Download Post-Classical Asia and Beyond I. Essential Questions a. What were

Post-Classical Asia and Beyond
I.
Essential Questions
a. What were the major civilizations of Asia in the post-classical era?
b. What were the effects of the Mongol invasions?
c. What were the achievements of the Ottomans, Mughals, and Ming
Chinese?
II.
Important Ideas
a. The Ottomans established their capital at Istanbul (formerly
Constantinople). Sultan ruled with an elaborate court; empire included
Eastern Europe & North Africa. Jews & Christians permitted some selfgovernment.
b. Islam spread to Persia & across Himalayas to India. Muslim rulers set
up Sultanates; Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal.
c. Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak, rejected rituals and caste system.
d. China flourished under Tang and Song dynasties. Developed paper
money, gunpowder, block printing, compass.
e. Japanese culture influenced by China.
f. Mongols, led by Chinggis (Genghis) Khan, conquered Central Asia,
China, Russia. Kublai Khan adopted Chinese ways.
g. Under Ming dynasty, China had 300 years of peace & prosperity.
Ming built Forbidden City in Beijing; traded silk & porcelain with
Europe for silver and other goods.
III.
Rise of the Ottoman Empire
a. Ottomans, a nomadic group of Turks from Central Asia, emerged as
rulers of Islamic world in 13th century. 1453: Captured Constantinople
(Byzantine capital) – became Istanbul. Empire located between Europe
and Asia and interacted with East and West.
b. Ottomans conquered Egypt and North Africa, reuniting most of
Muslim world (not Persia/Afghanistan), then parts of Eastern Europe.
c. Reached height under Suleiman the Magnificent in mid-1500s. Fleet
controlled Mediterranean trade until defeat in 1571 by Spaniards &
Venetians.
d. Ruler: Sultan. Governed as all-powerful ruler from Istanbul. Early: wellorganized and efficient. Army: Janissaries, made up of soldiers
recruited as children (often European Christians “paid” as a tax). Jewish
& Christian communities had their own leaders, governments, and
taxes. Methods promoted prosperity & stability.
IV.
The Safavid Empire in Persia
a. Safavids created a Shi’ite Islamic empire in 1500s (opposed to Sunni
Ottomans). Created a separate identity from Turkish & Arab
neighbors – still affects Iran today.
b. Empire reached to Persian Gulf and Indus River. Leaders (Shahs) used
armies for control. Became famous for carpets and paintings in
miniature.
V.
The Muslim Invasion of India
a. Muslim Invasions
i. By 8th century, Muslim invaders entered Indus Valley through
Khyber Pass.
ii. 11th-12th centuries, Turkish Muslims entered plains, destroying
Hindu temples & cities. Independent kingdoms set up in
Northern India, called Sultanates.
iii. Most important: ~1200, Delhi Sultanate. Ruled Northern &
Central India for 320 years. Muslims in India did not fully adopt
Indian ways; for example, Muslim women still veiled and stayed
secluded. @ end of 14th century, Mongol ruler Tamerlane
sacked Delhi & killed inhabitants; Sultanate never recovered.
b. Mughal Empire (1526-1837)
i. 1526: Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane and Chinggis Khan,
defeated Sultan of Delhi and founded Mughal Empire. (Name
comes from “Mongol,” but they had close ties to Safavid Persia.)
Ottomans and Mughals used guns to control people and fight
enemies, so known as “Gunpowder Empires.”
ii. Babur’s grandson Akbar the Great (1542-1605) conquered
neighboring Hindu and Muslim states, unifying Northern India.
Wanted to unite subjects by promoting religious toleration.
Ended special taxes on Hindus and used Hindu government
officials to govern, collect taxes, and enforce laws in 12
provinces. Encouraged learning, painting, music, and literature.
iii. Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan (1628-1658) imposed taxes on
Hindus and destroyed many temples. In the NW and NE, many
people converted to Islam to avoid taxes or to escape the caste
system.
iv. Mughal art and architecture peaked. Jahan built palaces,
fortresses, and mosques. Best example of architecture, merging
Persian, Indian, and Islamic styles, was his wife’s tomb, the Taj
Mahal.
v. After 1857, small kingdoms began to rise in Central and Southern
India and the Mughal Empire began to fall apart.
c. Sikhism
i. Founded in 1469 in Northern India by Guru Nanak. (Guru =
spiritual guide or teacher.) Believe in one God and that all
humans are equal in God’s eyes. Rejects caste system. Believes
each person can reach salvation by devotion to God, truthful
living, service to humanity, and standing up for justice for all. To
emphasize equality, a communal meal is shared after services.
