture
 Focus of Indian Ocean Trade gradually switched from necessities to luxuries and exotic
goods.
 Initially, traders in small groups were more motivated toward self-preservation than
enterprise
 Operations eventually expanded, so traders could service greater empires,
 Trade never reached the level that it did in the Mediterranean
 Expeditions took advantage of monsoons to leave the shore for faster and longer
journeys
 Indian Ocean Commerce:
 Attracted nations, both local and European, and compelled them to cooperate and
compete for resources
 Allowed for both the spread and homogenization of culture
 Its functionality allowed it to remain primarily unchanged in practice over centuries
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
7) Analyze continuities and changes in patterns of interactions along the Silk Roads from 200
BCE to 1450 CE

Assimilated to a rapidly modernizing economy while still meant mainly for trade.

Caused religious ideas to spread.

Religious ideas made very slight changes to political boundaries in some territories.

Traded mainly silk.

Other popular trade items were gold, ivory, plants and animals.

Originally Romans discovered the silk off of Parthians, but knew that Parthians were too
unsophisticated to produce the material themselves.

China eventually began producing glass around the 5th century.

China began to receive ceramics, lacquer, jade, fur, bronze, and iron.

Buddhism began to grow in India.

China sent representatives to examine it, who brought scriptures and Indian priests back
to China with them.

Buddhism continued to spread well into the 7th century, increasing the amount of
scriptures traded and pilgrimages made along the Silk Roads.

Christianity eventually took hold along the Silk Roads.

Some groups attempted to wipe out Christians, but they failed and Christianity lasted
well into the 14th century.
8) Analyze and describe the impact of new technology on East Asia from 1450 – The Present
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4

Technology in East Asia in 1450 was mainly focused around gunpowder, which was used
to repress the people in China, Japan and Korea

In the mid 1800’s, with the Industrial Revolution, technology had much more power to
liberate the people.

Japan, however, used the new power which would enable social mobility to crack down
on the people and form a military dictatorship

The internet is the new big technology, and it is entirely being used to free the people

Sina Weibo connects people and allows them to speak out against the government

Japan and Korea have cultures based upon the internet
9) Analyze and describe the impact of interregional trade on Asia during the period 600 to 1450.
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4

Throughout this period, interregional trade led to the presence of foreign influence in
culture, goods, and technology throughout Asia. However, interregional trade in Asia
during and after the Mongol invasion led to the growth of Asian cities and trade networks


Interregional trade led to constant foreign influence in Asia
 During Tang Empire in 8th century, city of Chang’an was a continental commercial
center, where Arab and Indian world met.
 Continued through the Song Dynasty to the 13th century, when the Mongolians from
inner Asian Steppes conquered China and most of Asia.
 Under Mongols, commercial interaction and cultural diffusion continued
 Missionaries and merchants traveled long distances to visit Mongol courts and
brought with them European or Islamic goods and customs
 During the Yuan Empire during the 14th century, diffusion continued – Muslim and
Hellenistic merchants or scientists had influence in Yuan society
 Persian, Arab, or Muslim scholars also held administrative positions,
 Under Ming Empire in 15th century, exploration and expansion led to spread of
European or Middle Eastern culture and technology throughout Asia; cannons
reached China from Europe.
During and after the Mongol Invasion, Asian trade networks and cities expanded as it
became a more important interregional economic power
 During the Tang and Song, China was relatively isolated having only one major city
in each dynasty – Chang’an and Hangzhou respectively.
 Both cities were focused more on a regional tributary system limited to exchange
within Asia
 Interregional trade was not an important part of Asian economy.
 In 13th century, Mongols conquered territory from Asia to Europe and Middle East,
strengthening interregional trade networks.
 During the Yuan and Ming Empires, China was a commercial center not only in Asia
but also throughout eastern Afroeurasia.
 Chinese city of Beijing was also home to Muslim, Persian, and Arab scholars
 Society as well as economy became oriented towards interregional trade; commerce
became a respected position as more Chinese began to dominate trade throughout
Silk Roads
 The Mongol protection of trade routes like the Silk Road stretching from Asia to
Europe allowed for the growth of exchange between these two different regions and
the transformation of Asia into a major commercial center
 The value of Asian goods and luxuries such as silk and porcelain remained high in
the European and Muslim world throughout this period, so the presence of merchants
and foreigners in Asian countries was constant
10) Analyze how East Asias relationship to global trade patterns changed from 1750 - the present
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4

National identity and economic openness have an inverse relationship in East Asia, an
influx of one leading to a decrease of the other

Nationalism in China spiked after the Communist Revolution and the government cut off
trade with all other countries, even the other communist ones, demonstrated by the
SinoRussian split

After the failure of the communist policies of the Mao regime it would make sense that
Chinese nationalism would be lower than when the regime initially took power, so after
Mao died China opened itself up to the rest of the world

Japan in the 1500’s felt superior to the rest of the world when it saw the European sailors
who came to the country to spread trade and Christianity, and thus it decided to become
self sufficient and cut itself off from the rest of the world

After Japan was humiliated by having to obey the American ships that demanded Japan
open up its ports the Japanese decided to industrialize and integrate its economy the rest
of the world

Again, after Japan was humiliated by its defeat in WW2 it was willing to allow its
economy to be restructured into an export based economy, which means its likely to be
integrated with the world economy for much of the foreseeable future
Isaac Gluck, Aída Piccato, Gideon Leeper, Keiran Carpen, Jonathan Evans, Shane Lorenzen, David
Dvorkin, Danielle Isakov – ASIA – Pd4
11) Analyze changes and continuities in national identity in South East Asia from 1900 to the
present

The presence of Western colonial powers spurred nationalistic feelings and pride among
the natives in South East Asia and has lead to these nations becoming more united then
they would have otherwise become, if not necessarily stronger

India is the largest democracy in the world; it is industrialized and has many facets of
western culture to it

India had a native upper class that was educated in the west; this exposed them to ideas
they would have been unable to see in India without British intervention

These upper class Indians used what they learned to organize their people around ideas
like civil rights and national self-determination. Also, the experience gained in
governance helped the Indians have as smooth a transition into self governance as
possible

The ideas that permeated into India as a result of colonialism helped the nation run itself
after its independence

In Vietnam the presence of colonial masters was very destructive to the people and
country, but many people like Ho Chi Minh were educated in the West and based their
philosophies off what they learned there

The wars fought for independence from France brought the nations of Indochina together
despite their being many ethnicities there