China in the Middle Ages

1. P A R T 1 : C H I N A R E B U I L D S I T S E M P I R E
China in the Middle Ages

2. Bellringer
 Do you think if you are going to have a high level job
working for the government you should have to take
a test to make sure that you are educated in the field
you are going to work in? Why or why not?

3. Confucianism
 Confucianism is often referred to as a religion, but it is
really a guide about how to live.

4. Dynasties
 A dynasty is a line of rulers from the same family
line.
 Chinese history is often divided up by the Dynasty
that ruled during the period instead of the years of
the time period.
 The first Chinese Dynasty was the Xia Dynasty. It
ruled during the bronze age, starting in about the
year 2500 BC.

5. A Dark Age for China
 AD 220: The Han Dynasty came to an end and
China had no central government for 300 years.
 The country collapsed into different kingdoms with
warlords fighting each other.
 The Chinese people suffered many hardships

6. The Sui Dynasty
 AD 581: General Wendi unites China under the Sui
Dynasty.
 Wendi’s son Yangdi repaired the Great Wall and
expanded China’s territory.
 Built the Great Canal which unified China’s economy
by allowing for easy transportation of goods.
 Yangdi forced farmers to pay high taxes and to work
on the Great Wall. They revolted and killed him.

8. The Tang Dynasty
 Founded in AD 618. Lasted for nearly 300 years.
 Brought back the Confucianism idea of civil service
examinations where people got government jobs
based on skill rather than connections.
 Expanded empire into Tibet and north Vietnam.
 Capital City, Changan, became worlds largest city
with over 1 million people.

10. The Song Dynasty
 For a time military leaders ruled China
 AD 960 the Song Dynasty was founded.
 Lasted until 1279
 Moved capital to the city of Hangzhou near the coast
for protection.

12. Questions pages 182 - 185
1. When and How did Buddhism spread into China?
2. What led people to follow Buddhism?
3. How did monks and nuns help the Chinese people?
4. Why did China become less supportive of Buddhism?
5. Trace Buddhism’s journey from China to Japan.
6. What was different about neo-confucianism in relation
to traditional confucianism?
7. What did civil service exams hope to ensure?
8. Who was eligible to take the civil service exams?
9. Describe preparing for the civil service exam?
10. What did people do who didn’t pass the test?