Empires of West Africa, Mesoamerica, and China

Han Dynasty – divided into two periods: Former Han and Later Han
Liu Bang - Xiang Yu’s general brought about the Han Dynasty after winning the battle against Xiang Yu in 202 B.C
- Centralized Government, Local Provincials ruled by commanderies
The Empress Lu – one of the wives of Liu Bang who came into power after Liu Bang died in 190 B.C.
Wudi – great grandson of Liu Bang; called the “Martial Emperor” because he expanded the empire through war
- Enemies: Xiongnu (North), Manchura Korea (Northeast), Chinese colonies (South)
Highly Structured Society: Ruler: Emperor
Taxes, month’s worth of labor/military service every year (for building roads, canals, irrigation ditches)s

Achievements:
Confucianism
commerce and manufacture
assimilation

Fall of the Han and Their Return: - economic imbalance, political instability, power vacuum, chaos and peasant revolts

Emperor Wen

achievements: extravagant construction projects

TANG GAOZU rebelled and dethroned the sui dynasty
TANG TAIZONG reformed the government organization and law code, expanded the empire
WU ZHAO diminished the power of northwest aristocracy
EMPEROR XUANZONG a progressive & benevolent ruler who abolished death penalty

Rise: By taking over the throne with a rebellion, the mandate of heaven was handed on the Tang Dynasty. They extended their years with territorial expansion, military and government empowerments.
Fall : The struggle over its large territories added by its crushing taxes pushed border attacks and internal rebellions.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Golden age of art & poetry, woodblock printing, gunpowder, porcelain, mechanical clock, magnetic compass, paper money, mathematical advancements, agricultural advancements

RISE:
-The the territory was divided due to the fall of the Tang dynasty in 906
-In the east, there were small kingdoms in 923
-Then a general in of these kingdoms named Zhao Kuangyin rebelled against their ruler and the court officials and started his own dynasty…Thus the Song Empire was born.

FALL:
-After 2 decades of warfare, the Song capital was taken in 1276, after fighting with the remnants of the court, the empire ended in 1279.

-The Song Dynasty were defeated by (1st) Jin Empire and (2nd) the Mongols. Each time they were attacked and defeated by their allies.

Ruled southern China and set the capital at Hanzhou. In 1127 – 1279 Song developed economically.
Riches by trading with north China, the South, West Asia and Europe
Contributed in the practice of acupuncture
Painting and art depicting nature flourished (influenced by Daoism)
A higher social class, the gentry, emerged, and among women, the practice of binding the foot was spread (scholar-gentry, relating to Confucianism)
Invention of movable type, gunpowder, porcelain, paper money and magnetic compass; cultivation of rice, transportation and communication for trade
Reduced the power of wealthy aristocrats
The population of China increased

Rise of the Mongols:
In c. 1200, Genghis Khan united the mongol clans and in a span of 21 years they conquered much of Asia.
Leaders:
Temujin (later renamed Genghis Khan) and his successors.

Achievements:
Created the largest unified land area in history.
Fall:
In 1368, Chinese rebels overthrew the Mongol Rule.

Founder
-Zhu Yuanzhang/Hongwu"
Downfall
- Multiple calamities caused rebellions and collapsed the dynasty.

Achievements
-Priority of the peasants,
-Weakening of the Eunuchs
-Paper currency
-Strong military