MonCAST

Monkayo College of Arts, Sciences and Technology

Academic Year 2023-2024 – Second Semester

COURSE CODE: SSE 112

COURSE TITLE: Asian Studies

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the development perspectives in Asian countries, cultures, and values
as well as issues and challenges, historical roots, and Asian responses. Also, this is designed to
enable students to make comparative study of Asian societies.

COURSE UNITS: 3 Units

COURSE OUTCOMES:
1. Explain the concept of Asia from the point of view of Asians;
2. Discuss the significance of Asia’s environment and natural resources to Asian’s way of life;
3. Analyze how human resources contribute towards improving the economy and the present
society based on development indicators;
4. Analyze the role of language development in shaping Asian culture.
5. Describe the important events in the lives of ancient Asians during the cultural evolution;
6. Express admiration for the great personalities of the civilizations that developed in the
different regions of Asia;
7. Show respect for differences in religion and philosophy among Asians;
8. Give importance to the role played by women in promoting and preserving Asian values;
9. Relate the legacy of ancient Asians to the present time;
10. Examine the reasons behind and the methods of Western colonialism and imperialism in
Asia
11. Determine the implications of colonialism and imperialism on the way of life of Asians;
12. Explain the events that paved the way for the emergence and development of nationalism
in Asia;
13. Discuss the relationship of the different political ideologies of Asian countries;
14. Determine what customs and roles of Asian families have changed and what remained
the same; and
15. Value the Asian contributions in the fields of humanities and sports.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Narrate how empires and other civilizations that were built in West Asia,
East Asia, and North Asia became powerful;
2. Identify the leaders and important personalities in West Asia, East Asia,
and North Asia;
3. Value the contributions of the empires and civilizations to the regions of
West Asia, East Asia, and North Asia.

Identification
Instructions: Observe and analyze the given pictures below. Identify each one of
them. The following images are some of the great contributions of the ancient
Asians.

_______ ___

________ ____

Analysis
Instructions: Choose one contribution and answer the processing questions.
1. Did the contribution you chose benefited the people? In what way?
Abstraction

The unique history of the Mesopotamian civilization in West Asia began in

the city-states of Sumer. After King Sargon united the Sumerians, the Akkadian
empire was established. This was succeeded by other empires. Next to come
into power were the empires of Babylon, Assyria, and Chaldea. These empires
left impressive contributions that continue to influence people today.

Akkadian Empire
King Sargon headed the very first empire in the history of the world, the
Akkadian Empire. Under his rule around 2300 B.C.E., Sargon succeeded in uniting
the city-states of Sumer.

Sargon expanded the territory of the Akkadian Empire from the shores of
the Mediterranean Sea to the southern portion of the Persian Gulf.
Aside from land expansion, Sargon also spent time making and repairing dikes
and water systems in Mesopotamia. He also ordered his warriors to guard the
major trade routes in the empire. Sargon ruled for more than 50 years.

The Akkadian Empire claimed many aspects of the Sumerian culture, the most
important of which was the cuneiform writing system. Sargon was succeeded by
weaker leaders. This led to the decline and eventual collapse of the Akkadian
Empire.

Babylonian Empire
Starting around 1800 B.C.E., a new city-state developed and became
powerful in Mesopotamia. This was Babylon. Babylon conquered Sumer and
Akkad, leading to the establishment of the Babylonian Empire. Babylonia had
many leaders. The most famous one was Hammurabi who ruled the empire from
1792 to 1750 B.C.E.
The Code of Hammurabi
Out of all of Hammurabi’s works and contributions, the systematic
implementation of laws was considered to be his legacy. His code of laws was
called the Code of Hammurabi. Some of the laws were based on the principle
of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." This meant that whatever wrong one
had done warranted the same punishment. For example, if one physically hurt
another person, he would be punished by being physically hurt as well.
Hammurabi's reign was considered the “Golden Age of Babylon.” Upon his
death, Babylon became weak, and Mesopotamia was once again divided into
different small states.

