ASIAN HISTORY

The history of Asia can be seen as the collective history of several distinct peripheral coastal
regions such as East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East linked by the interior
mass of the Eurasia.
The coastal periphery was the home to some of the world's earliest known civilizations and
religions, with each of the three regions developing early civilizations around fertile river valleys.
These valleys were fertile because the soil there was rich and could bear many root crops.
The civilizations in Mesopotamia, ancient India, and ancient China shared many similarities and
likely exchanged technologies and ideas such as mathematics and the wheel. Other notions such
as that of writing likely developed individually in each area. Cities, states, and then empires
developed in these lowlands.
Asia's history features major developments seen in other parts of the world, as well as events that
have affected those other regions. These include the trade of the Silk Road, which spread
cultures, languages, religions, and diseases throughout Afro-Eurasian trade. Another major
advancement was the innovation of gunpowder in medieval China, later developed by the
Gunpowder empires, mainly by the Mughals and Safavids, which led to advanced warfare
through the use of guns.

CHINA
Three August Ones
• Fu Xi - Heavenly Sovereign
• Nuwa - Earthly Sovereign
• Shennong - Human Sovereign

Five Mythological Emperors

• Yellow Emperor / Huangdi - originator of Chinese civilization

• Zhuanxu / Gaoyang - grandson of the Yellow Emperor
• White Emperor /Ku – great grandson of the Yellow Emperor
• Emperor Yao – great great grandson of the Yellow Emperor
• Shun the great
CHINESE Dynasties
Xia/Hsia
The Xia dynasty is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. According to tradition,
the Xia dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great, after Shun, the last of the Five
Emperors, gave the throne to him. In traditional historiography, the Xia was later succeeded by
the Shang dynasty.
The Xia dynasty brought about what would become the foundation of Chinese rule, namely that
of familial succession, with sons following fathers to the throne. The Xia dynasty was overthrown
in 1600 B.C.E. by the first Shang leader.

Shang
The Shang dynasty is the earliest dynasty of traditional Chinese history firmly supported by
archaeological evidence.
First true dynasty - first Chinese Dynasty to invent writing and have a recorded history.
The Shang made many contributions to Chinese civilization, but four in particular define the
dynasty: the invention of writing; the development of a stratified government; the advancement of
bronze technology; and the use of the chariot and bronze weapons in warfare.
oracle bones. These were bones that the Shang used to try and determine the future. Religious
men would write a question on one side of the bone and then burn the bone until it cracked. They
would then interpret the cracks for the answers and write the answers on the other side of the
bone. Historians are able to decipher much of the history of the Shang through these questions
and answers. Thousands of oracle bones have been found by archeologists.

Zhou

• Longest dynastic regime

• Peace and prosperity
• Feudal system/warlord
• Confucius – “Master Kong” | Paragon of Chinese sages
• Lao Tzu – Tao Te-Ching “The way of Virtue”
• Mencius – the second sage “Human Nature”

Qin / Chin Dynasty

• Qin Shi Huang Ti – First emperor of unified China

• Great wall of China
• Imperial Dynasty
• First Central Government
• Burned Books
• Destroyed Feudal system

Han dynasty
• Golden Age of China
• Paper
• sundials / water clocks
• seismograph
• Confucianism – National Religion
• Civil service exam
• Silk Road

