Silk Road & Chinese History PDF

SILK ROAD- Who: the Chinese Han dynasty sought to placate and control the great Xiongnu nomadic peoples to the north by trading with them, and with other nomadic peoples such as the Yuezhi in Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan). What: A series of trade routes linking China and parts of central Asia,...

SILK ROAD- Who: the Chinese Han dynasty sought to placate and control the great Xiongnu nomadic peoples to the north by trading with them, and with other nomadic peoples such as the Yuezhi in Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan). What: A series of trade routes linking China and parts of central Asia, India, and the Middle East. When: Started to form during the Han dynasty. 130 BCE-1453 CE. Where: China, central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and even the Mediterranean basin a bunch of roads that lead to different cities and or trading spots. Why: Connected areas, traded goods, shared ideas, spreaded religion, exchanged cultures, merchants established monasteries, convents, and shrines, bringing Buddhist traditions into China. Many Chinese traders therefore adopted Buddhism, particularly under the Sui dynasty, and even resulted in Islam beliefs reaching China. SHI HUANGDI- Who: First emperor of Qin dynasty (Real name is Ying Zheng). What: Took over the states of Han, Wei, Zhao, Chu, Yan, and Qi. He also made a universal writing system, coins, and the law throughout northern China. When: Qin dynasty (reigned 221--210 bce). Where: China Why: Under his rule, he changed the Chinese government. People became and stayed as government officials had to be good at their job and appease the emperor. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS- Who: The Chinese government (Emperor Gaozu) during the Tang dynasty, did not allow women, the sons of merchants or anyone who couldn\'t afford classical education to take it. What: merit-based exam held to be taken every three years. When: Developed from the Sui dynasty was popularly being used in the Tang dynasty Where: China Why: Allowed entrance into the Tang bureaucracy, but testing literary skills and knowledge of Confuncian and Daoist classics. EXTRA: Renzong, who was strongly influenced by Confucian political culture, reinstated the civil service examination system in China after previous Mongol emperors had shunned the Confucian educational model. GRAND CANAL- Who: Emperor Yang Di What: Connected Luoyang (central China) to Hangzhou (southern China) at first to improve the travel of goods. When: Completed in 609 CE (Sui dynasty) Where: Eventually ended up travelling through Beijing, the silk roads in Chang'an and the Sui Capital. Why: Economic growth from the increased efficiency of traveling and trading routes. EMPRESS WU- Who: Wu Zetian What: she declared Buddhism the state religion, ordered scholars to write biographies of famous women, and in 690 took the extraordinary step of founding her own dynasty, the Wu Zhou When: Took over as empress in 683 CE after her husband Emperor Gaozong died. Tang dynasty Where: China Why: Was an empress in a male-dominated society. Increased the influence of women in chinese society