Spread of Civilizations in East Asia

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Chapter 13

• Spread of Civilizations in East Asia

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• I. The Mongol and Ming Empires

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The Mongols were tough, skilled warriors who
lived in the saddle. They could travel for days
at a time on their shaggy ponies, drinking mare's
milk and eating only a few handfuls of grain.
They were also considered the most skilled horse
riders in the world. About 1200, the Mongols
burst out of Central Asia to conquer an empire
stretching across Asia and Europe. In the
process, they overran Song China and imposed
Mongol rule on its people.
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A. Building the Mongol Empire

• About 1200 A.D., the Mongols built an empire
  stretching across Asia and into Europe

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A. Building the Mongol Empire

• Mongols were nomadic tribes who herded horses and
  sheep on the steppes of Central Asia

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A. Building the Mongol Empire

• (early 1200s) A Mongol chieftain united the
  tribes and took the name Genghiz Khan, or "World
  Emperor'

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A. Building the Mongol Empire

• Genghiz Khan built an empire that stretched from
  the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe

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A. Building the Mongol Empire

• Mongols conquered the Asian steppe lands but
  faced problems when attacking China

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A. Building the Mongol Empire

• Chinese and Turkish military experts taught them
  to use cannons and other new weapons

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B. Mongol Rule

• For over 150 years, the Mongols dominated much of
  Asia

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B. Mongol Rule

• The Mongols were not oppressive rulers once
  conquest was completed but demanded tribute

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C. Mongol Peace

• Genghiz Khans heirs established a period of
  peace and order known as the Pax Mongolica, or
  Mongol Peace

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C. Mongol Peace

• Political stability set the stage for economic
  growth

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C. Mongol Peace

• The Mongols controlled the great Silk Road and
  trade flourished across Eurasia

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C. Mongol Peace

• Cultural exchange increased as foods, tools,
  inventions, and ideas spread along the trade
  routes

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D. China Under Mongol Rule

• Kublai Khan defeated the Chinese in 1279 and
  ruled China, Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam

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D. China Under Mongol Rule

• Kublai adopted a Chinese name for his dynasty,
  the Yuan

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E. A Western Visitor

• Marco Polo visited China during the Yuan dynasty

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E. A Western Visitor

• He wrote about Chinas wealth and splendor and
  astonished readers in Europe

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E. A Western Visitor

• Polo's reports sparked European interest in the
  riches of Asia

Silk Scarfs
Star Anise, Black White Pepper, Red Chiles,
Cinamon and Bay Leaves
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F. The Ming Restore Chinese Rule

• Most Chinese despised the Mongol rulers and there
  were many uprisings

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F. The Ming Restore Chinese Rule

• In 1368 Zhu Yuanzhang founded a new dynasty,
  which he called Ming, or brilliant

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F. The Ming Restore Chinese Rule

• Ming rulers sought to reassert Chinese greatness
  after years of foreign rule

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G. Economic Revival

• Ming China was immensely productive and had a
  population of more than 100 million

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G. Economic Revival

• Chinese cities were home to industries that
  included porcelain, paper, and tools

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G. Economic Revival

• The Ming repaired a canal system that linked
  various regions, making trade easier

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G. Economic Revival

• Better methods of printing led to many new books

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H. Cultural Flowering

• Ming China saw a revival of arts and literature

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H. Cultural Flowering

• Artists developed their own styles of landscape
  painting

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H. Cultural Flowering

• Ming vases were valuable and popular Chinese
  products exported to the West

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H. Cultural Flowering

• New forms of literature began to emerge novels
  and detective stories

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H. Cultural Flowering

• Performing artists developed Chinese opera that
  combined music, dance, and drama

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II. China and the World

• Early Ming rulers sent Chinese fleets into
  distant waters

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II. China and the World

• In 1405, Zheng He commanded the first of seven
  expeditions to promote trade

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• Zheng Hes fleet consisted of 62 huge ships and
  hundreds of smaller ones, carrying more than
  25,000 sailors. The largest ships measured 400
  feet long

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II. China and the World

• 1405 to 1433, Zheng He explored the coasts of SE
  Asia, India, and East Africa

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II. China and the World

• In 1433, the Ming emperor banned the building of
  seagoing ships

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China and the World

• Why did China, with its advanced naval
  technology, turn its back on overseas
  exploration? Historians are not sure. However,
  some speculate that the fleets were costly and
  did not produce any profits. Also, Confucian
  scholars at court had little interest in overseas
  ventures. To them, Chinese civilization was the
  most successful in the world. They wanted to
  preserve its ancient traditions, which they saw
  as the source of stability. In fact, such rigid
  loyalty to tradition would eventually weaken
  China and once again leave it prey to foreign
  domination