The Silk Road in Asia

The Han dynasty)was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin dynasty and
succeeded by the Three Kingdoms (220–265 AD). Spanning over four centuries, the period of the
Han dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history. One of the Han dynasty's greatest
emperors, Emperor Wu of Han, established a peace throughout China comparable to the Pax
Romana seen in the Mediterranean a hundred years later. To this day, China's majority ethnic
group refers to itself as the "Han people". The Han dynasty was established when two peasants
succeeded in rising up against Shi Huang's significantly weaker successor-son. The new Han
government retained the centralization and bureaucracy of the Qin, but greatly reduced the
repression seen before. They expanded their territory into Korea, Vietnam, and Central Asia,
creating an even larger empire than the Qin.
The Han developed contacts with the Persian Empire in the Middle East and the Romans, through
the Silk Road, with which they were able to trade many commodities—primarily silk. Many ancient
civilizations were influenced by the Silk Road, which connected China, India, the Middle East and
Europe.
Han emperors like Wu also promoted Confucianism as the national "religion" (although it is
debated by theologians as to whether it is defined as such or as a philosophy). Shrines devoted
to Confucius were built and Confucian philosophy was taught to all scholars who entered the
Chinese bureaucracy. The bureaucracy was further improved with the introduction of an
examination system that selected scholars of high merit. These bureaucrats were often upper-
class people educated in special schools, but whose power was often checked by the lower-class
brought into the bureaucracy through their skill. The Chinese imperial bureaucracy was very
effective and highly respected by all in the realm and would last over 2,000 years. The Han
government was highly organized and it commanded the military, judicial law (which used a
system of courts and strict laws), agricultural production, the economy, and the general lives of
its people. The government also promoted intellectual philosophy, scientific research, and detailed
historical records.

Sui dynasty

• First Emperor Wendi

• Unified China
• Grand Canal
• Rebuilding of the Great Wall

A new powerful dynasty began to rise in the 580s, amongst the divided factions of China. This
was started when an aristocrat named Yang Jian married his daughter into the Northern Zhou
dynasty. He proclaimed himself Emperor Wen of Sui and appeased the nomadic military by
abandoning the Confucian scholar-gentry. Emperor Wen soon led the conquest of the southern
Chen dynasty and united China once more under the Sui dynasty. The emperor lowered taxes
and constructed granaries that he used to prevent famine and control the market.
Later Wen's son would murder him for the throne and declare himself Emperor Yang of Sui.
Emperor Yang revived the Confucian scholars and the bureaucracy, much to anger of the
aristocrats and nomadic military leaders. Yang became an excessive leader who overused
China's resources for personal luxury and perpetuated exhaustive attempts to conquer Goguryeo.
His military failures and neglect of the empire forced his own ministers to assassinate him in 618,
ending the Sui dynasty.

Tang dynasty

• Emperor Gaozu
• Gunpowder
• waterproofing
• Fireproofing
• Gas stoves
• Air conditioning

The Tang dynasty began to decline under the rule of Emperor Xuanzong, who began to neglect
the economy and military and caused unrest amongst the court officials due to the excessive
influence of his concubine, Yang Guifei, and her family. This eventually sparked a revolt in
Although the revolt failed, subduing it required involvement with the unruly nomadic tribes outside
of China and distributing more power to local leaders—leaving the government and economy in
a degraded state. The Tang dynasty officially ended in 907 and various factions led by the
aforementioned nomadic tribes and local leaders would fight for control of China in the Five
Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Song

• Movable Type Printing

• Uses for gunpowder
• Mechanical clock
• Paper money
 • Yuan
• Kublai Khan
• First Foreign-ruled
• The Black Death

Chinese cities were soon besieged by the Mongol hordes that showed little mercy for those who
resisted and the Southern Song Chinese were quickly losing territory. In 1271 the current great
khan, Kublai Khan, claimed himself Emperor of China and officially established the Yuan dynasty.
By 1290, all of China was under control of the Mongols, marking the first time they were ever
completely conquered by a foreign invader; the new capital was established at Khanbaliq
(modern-day Beijing). Kublai Khan segregated Mongol culture from Chinese culture by
discouraging interactions between the two peoples, separating living spaces and places of
worship, and reserving top administrative positions to Mongols, thus preventing Confucian
scholars to continue the bureaucratic system. Nevertheless, Kublai remained fascinated with
Chinese thinking, surrounding himself with Chinese Buddhist, Taoist, or Confucian advisors.
Mongol women displayed a contrasting independent nature compared to the Chinese women who
continued to be suppressed. Mongol women often rode out on hunts or even to war. Kublai's wife,
Chabi, was a perfect example of this; Chabi advised her husband on several political and
diplomatic matters; she convinced him that the Chinese were to be respected and well-treated in
order to make them easier to rule.[16]: p. 327 However, this was not enough to affect Chinese
women's position, and the increasingly Neo-Confucian successors of Kublai further repressed
Chinese and even Mongol women.
The Black Death, which would later ravage Western Europe, had its beginnings in Asia, where it
wiped out large populations in China in 1331.