Assyrian Empire
The Assyrian Empire came to power between 900 and 700 B.C.E. The
Assyrians originally came from the river valley of Tigris in Mesopotamia. Like the
Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians, the Assyrians also used cuneiform as
their system of writing.

The Assyrian warriors were feared in the western part of Asia. This was
because of their violent and cruel ways. Assyrians launched systematic invasions
using horse-drawn, helmets, spears, and swords made of steel. They burned
down every place they conquered. The enemies they captured were mercilessly
killed, beheaded, and burned alive. Those who were not killed became slaves.
Others were cast away to distant lands.

Out of their fear of Assyria, leaders of nearby communities had no choice

but to accept Assyrian dominance instead of risking their people's lives and
property. As a result, the Assyrians were able to establish a strong empire. They
lorded over Mesopotamia and the entire Fertile Crescent. Assyrians also
occupied Egypt in Africa.

With the establishment of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian

Empire, Assyrians became even more powerful in West Asia. The prestige of the
Assyrian Empire continued until the reign of Ashurbanipal. The empire
maintained its prominence when Ashurbanipal became the king of Assyria.
 Ashurbanipal is considered as one of the greatest leaders in ancient
history. Aside from his effective governance, he was known for building a huge
room or library to house almost 25,000 clay tablets. These tablets contained
information on leaders, important events, and other accounts describing life in
Mesopotamia.

In 1852, a Turkish archaeologist discovered the ruins of the said library with
the clay tablets preserved. Because of this, Ashurbanipal became known for
building the world's first library.

The end of Ashurbanipal's reign caused the decline of the empire.

Uprisings in their occupied territories and the imposition of high taxes hastened
the downfall of Assyria. In 612 B.C.E., Nineveh was occupied. With the combined
military campaigns of the Chaldeans from Babylon and the Medes of Persia, the
Assyrian Empire was successfully defeated. This marked the demise of the
empire.

Chaldean Empire
After conquering Assyria, Nabopolassar of Chaldea rose to fame.
Babylon, which once again became the capital of the empire, was revitalized.
Nabopolassar wanted his empire to be as powerful as the Babylonian Empire.
Because of this, the Chaldean Empire became known in history as the Second
Babylonian Empire, or the Neo-Babylonian Empire of Mesopotamia.
The greatest king of Chaldea was Nebuchadnezzar. Under his rule, Chaldea's
territory expanded to the western end of Syria and Canaan (now part of
present-day Israel and Lebanon). In 586 B.C.E., he invaded Jerusalem and drove
thousands of Jews from their land to Babylon, and turned them into slaves. This
became known as the Babylonian Captivity.

Under Nebuchadnezzar's leadership, Babylon became a trading center.

The city was protected by walls that were 300 feet high and 80 feet thick. The
most lavishly decorated wall was called the Ishtar Gate. This blue wall was
adorned with figurines of bulls and dragons.

Nebuchadnezzar ruled for 43 years. In 539 B.C.E., the Persians, led by King
Cyrus the Great, invaded the city of Babylon. This ended the historic civilization
of Mesopotamia.
OTHER CIVILIZATIONS IN WEST ASIA

West Asia is also the birthplace of a number of civilizations that made

great contributions to the world. These are the Hittite, Lydian, Phoenician,
Aramean, and Hebrew civilizations. On the eastern side of the Fertile Crescent,
a powerful empire was born: the Persian Empire.

Hittite
To the north of Syria, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea,
was the mountainous peninsula of Asia Minor. This is now part of present-day
Turkey. In 1700 B.C.E., a group of people called the Hittites settled in Asia Minor.
They were the first to build a notable civilization in Asia Minor. Hattusas (or
Hattusha) became the capital of the Hittite Empire.

