Ancient China

Han Contacts with Other Cultures

Farming and Manufacturing

There were many advances in manufacturing during the Han Dynasty. Increase in productivity led to prosperity. This would lead to contact with people from other cultures. The Chinese had become master ironworkers. The armor and swords made the Chinese army more powerful.

Farming and Manufacturing

Farmers also gained from the ironworks. Iron Plows and wheel barrows increased output. Farmers could carry more, plant more and, in the end, grow more food

Farming and Manufacturing

Silk would increase in production during the Han. The procedure for making silk was a well kept secret, one they would punish by death. Weavers would use foot powered looms to weave silk thread into fabric. Garments made from this silk were very expensive.

Trade Routes

Chinese products such as silk and fine pottery are in high demand. Trade will increase partly because of Han armies conquering lands deep into Central Asia. Han generals found out that leaders of lands farther west desired silk.

Expansion of Trade

Wudi desired the strong Central Asian horses so … he brought the silk cloth to Central Asia and traded it for horses. Central Asians would then trade with those in the west for goods they wanted.

Silk Road

Traders would use several overland routes to get goods from China to the west – the most famous was known as the Silk Road. The 4000 mile route stretched from China to the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Europe.

Silk Road

The Chinese did not travel the entire route, just to Central Asia. Traveling the Silk Road was difficult taking hundreds of men and camels loaded down with goods. Traders would travel together for protection and some hired armed guards. Bandits could steal goods and water and the weather could range from icy blizzards to hot and dry sandstorms.

Silk Road

The road was named after the most famous of goods to be moved along the road. The benefits far outweighed the risks, as Rome in particular had a huge demand for silk. Rome would send gold, silver, gems and horses back to China for its silk

Buddhism Comes to China

From the trade routes in the 1st century AD, Buddhism came to China. Over time, the Han government became less stable, people would ignore laws and violence would become common.

Buddhism

As rebellion raged and millions of peasants became hungry, life is uncertain and people look for answers to suffering from Daoism and Confucianism, but fo not find the answers. Buddhism seemed to provide more hope with its ideas of rebirth and relief from suffering.

Impact on China

At first, Indian Buddhists had a hard time explaining the teachings – then they used the ideas found in Daoism to describe Buddhists belief. In time, Buddhism will catch on with the poor and upper classes. By AD 200, Buddhist altars stood in the emperor’s palace.

Impact on China

The introduction of Buddhism in China is an example of diffusion. (the spread of ideas, culture and technology from one culture to another).Chinese culture will change as a response to Buddhism as texts are translated into Chinese and many Chinese become monks and nuns and Buddhist art is found everywhere.

To Sum Up …

Exit: How are some of the teachings of Daoism similar to Buddhism?

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