Ming

• Emperor Hongwu executed 100,000

• Forbidden City
• Ended by Rebellions
• Last Imperial dynasty ruled by Han people

Qing / Ching

• Manchu/Manzu
• The last Chinese Dynasty
• 268 years, from 1644 to 1912
• First Opium War (Britain)
• Second Opium War / Arrow War (Britain and France)
• Boxer Rebellion
The northern Manchu people had conquered Ming dynasty and established a foreign dynasty—
the Qing dynasty—once more. The Manchu Qing emperors, especially Confucian scholar Kangxi,
remained largely conservative—retaining the bureaucracy and the scholars within it, as well as
the Confucian ideals present in Chinese society. However, changes in the economy and new
attempts at resolving certain issues occurred too. These included increased trade with Western
countries that brought large amounts of silver into the Chinese economy in exchange for tea,
porcelain, and silk textiles. This allowed for a new merchant-class, the compradors, to develop.
In addition, repairs were done on existing dikes, canals, roadways, and irrigation works. This,
combined with the lowering of taxes and government-assigned labor, was supposed to calm
peasant unrest. However, the Qing failed to control the growing landlord class which had begun
to exploit the peasantry and abuse their position.
Opium War
The Opium Wars arose from China’s attempts to suppress the opium trade. Foreign traders
(primarily British) had been illegally exporting opium mainly from India to China since the 18th
century, but that trade grew dramatically from about 1820. The resulting widespread addiction in
China was causing serious social and economic disruption there. In spring 1839 the Chinese
government confiscated and destroyed more than 20,000 chests of opium—some 1,400 tons of
the drug—that were warehoused at Canton (Guangzhou) by British merchants. The antagonism
between the two sides increased in July when some drunken British sailors killed a Chinese
villager. The British government, which did not wish its subjects to be tried in the Chinese legal
system, refused to turn the accused men over to the Chinese courts.
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan
Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899
and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious
Fists (Yìhéquán).
The Boxer Rebellion was an uprising against foreigners that occurred in China about 1900, begun
by peasants but eventually supported by the government. A Chinese secret society known as the
Boxers embarked on a violent campaign to drive all foreigners from China. Several countries sent
troops to halt the attacks.

JAPAN

Asuka period
Japan's medieval history began with the Asuka period, from around 600 to 710. Japan’s first
historical epoch–the Asuka period, named for the area near Nara where the court resided–
coincides with the introduction of Buddhism into the country.

Nara period
Nara period, (ad 710–784), in Japanese history, period in which the imperial government was at
Nara, and Sinicization and Buddhism were most highly developed. Nara, the country's first
permanent capital, was modeled on the Chinese T'ang dynasty (618–907) capital, Ch'ang-an.

Heian period
Heian period, in Japanese history, the period between 794 and 1185, named for the location of
the imperial capital, which was moved from Nara to Heian-kyō (Kyōto) in 794.
The Heian period (平安時代, Heian jidai) is the last division of classical Japanese history, running
from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu,
moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). Heian (平安) means "peace" in
Japanese. It is a period in Japanese history when the Chinese influences were in decline and the
national culture matured. The Heian period is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial
court and noted for its art, especially poetry and literature.