For almost 450 years, the Hittites were a strong empire in West Asia. There
were periods when they occupied Babylon, and competed with Egypt for
control over northern Syria. However, the Hittites and the Egyptians eventually
came to an agreement to end their conflict. This agreement was the very first
peace treaty in the history of the world.

The Hittites were good warriors because of two things: the use of chariots
and iron and steel weapons. Despite their advance warfare technology, the
Hittite Empire gradually weakened. Around 1190 B.C.E., foreign invaders from
the northern part of Asia Minor attacked the empire and burned down Hattusas.
This marked the end for the Hittite civilization.

Lydian
The kingdom of Lydia could be found at the western end of the Fertile
Crescent and to the east of the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital was Sardis. One
of the primary means of livelihood of Lydians was trading.

Lydians were the very first people in the world to use coins as early as 600
B.C.E. The coins were made from a mixture of gold and silver, and bore the crest
of the king of Lydia. During this period, a man named Croesus became famous.
Croesus was considered to be the richest monarch of his time.
 Before Lydians invented coins, the system of trade involved barter, or the
exchange of goods and services. Problems arose when the products or services
were not what both parties needed. The introduction of coins by the Lydians
facilitated a more efficient trading system in the area. The independent
kingdom of Lydia survived until 545 B.C.E. It weakened and eventually fell during
the Persian invasion.

Phoenician
At around the time when the Hittite Empire became powerful, the
Phoenicians settled along the shores between the Mediterranean Sea and Syria.
They called their land Phoenicia. This is now part of present-day Lebanon and
Syria.
Phoenicia was made up of city-states, such as Tyre, Byblos, and Sidon. The
people in these independent city-states spoke the same language and had one
religion. To avoid conflicts, they signed a peace treaty with nearby communities.

The Phoenicians' land was not suitable for agriculture. Because of this, they
focused on sea trade. They traded products with other places in the
Mediterranean region. Their most important product was an expensive lilac-
colored dye from a type of snail called murex fabrics. Cloths colored with this
dye were sewn into garments and were worn by the monarchs of Europe.
Phoenicians were also able to establish colonies in Spain, in Northern Africa, and
Italy along the shores of Sicily and Sardinia. Carthage was the most important
colony of the Phoenicians.

One of the greatest contributions of the Phoenicians was the alphabet, or

symbols that were formed from sounds. The Phoenician alphabet was made up
of 22 consonants. Some elements of the Greek alphabet were derived from this
alphabet. The Phoenician aleph and beth are the equivalent of the Greek alpha
and beta.

Even before 700 B.C.E., Phoenicia was already slowly getting weaker. The
civilization totally collapsed with the constant Assyrian attacks in the Fertile
Crescent.
Hebrew
The Hebrews lived in the south of Phoenicia. They gained prominence in
history, not for political or military aspects, but because of religion.

In the history of the world, the Hebrews are credited with being the
pioneers of monotheism. They established Judaism, a religion which worships a
single god-Yahweh. From this, two of the most influential religions in our present
time were born: Christianity and Islam. The beginnings of the Hebrews can be
traced in the narratives from the Old Testament.

Aramean
The Arameans lived in central Syria around 1200 B.C.E. They establish their
capital in Damascus. Unlike the other groups of people in West Asia, the power
of the Aramean leaders was not absolute. Because of this, their group was easily
conquered.

Despite this, the Arameans were excellent traders. Their products became
well-known throughout the region. Aside from this, other people adopted their
language, Aramaic. This language was used in a large part of West Asia until
around 800 C.E. Aramaic was also used by some of the authors of the Bible.

Persian
The Persians came from one of the many ethnolinguistic groups living in
the plains of central Asia. Climate change, the depletion of pasture lands, and
conflicts with other groups forced them to eventually leave their land. The
Persians travelled until they reached the eastern part of Mesopotamia, in
present-day Iran.