Hair is not cut; men wear a turban (dastar).
VI.
The Tang and Song Dynasties of China
a. Like Western Europe after fall of Rome, China experienced turmoil &
unrest after collapse of Han Dynasty. Six Dynasties period: Several
warring kingdoms rose; science, art, and culture declined. Buddhism
spread across China.
b. Tang Dynasty
i. A Golden Age. Peasant uprisings suppressed; China reunified;
feudal relationships, peace, & prosperity restored. Empire of over
50 million people extended into Korea, Manchuria, and Central
Asia. Gov’t took census counts, gave exams on Confucianism to
government service candidates, and built public works. Gave
land to every man; peasants had to do labor for government and
pay taxes with grain and silk.
ii. Under Empress Wu Zetian, reforms carried out. Capital city built
at Chang’an. Merchants from Persia, India, Arabia, and Syria.
Advances in architecture, sculpture, painting, and porcelain;
accomplishments in literature and art. Distinctive pottery with
green, yellow, and orange glaze. Artwork in metal and jade;
skilled craftsmen; painters depicted nature on scrolls; poets
celebrated court life.
iii. Unique gardens developed for peaceful contemplation.
Innovations in map-making, medicine, and printing (block
printing allowed copies of Confucian texts for exam review). Tang
encouraged commerce & crafts, keeping Silk Road busy. Trade
with Persia, Arabia, Japan, Byzantine Empire.
iv. Tang fell in 907.
c. Song Dynasty
i. Emerged in south in 960 (rival kingdom in north). Built on
achievements of Tang.
ii. Brilliant cultural era, social and economic progress. First to use
paper currency to pay taxes; also minted standardized copper
and iron coins. Eliminated forced labor for emperor. This helped
increase farm production and led to greater wealth.
iii. Populous and advanced civilization; capital had over 1 million
people. Grand Canal connected Beijing, Hwang Ho, and
Yangtze River; used to ship grain. Caravans carried silk on Silk
Road; ships brought goods to Korea, Japan, SE Asia, India, Africa.
Science and technology advanced: acupuncture, advanced math,
gunpowder in war, compass in navigation, moveable type for
printing (borrowed from Korea?).
iv. Greatest threat from northern border tribes. Song tried alliance
with Mongols – bad choice. Mongols took over and set up Yuan
Dynasty.
v. Women in China: traditional Confucianism taught that women
must obey father, husband, and son. Left home at marriage and
earned place with husband’s family by bearing sons. Could
inherit from husband and husband/wife could agree to divorce.
Practice of footbinding under Song: limited mobility; considered
a part of a girl’s proper teaching and marriageability.
VII.
China’s Influence on Japan
a. Chinese and Korean scholars and merchants brought Chinese culture
to Japan. Confucianism instilled loyalty to family and ruler; Buddhism
taught renunciation of selfish desires; Daoism encouraged love of
nature.
b. Chinese writing, music, art, dance, and cooking influenced Japan. Silk
and pottery brought in. Japanese ruler set up court and declared
himself emperor (still from that original family – so no turnover and no
need of Mandate of Heaven in Japan!).
c. Not an exact copy of China. Some nobles, freed of tax burdens, raised
own armies and fought with each other. Imperial government grew
weaker. 1192: most powerful noble had emperor proclaim him
“Supreme Military Governor,” or Shogun. For 600 years, Shoguns held
power and emperors were figureheads.
d. Shogun at top of feudal system. Noble landowners (daimyo) recruited
samurai warriors who swore an oath of loyalty. Samurai promised to
follow a code of honor (bushido) emphasizing loyalty; in return
received social status and economic support.