Machiya in Heian period

Loss of imperial power also led to the rise of provincial warrior elites. Small lords began to function
independently. They administered laws, supervised public works projects, and collected revenue
for themselves instead of the imperial court. Regional lords also began to build their own armies.
These warriors were loyal only their local lords and not the emperor, although the imperial
government increasingly called them in to protect the capital.
The regional warrior class developed into the samurai, which created its own culture: including
specialized weapons such as the katana and a form of chivalry, bushido.
Bushidō, (Japanese: “Way of the Warrior”) the code of conduct of the samurai, or bushi (warrior),
class of premodern Japan.
The imperial government's loss of control in the second half of the Heian period allowed banditry
to grow, requiring both feudal lords and Buddhist monasteries to procure warriors for protection.
As imperial control over Japan declined, feudal lords also became more independent and
seceded from the empire. These feudal states squandered the peasants living in them, reducing
the farmers to an almost serfdom status. Peasants were also rigidly restricted from rising to the
samurai class, being physically set off by dress and weapon restrictions. As a result of their
oppression, many peasants turned to Buddhism as a hope for reward in the afterlife for upright
behavior.

Kamakura period
The establishment of the Kamakura shogunate marked the end of the Heian period and the
beginning of the Kamakura period in 1185, solidifying feudal Japan.
The shogunate was the hereditary military dictatorship of Japan (1192–1867). Legally, the shogun
answered to the emperor, but, as Japan evolved into a feudal society, control of the military
became tantamount to control of the country.
shogunate - system of government led by shoguns, or Japanese military leaders. Called bakufu
in Japanese

Tokugawa or Edo period

Society in the Japanese "Tokugawa period", unlike the shogunates before it, was based on the
strict class hierarchy originally established by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The daimyōs (feudal lords)
were at the top, followed by the warrior-caste of samurai, with the farmers, artisans, and
merchants ranking below. The country was strictly closed to foreigners with few exceptions with
the Sakoku policy. Literacy rose in the two centuries of isolation.

sakoku, - “closed country” a Japanese policy consisting of a series of directives implemented over
several years during the Edo period (also known as the Tokugawa period; 1603–1867) that
enforced self-isolation from foreign powers in the early 17th century.
In some parts of the country, particularly smaller regions, daimyōs and samurai were more or less
identical, since daimyōs might be trained as samurai, and samurai might act as local lords.
Otherwise, the largely inflexible nature of this social stratification system unleashed disruptive
forces over time. Taxes on the peasantry were set at fixed amounts which did not account for
inflation or other changes in monetary value. As a result, the tax revenues collected by the samurai
landowners were worth less and less over time. This often led to numerous confrontations
between noble but impoverished samurai and well-to-do peasants. None, however, proved
compelling enough to seriously challenge the established order until the arrival of foreign powers.

Meiji Restoration
In 1867, two powerful anti-Tokugawa clans, the Choshu and Satsuma, combined forces to topple
the shogunate, and the following year declared an “imperial restoration” in the name of the young
Emperor Meiji, who was just 14 years old at the time.
The Meiji Constitution of 1889—which remained the constitution of Japan until 1947, after World
War II—was largely written by Itō Hirobumi and created a parliament, or Diet, with a lower house
elected by the people and a prime minister and cabinet appointed by the emperor.
The peace and stability of the Tokugawa period, and the economic development it fostered, set
the stage for the rapid modernization that took place after the Meiji Restoration.
During the Meiji Period, which ended with the emperor’s death in 1912, the country experienced
significant social, political and economic change–including the abolition of the feudal system and
the adoption of a cabinet system of government. In addition, the new regime opened the country
once again to Western trade and influence and oversaw a buildup of military strength that would
soon propel Japan onto the world stage.
KOREA
Three Kingdoms of Korea
Goguryeo – north
Baekje – southwest
Silla - southeast Korean peninsula