During this time, the Achaemenid clan rose to power. They succeeded in
uniting the whole of Persia. Cyrus, a member of the Achaemenid clan, became
king in 559 B.C.E. This marked Persia's rose to power in West Asia. Cyrus was able
to expand the territory of Persia leading to the establishment of the Persian
Empire. In 539 B.C.E., he conquered Mesopotamia and occupied Babylon.

Unlike the ruthless Assyrians, Cyrus allowed the natives of Babylonia to

oversee their own land. He also gave the Hebrews, then known as Jews, the
freedom to return to Jerusalem. Cyrus also showed appreciation for the cultures
of other empires. Proof of this are the architectural influences of the Assyrians,
Babylonians, and Egyptians in their palaces and other buildings in Persia. His
excellent governance and Persia' ascension as a powerful empire in Asia
prompted people to call him Cyrus the Great.

Cambyses, son of Cyrus, succeeded in the throne and ruled over the
Persian Empire for eight years. During his reign, Persia's territory expanded
considerably with the inclusion of Egypt.

After Cambyses, Darius the Great became the king of Persia. Darius was
from a royal family of warriors serving the king. He seized throne and ruled from
521 to 486 B.C.E.

After the reign of Darius, the Persian Empire weakened. Some reasons for
this were the extravagance of the succeeding Persian kings, higher taxes, and
power struggle in the empire. In 331 B.C.E, the Persian Empire collapsed when
Darius III was defeated by the king of Macedonia – Alexander the Great.

The unique civilizations in East Asia began when communities in the Yellow
River valley flourished. Soon after, different dynasties were established to rule
over China. The Chinese way of life greatly influenced countries near China,
such as Korea and Japan. In North Asia, the Mongols built a strong empire which
became part of the history of other civilizations in Asia.

Chinese Civilization
The ancient history of the Chinese civilization can be characterized by the
rise and fall of dynasties that ruled the country. The leaders of each dynasty
played a significant role in shaping the political, social, and cultural aspects of
the lives of the ancient Chinese.
Zhou Dynasty
After the Yellow River civilization gained prominence in China, the Shang
Dynasty was established and ruled over the Chinese for more than 500 years.
Around 1122 B.C.E., the Chinese Zhous occupied the western section of China.
This paved the way for the building of a new dynasty, the Zhou.

The Zhou Dynasty reigned in China for almost 900 years. It was the longest-
ruling dynasty in China. During this time, the Chinese civilization started to
become powerful and to expand its territory.

The Zhou Dynasty had a centralized system of governance. The king held
the highest position, and under him were officials who were in charge of
education, laws, political activities, and religious rituals and ceremonies.
It was during this time that the idea of a Mandate of Heaven surfaced. This
became the foundation of the dynastic cycle.

The Shang's system of land ownership continued during the Zhou Dynasty.
Silk became an important trade goods. It was commonly used to make
garments and as shrouds (cloth used to wrap the bodies of the dead). Silk and
other Chinese products were also traded in Central Asia and some parts of
Europe.

Under Zhou rule, the family became a highly regarded component of the
society. The Chinese considered loyalty to one's family more important than
loyalty to the state. During this time, the great Chinese philosophers Kong Fuzi,
Laozi, and Meng Zi gained prominence. Their teachings greatly influenced the
lives of the Chinese.

In 475 B.C.E., civil wars erupted between seven warring states in the
kingdom of Zhou-Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin. This period in the history
of China was called the “Warring States Period." During this time, the political
power of the Zhou dynasty in China was not absolute.

The civil war in China ended when the Qin state gained complete control
over the entire kingdom. This ended the reign of Zhou and marked the beginning
of a new era under the Qin Dynasty.
Qin Dynasty
In 221 B.C.E., the Qin Dynasty successfully united the states that have been
at war for almost 200 years. During this time, the Chinese civilization was able to
establish a real empire under the leadership of Shi Huangdi (Qin Shi Huang), who
proclaimed himself as emperor by virtue of the Mandate of Heaven. He
changed the system of government in China to one based on legalism. Shi
Huangdi was a ruthless leader. He believed that order and progress could only
be achieved under strict leadership.

