Empires in East Asia, 600-1350

The Khmer Empire, like India, is a land-based civilization with a strong Hindu influence. Its proximity to India and its location on the Indochinese Peninsula, a trade route between India and Southeast Asia, would have facilitated cultural exchange and made it more receptive to Indian influence.

The Great Wall of China was built to protect China from nomadic invaders from the north, primarily the Mongols. The wall served as a defensive barrier and a symbol of Chinese strength and resilience.

China's advanced civilization, powerful military, and long-standing cultural influence have historically enabled it to exert a strong influence over East Asia. Its location and cultural dominance have fostered a sense of cultural superiority and political leadership.

<p>The Sui Dynasty built the Grand Canal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The greatest accomplishment of the Sui emperors was the completion of the Grand Canal. This waterway connected the Huang He and the Chang Jiang and provided a vital route for trade between the northern cities and the southern rice-producing region of the Chang delta.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Sui emperors overworked and overtaxed the people, who were forced to labor on endless state projects like the Grand Canal and the Great Wall. This led to revolts and eventually the assassination of the second Sui emperor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tang Taizong's greatest achievement was extending the influence of the Tang Dynasty through military campaigns, which significantly expanded the empire's borders to the north, south, and west.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wu Zhao was a powerful empress who virtually ruled China for many years during the Tang Dynasty, initially by influencing her husband and later by assuming the throne herself. She was the only woman in Chinese history to hold the title of Emperor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Tang Dynasty reinstated the civil service examination system, which was crucial in establishing a powerful bureaucracy. It helped manage the vast empire by reviving and expanding the system, making it a key component in the successful administration of the Tang Dynasty.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The major contributing factors to the fall of the Tang Dynasty were economic burdens on the people due to heavy taxes, widespread corruption, and constant threats from both internal rebellions and external invasions. Eventually this weakened the empire, leading to its collapse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After the Tang Dynasty, China split into kingdoms ruled by warlords. The Song Dynasty, which began in 960, reunited China and restored stability, but ruled over a smaller empire. The Song Dynasty eventually fell to the Mongol invasion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The most significant technological advance of the Song Dynasty was the invention of movable type. This allowed printers to quickly find and arrange individual characters to make up a page, replacing the previously arduous method of carving entire pages onto large blocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song Dynasty's agricultural advancements included the introduction of a new variety of fast-ripening rice from Vietnam, which allowed farmers to harvest two rice crops a year. This contributed to China's rapid population growth and overall prosperity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The increased trade under the Tang and Song dynasties helped to expand the Chinese economy and connect China to the world. It led to cultural exchange, the spread of ideas, and the introduction of new products, goods, and services. The Mongol Peace during the Yuan Dynasty further facilitated trade by securing caravans routes and expanding the economic influence of China.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Foot-binding was a custom in upper-class Chinese society during the Tang and Song dynasties, where it was considered an ideal of feminine beauty and symbolized a woman's confined status within the family. The practice was primarily symbolic, as it served as a marker of high status and wealth, highlighting the social divide between upper and lower classes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Asian Steppe is a vast expanse of dry grassland that extends from Central Asia to eastern Europe. It was a vital trade route connecting the east and west and home to nomadic peoples who frequently swept down on their neighbors to plunder, loot, and conquer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Asian Steppe played a significant role in neighboring civilizations through trade and conquest. It served as a vital trade route, connecting east and west, and was home to nomadic peoples who often raided settled communities. This tension between nomadic and settled societies had profound effects on the development of civilizations in the region.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pastoral nomads, like the Mongols, lived on horseback, herded domesticated animals, and traveled across the vast steppe in search of good pasture. Their lifestyle was centered on a nomadic way of life, constantly moving in search of resources and engaging in trade or conquest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Clans in tribal cultures play a crucial role in maintaining social order and identity. They represent kinship groups that trace their lineage back to a common ancestor and provide a sense of belonging and mutual support within the tribe. Clans often come together for collective defense, raiding neighboring communities, or managing resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Genghis Khan was a skilled military leader, strategist, and organizer. He united the Mongols through a combination of force, diplomacy, and a shared vision of conquering neighboring lands. His ability to inspire loyalty from his followers and his understanding of Mongol culture and social structure allowed him to unite the diverse clans under his leadership.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Genghis Khan's campaign of conquest was devastating to Central Asia. Cities were destroyed, populations were slaughtered, and trade routes were disrupted. This led to the collapse of thriving cities and a decline in trade, which had a lasting impact on the region.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Pax Mongolica, meaning Mongol Peace, was a period in history from the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s when the Mongols imposed stability and law and order across much of Eurasia. It facilitated trade travel, and cultural exchange by guaranteeing a safe passage for traders, travelers, and missionaries, promoting a period of relative peace.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After Genghis Khan's death, the Mongol Empire was divided into four major khanates: the Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia and China), the Khanate of Chagatai (Central Asia), the Ilkhanate (Persia), and the Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kublai Khan, as the grandson of Genghis Khan, focused not only on conquest but also on consolidating power in China. He established a new Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty. This was significant because it marked a change from the more traditional nomadic lifestyle of the earlier Mongols. His adoption of Chinese cultural practices, including an imperial court, and his promotion of trade and cultural exchange between the east and west were important factors in shaping the Mongol Empire in the 13th Century.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kublai Khan, although a Mongol, adopted a tolerant approach toward the native Chinese. He maintained the existing government system and allowed Chinese culture to flourish. Though generally favoring Mongols and foreigners for high government positions, he did have more Chinese officials than his ancestors, highlighting a more nuanced and less oppressive relationship between the Mongols and the Chinese population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kublai Khan sent two military expeditions to conquer Japan in 1274 and 1281. His forces were defeated in the 1274 invasion, but the 1281 campaign experienced heavy losses due to a devastating typhoon known as the kamikaze. The failure to conquer Japan showed the limitations of the Mongol empire's naval capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Marco Polo's journey to the Mongol court under Kublai Khan had a significant impact on the Western world. He documented his experiences, offering unique insights into China and its culture. His accounts, though at times exaggerated, shed light on the advanced nature of China and its cultural achievements, which were largely unknown to Europe at that time. His writings contributed to the rise of trade and exploration between Europe and Asia, playing a pivotal role in the development of cultural exchange.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Mongol Empire's decline can be attributed to several factors, including internal strife and power struggles among the various khanates. The empire's vast size and the diversity of the conquered populations made it difficult to maintain control, leading to rebellions and divisions. External factors, such as economic pressures, disease outbreaks, and climatic changes, further weakened the empire, contributing to its eventual disintegration and fragmentation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers