Unit 1 East Asia PDF

Unit 1 EAST ASIA East Asia at this point: China is constantly ruled by Dynasties Culture is based on the idea of Filial Piety Honoring your parents is the greatest contribution you can have to society Being obedient to them will bring you good fortune which will bri...

Unit 1 EAST ASIA East Asia at this point: China is constantly ruled by Dynasties Culture is based on the idea of Filial Piety Honoring your parents is the greatest contribution you can have to society Being obedient to them will bring you good fortune which will bring you riches in life Important Themes in this region during this time period: Government: Song Dynasty Religion: Confucianism Economic System: Imperial Bureaucracy Historical Developments Growth of Song Dynasty in China was due to the commercialization on free labor from peasants and artisans Champa Rice flourishes in China and becomes a staple of their community Innovations in Transportation The Grand Canal Expansion Steel and Iron Textiles and porcelains are the major exports Succession of Chinese DynastiesHan (Ended 220 CE) Sui (589-618) Considered to be the “Golden Age” Song (960-1279) Time of Economic Revolution Yuan (1271-1368) The Mongols Ruled Ming (1368-1644) Chinese Rule Resumed “Golden Age” of Chinese Achievement Fall of Western Roman Empire was permanent - but China reunited under the Sui dynasty (589-618) Sui emperors solidified unity w/ extension of canal system (1,200 miles in length) the Grand Canal linked northern & southern China increased economic prosperity ruthless Sui emperors & futile military campaign to conquer Korea exhausted state resources led to overthrow of Sui dynasty Women in the Song Dynasty  Tang Dynasty: Women had more rights thanks to influences from steppe nomads Song Dynasty: Return of Confucianism This means the tightening of patriarchal restrictions on women returned Han images of female submission & passivity “The boy leads the girl, the girl follows the boy; the duty of husbands to be resolute and wives to be docile begins with this.” - Sima Guang (1019-1086) Tang Dynasty: Women had more rights thanks to influences from steppe nomads Song Dynasty: Return of Confucianism This means the tightening of patriarchal restrictions on women returned Han images of female submission & passivity “The boy leads the girl, the girl follows the boy; the duty of husbands to be resolute and wives to be docile begins with this.” - Sima Guang (1019-1086) Women in the Song Dynasty most compelling expression of patriarchy = foot binding foot binding = Chinese practice of tight wrapping of young girls’ feet, breaking of foot bones began with dancers and courtesans in the 10th or 11th century CE during Tang dynasty, foot binding widely spread among elite families and became more widespread in Chinese society associated with new images of female beauty and eroticism - emphasized small, delicate - reticence kept women restricted Rapidly commercializing economy undermined the position of women in the textile industry Urban workshops and state factories were run by men and took work from rural women However, women could still run restaurants, sell food in the market, work as maids, cooks, and dressmakers Property rights expanded in Song dynasty This meant they could control their own dowries and inherit property Song dynasty offered mixture of tightening restrictions and new opportunities China & Northern Nomads for 2,000 years or more, pressure from the steppes and the intrusion of nomadic peoples were constant favors in China’s historical development Mostly were the Mongols northern nomads could not practice agriculture, but herded animals instead needed grain and other products from China drawn to China - trading, raiding, and extorting to obtain resources (even luxury goods) Great Wall was built to keep nomads out Chinese NEEDED nomads for horses, skins, furs, hides, and amber Nomads also controlled most of the Silk Road trading networks Great Wall of China 220 - 206 BCE - most famous section was built by Qin emperor Qing Shi Huang (emperor who united China) additions added from time to time most of what remains today was built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Tribute System Chinese saw themselves as “civilization” in contrast to rude culture & primitive life of northern nomads  educated Chinese saw themselves as self-sufficient while barbarians sought access to China’s wealth and wisdom tribute system: Set of practices that required non-Chinese authorities to acknowledge Chinese superiority and their own subordinate place in a Chinese-centered world order foreigners would perform rituals of bowing and present tribute in return, emperor would give permission for foreigners to trade in China’s markets tribute system was used to regulate Chinese relationships with northern nomads, and neighboring states some “tributes” were actually protection money from the Chinese to the nomadic empires one Chinese emperor gave a Xiongnu leader a princess in marriage to stop devastating attacks also gifted large quantities of grain, wine, and silk were called “gifts” but were really bribes Relations with China: Korea temporary Chinese conquest of northern Korea during Han dynasty & colonization by Chinese settlers = channel for Chinese culture = Buddhism bitter rivals generally maintained political independence tribute system with China wanted to copy Chinese administrative techniques Korean students studied Confucianism in China negative impact on Korean women (who had more rights before Chinese Confucian influences arrived) esp. after 1300 examination system never caught on Korean women originally had children and stayed with their families This was against Confucian ideals that women join the husband’s family Other rights eroded due to Confucianism: Remarriage of divorced or widowed women Female inheritance of property Plural marriages for men Chinese culture had little influence outside of the aristocracy Korea had many slaves, 1/3rd of the population in 1100 CE Buddhist monasteries used slaves to cultivate land Developed a phonetic alphabet called hangul for writing Very different from Chinese writing Relations with China: Vietnam also borrowed heavily from China adopted Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, administrative techniques, examination system, artistic & literary styles achieved political independence through tribute system unlike Korea, they were ruled by Chinese officials for 1,000 years 111 BCE - 939 CE Regarded by the Chinese as “southern barbarians” China expected Vietnam to fully assimilate into China politically and culturally Chinese styles, language, and clothing = mandatory Chinese-style irrigated agriculture introduced  Vietnamese officials educated as Confucian scholars Chinese became language for official business periodic Vietnamese rebellions Became a separate, independent state after 