Shi Huangdi did not accept the teachings of Confucius. He suppressed

Confucianism in China by burning books and torturing or killing Confucian
teachers. Shi Huangdi set up a strong, centralized government wherein he had
absolute power. He divided the empire into 36 provinces and small districts. He
designated his trusted officials to oversee their territory. He also formed a council
to monitor the performance of the provincial and district officials. There were
grave punishments for those who betrayed the emperor.

To weaken the influence of members of the nobility, they were forced to

stay in the dynasty's capital, Xianyang. Their weapons were confiscated. Shi
Huangdi wanted to sever any connections between the nobility and the farmers
to prevent an uprising.

Despite Shi Huangdi's declarations that the Qin Dynasty would last for
10,000 generations, the dynasty only lasted for 15 years. In 210 B.C.E., Shi Huangdi
died. During this time, the farmers and members of the nobility who suffered from
Shi Huangdi's cruelty staged revolts. After four years, the Qin Dynasty was
overthrown. In 202 B.C.E., Liu Bang was successfully installed into power. He
became known as Gaozu and founded a new dynasty-the Han Dynasty.

Han Dynasty
Order was restored in China when the Han Dynasty gained control over
the empire in 202 B.C.E. The next 400 years witnessed a high level of civilization
which made China the most powerful empire in Asia at that time. This was also
the period when the Chinese population significantly increased from 10 million
to more than 60 million. Confucianism, which Shi Huangdi forcefully purged from
the lives of the Chinese people, was once again popular. The Han Dynasty's
reign became successful if not for the two great leaders: Gaozu and Wudi.
  The process of making silk, ceramics, as well as sundials, and water clocks
were improved
 Seismograph was invented
 Chariot were used
 Paper was used and printing was improved
 The Chinese writing system was developed
 The very first Chinese dictionary was made
 Chinese doctors started practicing acupuncture
 Historians such as Sima Qian-who recorded the events in China from the
first dynasty to Han, and Ban Gu-who connected the political and social
history of China-gained prominence
 Chinese writers created new styles and forms of literature, such as the short
poem, hymn, and diary of nobility

Wudi (Wu Ti) was one of the most influential emperors of the Han Dynasty.
During his reign, the dynasty's territory expanded. He acquired the southern area
at the base of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River),which is now northern Vietnam.
He was also able to control the northern part of the empire heading towards
Manchuria.
Wudi strengthened his administration through a civil service system. This
pertains to the daily execution of government duties. Those who wanted to serve
as official of the empire had to pass the civil service examination. This tested
their knowledge on law, history, and the teachings of Confucius. To become an
empire official, one should qualify the civil service exam first, and not simply earn
the position through inheritance.

During Wudi's time, the empire attained peace and order. Even after his
death in 87 B.C.E., peace reigned in the empire for almost 150 years. This period
is called Pax Sinica or Chinese Peace. During the Han Dynasty, the ancient
Chinese enjoyed the Golden Age in the history of China.
 During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese became active in trading outside
the empire. In 106 B.C.E., the very first caravan or group of Chinese traders set
forth on camels and headed towards the west. They brought silk products to be
sold to foreign traders.

The route that these Chinese traders took became known as the Silk Road.
This route from China to the Mediterranean region in western Asia is estimated
to be 8,000 kilometers long.

Eventually, Han's power waned. Some of the reasons for this were weak
leadership, corrupt practices of emperors, the increasing power of the nobility,
and attacks by nomadic foreigners from northern China. In 189 C.E., rebel
warriors successfully occupied Chang'an. In the year 220, civil wars erupted, and
the Han Dynasty fell.