VIII. The Mongol Empire
a. Geographic Setting: Treeless grasslands called steppes stretch across
Eurasia from Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe to Manchuria in
NE Asia. Nomadic peoples live there herding horses, sheep, camels,
and goats. These peoples developed skills as horsemen and fighters,
pushing out to conquer more “civilized” neighbors.
b. Huns invaded Europe and contributed to collapse of Rome. Turks and
Mongols also came from Central Asia. Mongols lived in portable
homes (gers or yurts) and were horsemen and archers; during 1200s
established greatest empire world had ever seen.
c. Chinggis Khan unites the Mongols
i. Chinggis Khan (Temujin, or Genghis Khan – Universal Ruler)
united the Mongol tribes by 1206 and set out from Mongolia to
conquer others. Over 200,000 horsemen, with stirrups, strong
bows, & catapults attacked and became known for brutality,
killing all who resisted. Chinggis successfully took Beijing and, in
1219, turned to Central Asia.
ii. Chinggis Khan was tolerant of other religions within his
conquered territories. He used local administrators and
craftspeople, promoted trade, and ordered the creation of a
written script for the Mongol language.
iii. Chinggis’ successors extended Mongol rule into Persia, Russia,
Iraq, and across China. Empire stretched from Black Sea to Pacific
Ocean. Under Pax Mongolica, people could travel from one end
of the empire to another. Eventually it was divided into 4
kingdoms, each ruled by a descendant of Chinggis Khan.
d. The Yuan Dynasty
i. Chinggis’s grandson Kublai Khan was fascinated with Chinese
culture. He became emperor of Northern China in 1260; in 1279,
he reunited northern and southern China. Mongols served as
military aristocracy with the help of Chinese officials. Encouraged
adoption of Chinese ways and claimed Mandate of Heaven for
rule.
ii. Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, traveled the Silk Road and
visited China in the 1270s. He was astonished at the magnificent
court and technological superiority, especially with gunpowder
and coal. He returned to Europe and published what he had
seen.
e. Mongol Influence on Russia
i. 1300s: Mongols conquered Russia and controlled it for 200 years.
Mongol words, customs, and clothing entered Russian culture.
Moscow and surrounding lands (Muscovy) became the strongest
Russian state.
ii. Muscovites rebelled against the Mongols, and in 1480 Ivan the
Great declared Russia’s independence, proclaimed himself Tsar
(“Caesar” or Emperor), and began conquering neighboring lands.
f. The Rule of Tamerlane
IX.
X.
i. 14th cen: brief resurgence of Mongol power in Central Asia.
Tamerlane, a Turkish-Mongol ruler, expanded his kingdom from
Samarkand into Persia, Afghanistan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and
Northern India. Tamerlane was known for brutality and
massacring civilians. His empire died soon after he did.
The Ming Dynasty
a. Mongols were unpopular in China. In 1368, they were overthrown by a
Chinese monk who established the Ming dynasty.
b. Nearly 300 years of peace and prosperity. The empire expanded to
include Korea, Burma, and Vietnam. The Forbidden City, an immense
palace complex, was built in Beijing.
c. 2 main social classes. Most were peasants, largely illiterate with lives
focused on the family and village. The other was the scholar-gentry
class; they owned the land and respected learning (and studied to pass
the civil service exams based on Confucian teachings). There were also
merchants and craftsmen in the cities. Trade prospered.
d. The Ming emperor sponsored naval expeditions in the 1400s to spread
awareness of China’s wealth and power. Zheng He sailed to the
coasts of India and Arabia. In the 1430s, the voyages were ended
because of the opposition of nobles – just when the Europeans started
exploring, China stopped.
e. Direct European trade with China was established by the 16th century.
In 1557, Portuguese traders settled on China’s southern coast. They
were followed by Catholic missionaries. China exported silk and
porcelain, and imported silver and new foods like sweet potatoes and
corn.
The Qing (Manchu) Dynasty
a. The Manchus of Northeastern China invaded in the early 17th century.
The Ming collapsed after a rebellion in 1644; the Manchus defeated
the peasant rebels and established the Qing Dynasty.
b. The new rulers incorporated traditional Chinese culture, kept civil
service exams, expanded the frontiers, and used non-Manchu Chinese
in government. The dynasty lasted over 250 years.
XI.
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