938 BCE Vietnamese dynasties continued to use Chinese government systems Utilized the Mandate of Heaven still had unique language & greater role for women in social & economic life Japan’s Development They pick and choose pieces of culture, religion, and various aspects of society Known as “Synthesizing” and “Borrowing” of traditions They’re able to do this because China didn’t have a direct influence on Japan They do this same process with Europe They adopt Serfdom Form of Coerced Labor Relations with China: Japan Separated by 100 miles of ocean Never successfully invaded or conquered by China Borrowing from Chinese civilization was voluntary Hundreds of monks & scholars visited China and brought back ideas Adopted Chinese-style court rituals, court rankings, calendar Encouraged Buddhism & Confucianism No threat to China because they were selective in their borrowing Decentralization: Local authorities developed their own military power Samurai (warrior class of Japanese society) Buddhism never completely replaced original Japanese beliefs (Shintoism) Shintoism in Japan Shintoism is Japan’s native animist religion. Animist religions believe in nature spirits (of mountains, trees, animals, etc). Shintoism is still practiced in Japan today in conjunction with Buddhism. Samurai Bushido - “way of the warrior” Unwritten law code for samurai Stressed frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and honor until death Born from Neo-Confucianism and Confucian texts during the Tokugawa-era also influenced by Shinto and Zen Buddhism Seven virtues: righteousness, courage, kindness, respect, honesty, honor, loyalty Women in Japan Upper-class women in Japan escaped oppressive features of Chinese Confucianism: prohibition of remarriage for widows, seclusion within the home, and foot binding Japanese women could inherit property Japanese women did begin to lose status after the 12th century (1100s) This had less to do with Confucianism and more to do with warrior/samurai culture Developments in Dar al-Islam Historical Developments  Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the core beliefs and practices of these religions continued to shape societies in Africa and Asia. As the Abbasid Caliphate fragmented, new Islamic political entities emerged, led by Turkic people. New political entities: Seljuk Empire Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt Delhi Sultanates Muslim rule continued to expand to many parts of Afro-Eurasia due to military expansion, and Islam, subsequently expanded through the activities of merchants and missionaries Muslim states and empires encouraged significant intellectual innovations and transfers. Innovations: Advances in mathematics, literature, and medicine Transfers: Scholarly and cultural transfers in Muslim and Christian Spain The Prophet Muhammad Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (570-632 C.E.) – born in Mecca, successful trader, had powerful religious experience that left him convinced that he was Allah’s messenger to the Arabs Monotheistic – Belief in One God Considered himself higher than Abraham and Jesus The main God of Judaism and God of Christianity Sunni vs. Shia Muslims Sunni: Caliphs were rightful religious/political leaders – selected by the community (75- 90% of the world’s population of Muslims) – originally supported the Umayyads Shi’a: Leadership should descend from Muhammad’s ancestors (10-20% of the world’s Muslim population) – originally supported Ali Islamic Networks of Exchange Major Products of Islamic Networks: Rice, sugarcane, wheat, bananas, lemons, limes, watermelons, coconut palms, spinach, artichokes, and cotton spread from South and Southeast Asia into the Middle East Spread of Islam Spread quickly from its base in Medina Early military success convinced other Arab tribes that Muslims and their God were on the rise Spread quickly due to: Religious appeal of the new faith Promise of material gain Developments in Southeast Asia Historical Developments State formation and development demonstrated continuity, innovation, and diversity, including the new Hindu and Buddhist states that emerged in South and Southeast Asia. Hindu/Buddhist States: Vijayanagara Empire Srivijaya Empire Rajput kingdoms  Khmer Empire Majapahit Sukhothai kingdom Sinhala dynasties Monsoon Winds Indian Ocean trade was made possible by monsoon winds Winds blew eastward in summer and westward in winter Understanding the monsoon winds along with better shipbuilding = increased trade Indian Ocean Trade The sea version of the Silk Roads Stretched from southern China to eastern Africa Cheaper to transport goods – cargo ships could carry more than camel caravans Traded goods for a mass market because of increased cargo capacity of boats Sea Roads as Catalysts for Change Oceanic commerce transformed all its participants Trade stimulated political change As a result, they also experienced cultural changes Confucian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic ideas flourished and spread Southeast Asia’s location between India and China gave it a unique advantage in Indian Ocean trade Srivijaya Empire Emerged due to the competition between ports along the Southeast Asian coast Factors that led to their growth: Plentiful gold supply Access to source of highly sought after spices Taxes placed on passing ships Created a bureaucratic government with military and naval forces that could secure the seas Khmer Kingdom Founded in modern-day Cambodia in Southeast Asia Heavy Indian influence Social system was not subject to the caste system but on indigenous traditions Peaked in 1219 and gradually declined Historical Developments Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism, and their core beliefs and practices, continued to shape societies in South and Southeast Asia. Beliefs and practices: Bhakti movement Sufism Buddhist monasticism Sufi Missionaries Sufi missionaries had the biggest impact on frontier regions of Islam Followed conquering armies or trades into Central and Southeast Asia, India, Anatolia, parts of Africa  Emphasized personal experience of the Divine, rather than law This allowed them to accommodate local beliefs and practices and encouraged the growth of Islam Ulama (Islamic scholars) often condemned Sufis because they oftens deviated from the sharia (Islamic law) Bhakti Movement Bhakti movement: Hindu movement beginning in Southern India around the 12th Century (1100s CE) Promoted a strong attachment to a particular deity Rather than reading texts and performing rituals Worshipping a single deity was easy to most people Popular because it did not discriminate against women or low social status Inner reflection would get you closer to the deity Similar to Sufism in Islam it is a more “easy going,” less rigid, and more mystical interpretation of Hinduism that created a more appealing version for converts/conquered peoples