Sui Dynasty
After 300 years of suffering from the absence of peace and order, China
was once again reunited under one rule-a new dynasty named Sui-and reverted
to having a centralized government.

During Sui Yangdi's rule, he had a long canal constructed to connect the
two primary rivers of China, Yellow River (Huang He) and Chang Jiang. It was
called the Grand Canal. The canal facilitated the exportation of products such
as rice from the southern part of China to the northern parts of China. It also
made spying on the southern section of the empire easier for the emperor.
Despite the benefits brought by the Grand Canal, its construction caused
hardships to many Chinese. An increase in taxes also fueled the explosion of
rebellions in different parts of the empire. It was not long before the Sui Dynasty
totally collapsed.

Tang Dynasty
Tang is considered as one of China's great dynasties. Aside from stabilizing
the centralized government, the Tang Dynasty resumed the administration of
the civil service examination, allotted lands for farmers, and weakened the
power of landlords.
 The leaders of Tang expanded the empire's territory and influence. This
was evident in the occupation of Tibet, the tributary status of Korea, and the
diplomatic relations with the kingdoms of Southeast Asia.
Chang'an enjoyed progress once again under the Tang Dynasty. There
were beautiful parks and towering palaces and temples. There was a market
where products from different parts of the world were sold. During this time,
Chang'an's population was almost two million. At that time, it was among the
biggest cities in the world.
At the start of the 9th century, the Tang dynasty started to decline
because of internal strife and foreign invasions. Like Han, the Tang failed to
address the corruption of its rulers, and the growing influence of the military
leaders. The Tang dynasty collapsed in 907.

The Chinese were ruled once again by a new dynasty-the Song. Attacks
made by foreign invaders on northern China resulted in the empire's capital
being moved from Chang'an to Bianjing (now Kaifeng) in the north, and
eventually to Lin'an (now Hangzhou) in the south. During this time, China
lost control over Tibet. Despite this, the Chinese empire still achieved
economic and cultural development.
Many of the leaders of the Song Dynasty focused on infrastructure projects
such as roads, canals, and irrigation, instead of strengthening their troops.
Chinese art and literature also blossomed under this dynasty. Landscapes
became a popular theme in painting. The most important invention of this period
were the compass (which improved navigation), and gunpowder (which
strengthened the military troops of the Song Dynasty).
The alliance between Song leaders and the Mongol triggered the
dynasty's fall. The Mongols grew in strength, eventually dethroning Song and
occupying China. This marked the beginning of the Mongol Dynasty. The foreign
rulers did not completely trust the Chinese. They stopped administering the civil
service and did not give the Chinese high positions in the government. Thus, the
Mongols held the important positions in the empire. Eventually, they accepted
the Chinese culture and reinstated the civil service examination.
 Foreign traders flocked to China due to the interconnected roads that
linked the empire to central Asia up to Persia and present-day Russia. To protect
and guard foreigners and Chinese, stations and quarters were built along the
route.

In 1275, Marco Polo, a merchant from Venice (currently part of Italy),

reached in China. He studied the Chinese language and stayed in the empire
for 17 years. He became an official of the Mongol government and travelled all
over China. Upon returning to Europe, he wrote a book titled Travels of Marco
Polo where he described his trip to China and other parts of Asia. The Europeans
who read Marco Polo's book got a clear picture of Asia. The wealth and
greatness of China enticed other foreigners to visit the country. At the start of
the 14th century, the Yuan Dynasty's power began to wane. Corruption in the
government and widespread poverty were the reasons for the dynasty's decline.
In 1368, a Chinese rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang, led the group that overthrew the
Mongols and caused the fall of the Yuan Dynasty. He became known later on
as Emperor Hongwu, the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

The leaders of the Ming Dynasty wanted China to be a strong seafaring

empire. With that in mind, they improved the empire's shipbuilding and sailing
methods.
During this time, Zheng He (Cheng Ho), an official of the Ming Dynasty, gained
prominence. Between 1405 and 1433, he led large-scale seafaring expeditions.
On his first venture, he used 62 ships with almost 28,000 people.
The largest ship had a length of up to 440 feet. Zheng He's expedition
passed by Southeast Asia. Eventually, he reached the western shore of India,
and the communities in east Africa.

