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# China's Neighbors: Nomads, Japan, SE Asia ## SE Asia During Song period, SE Asia became a crossroads of Afro-Eurasian influences. Malay Peninsula had many entrepôts (intermediary centers of trade and transshipment), meeting places for traders traveling between India and China (connected Bay of...

# China's Neighbors: Nomads, Japan, SE Asia ## SE Asia During Song period, SE Asia became a crossroads of Afro-Eurasian influences. Malay Peninsula had many entrepôts (intermediary centers of trade and transshipment), meeting places for traders traveling between India and China (connected Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean with South China Sea). SE Asia had a fusion of religions and cultural influences. The most powerful kingdom was the Khmer Empire (889-1431), with its capital at Angkor in Cambodia. Public works and magnificent temples such as Angkor Wat emerged. Khmer and other neighboring kingdoms acted as buffers between China and India, blocking conflict and creating political stability and economic prosperity in SE Asia. ## Song China: Insiders vs Outsiders ### Economic and Political Developments Song emperors expanded the central bureaucracy of scholar-officials through competitive civil service exams. Chinese emperors administered exams to those who reached the final stage, symbolizing a high level of achievement and demanding oaths of allegiance from the new ruling elite. This led to a power shift from hereditary aristocracy to less wealthy, but more highly educated scholar-officials. ### China's Neighbors: Nomads, Japan, SE Asia **Nomads:** China's northern neighbors, nomadic societies, formed dynasties and adopted Chinese institutions while seeking to conquer and emulate China. They used Song China's advanced technology (e.g., steel-tipped arrows, crossbows, flamethrowers, crouching tiger catapults, incendiary bombs) in their strategies against the Chinese. However, short-term solutions (buying off nomads) led to economic instability and military weakness. Neighbors defined their identities to avoid being swallowed up by China, increasing commercial transactions. **Japan:** Kyoto, Japan, was modeled after the Chinese capital. Chinese influence permeated Japanese society, but outside Kyoto, military leaders, samurai warriors and wealthy landowners challenged the Japanese imperial court (headquartered in Kyoto) for power and cultural influence. Early 1300s/14th century, Japan had varied sources of political and cultural power, with an imperial family, but little actual authority, alongside powerful landowners, and an emerging samurai warrior class. ## What was China? China felt distinct and culturally superior to others ("outsiders" or "barbarians"). Key features included: * **Printing:** demonstrated distinct Chinese identity, with advanced printing, book publishing and circulation. Calendars, books (medical, historical, philosophical, literary, Buddhist and Confucian classics) established classical Chinese as the common language of educated East Asians. * **Wealth:** China became the richest of the four major cultural spheres (Europe, Middle East, India, China) due to its large population, strong agrarian base (food production), and manufacturing innovations. The government oversaw and taxed trade in port cities. ## What was Christian Europe? Christianity became a universalizing faith in Eastern and Western Europe. Before 1200, it revolved around monks in great monasteries, but by 1200, parish churches arose throughout Europe bringing Christianity to the masses, and clergy reached deeper into private lives. Christian orders encouraged all to be better Christians. Universities were established by scholars striving to prove that Christianity addressed all rational human concerns (e.g., St. Thomas Aquinas). ## Localization of Power: Western Europe * **Manors:** Lord's fortified home/castle; Fields controlled by the lord but worked by serfs/peasants; Village where peasants lived (often with church); Agriculture as the primary product and trade and manufacturing for extra income * **Feudalism:** Manorialism as a system of production compounds organizing labor and land ownership. ## Background/Review: Europe (300–1000s) Fragmentation, civil conflicts, and invasions from within led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Barbarian groups invaded. Feudalism emerged. The Church provided guidance and continuity and Christianity spread. Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, establishing some control, but feudalism persisted and eventually kingdoms were split after his death with continued Viking invasions. ## India's Cultural Mosaic India's cultural mosaic was diverse, exhibiting an array of traditions and interactions. (Details omitted). ## Shifting Political Structures Various political structures emerged: Dynasties/Empires expanded, trade routes developed, and cultural exchanges increased. Several Islamic empires formed: Ottoman (details omitted), Delhi Sulthate (details omitted). (Details omitted) *(Note that the image contained a large amount of information. This response provides a concise summary, but important details have been omitted for brevity.)*