MEDIEVAL CHINA

MEDIEVAL CHINA

·         From the early 7^th century, china was ruled by the tang dynasty.

·         The rule of tang dynasty (618 AD-906AD) was followed by the sung dynasty for about 300 years.

·         After this, for about 100 years china was ruled by the Mongols.

·         The rule of the Mongols in china was followed by that of Ming dynasty which continued for about 300 years.

·         In 1644, china was conquered by the Manchu’s who continued to rule until 1911 AD.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEDIEVAL CHINA:

·         To prevent drain on the country’s wealth the sung rulers started the use of paper-money.

·         The invention of gun-powder was made in china in the 10^th century about 400 years before the knowledge reached the western world.

·         The Chinese made iron-chain suspension bridges’ as early as the 10^th century.

·          The Chinese devised the first method of printing in 10^th century. The importance of this invention for the spread of knowledge was as great as the invention of paper.

MEDIEVAL JAPAN:

·         Japan consists of hundreds of small islands of which four are major islands – Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu & shook.

·         Almost the entire country was unified into a single state by around the 7^th century AD.

·         In the 8^th century Edo (modern Kyoto) became the capital and continued to be the seat of the emperors of Japan for over 1000 years. The real power, however, was in the hands of an aristocratic family.

·         Towards the end of the 12^th century, a new political institution shogun came into being. The shotgun or the ‘general’ became the commander of Japan’s army and ruled Japan, while the emperor remained at his capital at edo (Kyoto).

·         Until 1867, the shoguns were the real curlers of Japan. Tokugawa lease was the founder of last shogun dynasty.

·         In 1867, the shoguns were the real rulers of Japan. Tokugawa leyasu was the founder of last shogun dynasty.

·         In 1867, the last shogun of to kuaka dynasty was overthrown and the power was restored to the emperor. Now Japan launched herself on the road of industrial development, modernization and expansion.

·         Samurai or the warriors were similar to the knights of Western Europe.

·         The most unique contribution of medieval Japan to literature was a form of poetry called kaki. Haiku poems are short poems of only 17 syllables.

·         The important contribution of medieval Japan to art was ikebana or the art of flower arrangement, which is being imitated throughout the world.

·         Buddhism reached japans early in the 6^th century from china through Korea and during the course of centuries it became widespread. In certain periods it even eclipsed Shintoism, the old religion of Japan.

·         Gradually the Japanese developed their own distinct schools of Buddhism, the most famous of which is Zen Buddhism. The word Zen is derived from ‘Dhyana’

SEVEN WONDERS OF MEDIEVAL WORLD

·         Collosseum of Rome

·         Great wall of china

·         Porcelain tower of Nanking

·         Stonehenge of England

·         Mosque at st. Sophia (Constantinople)

·         Catacombs of Alexandria

·         Leaning tower of Pisa.