These three kingdoms act as a bridge of cultures between China and Japan. Thanks to them,
Japan was able to accept Chinese splendid cultures. Prince Shōtoku of Japan had been taught
by two teachers. One was from Baekje, the other was from Goguryeo.
Ancient Korea
By 4000 BC there were stone age farmers living in Korea. By 1000 BC they had learned to use
bronze. By about 300 BC they had learned to use iron to make tools and weapons. At first, Korea
was divided into tribes but eventually organized kingdoms emerged. There were 3 of them,
Goguryeo in the north and Silla and Baekje in the south.
According to legend Silla was founded in 57 BC by Bak Hyeokgeose, Jumong founded Goguryeo
in 37 BC and Onjo founded Baekje in 18 BC. In reality, the 3 kingdoms emerged later between
the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. These 3 kingdoms were heavily influenced by Chinese civilization.
By the 4th century, they were highly civilized.
The three kingdoms of Korea fought for supremacy. China tried to defeat the northern kingdom of
Goguryeo twice. Both times they were defeated by General Eulji Mundeok. However the Chinese
then made an alliance with the Silla kingdom against the other two. The Baekje kingdom was
defeated by 660 AD and became part of Silla. Goguryeo followed in 668. Korea was then united
under the Silla.

Goryeo Dynasty
The Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) was a period of intense religious fervor. Its people—from the
rulers to their lowest subjects—were ardent believers in Buddhism. This dynasty had a unique
beginning. Its founder, Wang Geon (reigned 918–943), embraced his former rivals and brought
them into the fold of his new dynasty.
The Joseon in Korea (1392-1910)
The king moved the capital to Hanseong (Seoul) in 1394. Under the Yi rulers, Confucianism was
made the official religion of Korea. Buddhism lost its influence. In 1443 king Sejong created a
native Korean alphabet.
In Korea, there was a class of scholar-officials called the yangban. In order to join the civil service
or to become an army officer, you had to pass certain exams in Confucian thought. In order to
take the exams, you had to be the son of a yangban. So the scholar-official class was hereditary.
Below the yangban were a class of clerks and specialists like doctors and accountants. They were
called the jungin (middle-men).
Below them was the great mass of Korean society called the yangmin. They were peasants,
craftsmen, and merchants. Certain trades such as butchers, tanners, and entertainers were
outcasts. At the bottom of the pile were slaves.
Japan invaded Korea in 1592. They prevailed on land but at sea, they were defeated by Admiral
Yi Sun-sin. The Japanese were forced to withdraw. They invaded again in 1597 but they withdrew
in 1598.
In the 17th century, Korea suffered from factionalism among its ruling class. Silhak (practical
learning). Scholars discussed the practical ways of solving Korea’s problems rather than purely
abstract ideas.
In the 18th century, the Kings clamped down on factionalism. In Korea, trade and commerce
flourished. Merchants had low status in Korean society. Confucianism regarded them with
suspicion since they did not actually produce anything, unlike peasants and craftsmen.
The first contact with Europeans came in 1656 when a Dutch ship was shipwrecked off the coast
of Korea. Then in the 18th century Jesuit priests traveled to China. Koreans visiting China met
them and by the end of the 18th century, some Koreans had been converted to Catholicism. The
new religion slowly spread in Korea despite waves of persecution in 1801, 1839, and 1866.
In the 1850s a new religion spread among the peasants. It was called Donghak (Eastern Learning)
and it was led by Choe Je-u. The peasants were discontented in the 19th century and in 1864
there was a rebellion. The rebellion was crushed and Choe Je-u was executed.

The Korean War

Even before the war ended Russia and the USA had agreed that after the war Korea would be
divided into two zones, Russian and American. In August 1945 Russian troops entered the north.
In September, after the Japanese surrender, American troops landed in the south. Korea was
divided in two along an imaginary line, the 38th parallel. It was originally intended that the two
zones would eventually be united into one.
Of course, that did not happen. With the onset of the cold war, the divide between them hardened.
The Russians installed a Communist government in the north and in the south, a government was
elected in 1948. Korea became two countries, one Communist, and one democratic.
The North Korean army invaded the south on 25 June 1950. They quickly drove south and
captured Seoul. The UN Security Council invited members to help the south. US troops arrived
on 30 June but they were forced to withdraw into the area around Busan. The first British troops
arrived in Korea on 29 August 1950. On 15 September other US troops landed at Incheon 150
miles north of Busan. The soldiers in the Busan area broke out and pushed north and linked up
with the troops in Incheon on 26 September. On the same day, allied troops liberated Seoul.
United Nations troops then pushed the communists back over the 38th parallel and by 24
November they controlled about 2/3 of North Korea.
However the Chinese then intervened. Strengthened by the Chinese 180,000 troops the
Communists then counter-attacked and drove the allies south. By the end of 1950, the allies were
back at the 38th parallel. The Communists attacked again on 1 January 1951. The allies counter-
attacked on 25 January and on 14 March they again liberated Seoul. Several Communist
offensives followed but all of them were repulsed. The war ended in a stalemate and on 27 July
1953 a cease-fire was signed. The 38th parallel was once again the border between the two
countries

