Standard 7.3.4:
Standard 7.3.4 Objective: To learn that China increased contact with the outside world, but eventually withdrew to isolationism.
The Mongol Empire Who were the Mongols? Nomadic peoples who attacked the Chinese Once lived separately, but then united in 1206 Genghis Khan was the leader who united them
What did the Mongols do? Genghis Khan organized the Mongols into a powerful army Very brutal! Killed men, women and children throughout asia & eastern Europe Gained control of a large part of Asia Decided to come after China
What did the Mongols do? After Genghis Khan died, his grandsons continued to rule Kublai Khan continued to take control of China and declared himself emperor of China in 1279 This period of time is called the Yuan dynasty
Life in Yuan China Mongols were not Chinese and did not speak the same languages or beliefs The Chinese were not happy to be ruled by the Mongols Saw them as rude & uncivilized
Life in Yuan China The Mongols & Chinese did not live in peace, but some aspects of their cultures blended Some Mongols accepted Confucianism The Mongols did not let the Chinese get control of the government Heavy tax on the Chinese Used to pay for public-works projects
Life in Yuan China Mongol soldiers kept the peace and their eyes on the Chinese Protected trade routes for merchants Marco Polo traveled to China & even served on Kublai Khan s court!
The End of the Yuan Dynasty Mongols not happy with what they had and tried to invade Japan Violent storms & fierce fights destroyed most of the Mongol army Mongol army weakened The expensive projects weakened their economy The Chinese saw these weaknesses as a good time to strike back!
The Ming Dynasty Zhu Yuanzhang helped defeat the Yuan & became emperor of the Ming. Ming dynasty became one of the most stable & prosperous times in Chinese history
Great Sea Voyages Improved ships & sailing skills Everywhere the ships travelled they spoke to new people and cultures about how wonderful China was
Great Building Projects Built to impress both the Chinese people and their enemies
Forbidden City In Beijing Huge complex which common people were not allowed to enter
The Great Wall of China Peasants and soldiers worked to fix and add to the wall Wall is over 2,000 miles long, 25 ft high, 12 ft wide It would reach from San Diego to New York!!!
China Under the Ming After the Mongols, leaders wanted to get rid of all outside influences
Government Under the Ming Ming leaders borrowed ideas from Tang & song governments Ming emperors were more powerful though & got rid of others in power in order to keep as much power for themselves
Ming Relations with Other Countries Ming emperors decided there should be no more traveling to other lands Isolationism = a policy of avoiding contact with other countries. This was bad for China because other areas of the world passed them technologically
List the key facts about China under the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Yuan Dynasty Ming Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty Yuan Dynasty Ming Dynasty Foreign rule Some sharing of Mongol & Chinese customs Chinese had little control Ming Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty Foreign rule Some sharing of Mongol & Chinese customs Chinese had little control Ming Dynasty Chinese rule Stable dynasty Great sea voyages Great building projects Isolationism
Unit Checking for Understanding 1. Advances in agriculture during the Tang & Song dynasties led to a. Population growth b. Development of paper money c. The decline of Buddhism. d. A period of disunion
2. What did the invention of gunpowder lead to? a. Long-distance sailing voyages b. Population growth c. Firearms and fireworks d. Printed books
3. Trade and other contact with peoples far from China stopped under which dynasty? a. Ming b. Yuan c. Song d. Sui
4. Which of the following was not a way that Confucianism influenced China? a. Emphasis on family and family values b. Expansion of manufacturing and trade c. Emphasis on service to society d. Well-educated government officials
5. What was a major cause for the spread of Buddhism to China and other parts of Asia? a. The teachings of Kublai Khan b. The writings of Confucius c. The travels of Buddhist missionaries d. The support of Empress Wu