World Civilization
1550 to the present
World Civilization Interactive Journey
HIST 4130/5130
The Middle Ages
HIST 4950/5950
Medieval Monasticism
HIST 4140/5140
Renaissance and
Reformation
HIST 4280/5280:
Intellectual and
Cultural History
of Europe
to 1500 C.E.
HIST 4285/5285:
Intellectual and
Cultural History
of Europe
since 1500 C.E.
IDST 2310:
The Fine and
Applied Arts
in Civilization
Databases, Bibliographies,
and other WWW
Research Resources
Georgia College &
State University
THE SUI, T'ANG, AND YUAN DYNASTIES
OBJECTIVES:
1. Be able to discuss the cultural contributions of the Chinese in this period. 2. Be able to describe the achievements of the Tang in civil service reforms and technology. 3. Be able to discuss the contributions of Li Po. 4. Be able to discuss the achievements of the Sung dynasty. 5. Be able to trace the life and achievements of Genghis Khan.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Why did the Chinese never capitalize on their technological mastery during this period? Why did Mongol government fail in China? China became the world's most technologically advanced culture in the Middle Ages. The Chinese were first to develop the printing press, to emphasize merit rather than heredity in government, and developed a flourishing literary culture expressed in the poetry of Li Po. Chinese tea soon became the world's preferred drink, and the Chinese were well on their way toward becoming the world's most populous nation. Yet despite these advances the Chinese failed to undergo an industrial revolution such as the one experienced by the west starting in the eighteenth century. Was it China's love of the ancient past which kept it from progressing or the Mongol Hordes?
OUTLINE I. The Sui Dynasty 589-618 a.d. II. The T'ang Dynasty 618-907 a.d. a. Southern Chinese culture b. Chang-an largest city in the world -- 2 million inhabitants the civil service system c. greatest period of Chinese poetry -- Li Po carefree poetry; he fell in a river and drowned as he looked at the moon d. tea --later world's most popular drink e. the printing press -- 700 a.d. increased literacy allowed people from all classes to improve their social standing: the scholar gentry f. the use of "night Soil" -- overpopulation contributed to more overpopulation III. The Sung Dynasty 960-1279 the industrial revolution of the thirteenth century the world's most highly developed civilization 100 million citizens IV. The Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368 a.d. i. the Mongol Conquest a. Ghengis Khan: his birth: was born clutching a blood clot in his fist: his mother argued he was destined to rule the world. b. deportation of conquered populations c. devastation of frontier regions of China ii. Mongol Battle Tactics a. the horse b. the use of flag signals c. Chinese use of the canon d. Mongol armor e. the bow and arrow iii. The Yuan during the reign of Kublai Khan: Marco Polo's expedition "Il Millione": the teller of tall tales