Middle East
Mesopotamia – cradle of civilization
Sumer – earliest civilization
Akkad – first empire
Babylon – creative empire
Hittite – iron discoverer
Assyria – largest empire
Chaldea – The new Babylon

Persian Empire (Iran)

• Cyrus the Great – founder of Achaemenid dynasty of Persian Empire

• Darius the Great – bureaucracy was developed
• Zoroastrianism – primary religion of Persia
• Conquered by Alexander
• Sassanid Empire - second Persian Empire.
 INDIA

Settled life emerged on the subcontinent in the western margins of the Indus River evolving
gradually into the Indus Valley Civilization.

Indus Valley civilization was a Bronze Age civilization which was centered mostly in the western
part of the Indian Subcontinent; it is considered that an early form of Hinduism was performed
during this civilization. Some of the great cities of this civilization include Harappa and Mohenjo-
daro, which had a high level of town planning and arts.
The cause of the destruction of these regions around 1700 BC is debatable, although evidence
suggests it was caused by natural disasters (especially flooding).
This era marks Vedic period in India, which lasted from roughly 1500 to 500 BC. During this
period, the Sanskrit language developed and the Vedas were written, epic hymns that told tales
of gods and wars. This was the basis for the Vedic religion, which would eventually sophisticate
and develop into Hinduism.
The Maurya and Gupta empires are called the Golden Age of India and were marked by extensive
inventions and discoveries in science, technology, art, religion, and philosophy that crystallized
the elements of what is generally known as Indian culture. The religions of Hinduism and
Buddhism, which began in Indian sub-continent, were an important influence on South, East and
Southeast Asia.
Expansion of Hinduism in Southeast Asia
By 600 BC, India had been divided into 17 regional states that would occasionally feud amongst
themselves. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great came to India with a vision of conquering the whole
world. He crossed northwestern India and created the province Bactria but could not move further
because his army wanted to go back to their family. Shortly prior, the soldier Chandragupta
Maurya began to take control of the Ganges river and soon established the Maurya Empire. The
Maurya Empire was the geographically extensive and powerful empire in ancient India, ruled by
the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC. It was one of the world's largest empires in its time,
stretching to the Himalayas in the north, what is now Assam in the east, probably beyond modern
Pakistan in the west, and annexing Balochistan and much of what is now Afghanistan, at its
greatest extent. South of Mauryan empire was the Tamilakam an independent country dominated
by three dynasties, the Pandyans, Cholas and Cheras. The government established by
Chandragupta was led by an autocratic king, who primarily relied on the military to assert his
power. It also applied the use of a bureaucracy and even sponsored a postal service.
Chandragupta's grandson, Ashoka, greatly extended the empire by conquering most of modern-
day India. He eventually converted to Buddhism, though, and began a peaceful life where he
promoted the religion as well as humane methods throughout India. The Maurya Empire would
disintegrate soon after Ashoka's death and was conquered by the Kushan invaders from the
northwest, establishing the Kushan Empire. Their conversion to Buddhism caused the religion to
be associated with foreigners and therefore a decline in its popularity occurred.

Veda – Four Books of Wisdom

• Rig Veda - collection of hymns in praise of the gods

• Sama Veda – collection of melodies and chants “book of song”
• Yajur Veda – collection of prayers, rituals and Mantras “Worship”
• Atharva Veda - collection of spells, charms, and incantation

Caste System - class structure that is determined by birth