In the middle of the 15th century, Ming enforced isolationism or Haijin, a

policy which cut China's ties with all foreign people. Ming stopped the
expeditions, and stopped all communication with other countries. The Chinese
were prohibited from interacting with foreigners, and from leaving the empire.
Isolationism was imposed for almost 250 years.
As time passed, the negative effects of Ming isolationism were felt by the
Chinese empire.
 Development slowed because the Chinese could not learn about new
discoveries or inventions from other countries that would have helped improve
their lives. Despite having well-developed silk and ceramic industries, Ming never
became a strong, industrialized empire. In 1644, foreign troops from Manchu
invaded China and overthrew the Ming Dynasty.

Korean Civilization
The Korean peninsula is found in East Asia. Korea served as a bridge to
and from China and Japan, hence the similarities in the way of life of Asians
living in those countries.

In 2333 B.C.E., Dangun Wanggeom built the kingdom of Gojoseon. In 109

B.C.E. the Chinese invaded Korea and occupied Gojoseon. The Chinese reigned
over the northern part of Korea until 313 C.E.
After the year 220, three kingdoms flourished in Korea: Baekje in the
southwest, Silla in the southeast, and Goguryeo in the north. Silla conquered
Baekje, then occupied Goguryeo. During this time, Chinese influence spread
throughout Korea. This included a centralized government, adherence to
Confucianism and Buddhism, and the development of a writing system that was
similar to Chinese writing.
During the 10th century C.E., Silla weakened and Taejo Wang Geon, a
rebel leader, came to power. He was declared king and his dynasty was called
Goryeo (Koryo). It lasted from 935 to 1392.

The reign of the Goryeo dynasty in Korea lasted for four and a half
centuries. Just like in China, the leaders of Goryeo implemented a centralized
government system, and administered civil service examinations. However,
power remained in the hands of the nobility and their children inherited
government positions.
Between 1231 and 1259, the Mongols launched successive campaigns in
Korea and demanded large tributes from the Goryeo leaders such as 20,000
horses, clothing for one million warriors, and Korean slaves.
 After the decline of the Mongol Empire, different rebellions were mounted
against Korea's ruling class. In 1392, under the leadership of Yi Seong-gye, Korea
was once again united under the rule of a new dynasty, the Kingdom of Joseon.

After the fall of the Goryeo Dynasty, Yi Seong-gye (later known as Taejo of
Joseon) set up another dynasty, and called it Joseon. From Gaegyong (now
Kaesong), the capital was transferred to Hanyang (now Seoul). Schools were
opened to teach Confucianism.
One of the great leaders of Joseon was King Sejong. Among his
contributions was an instrument for measuring rainfall. Thus, Korea has the oldest
record of rainfall level in history. It was also during his time that hangul, a simple
method of writing based on Chinese calligraphy, was developed. It was made
up of 14 consonants and 10 vowels that represented the sounds used by
Koreans. Korea's literature flourished because folk tales were easily written in
hangul.
Like other civilizations in Asia, Korea was not spared from invasions from
foreigners such as the Japanese and the Manchus. The Koreans faced an
attempted invasion by the Japanese, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. From 1592 to
1598, the Japanese launched several attacks on Korea. Nevertheless, the
foreign invaders lost to the combined forces of Ming from China and Admiral Yi
Sun-shin, a skilled Korean warrior.
When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Japanese invaders left Korea.
In 1627 and 1636, Koreans faced another threat when the Manchus invaded
Korea. However, despite successive attacks, Joseon did not fall.

Japanese Civilization

Japan is associated with the rising of the sun. This is because it is

situated in the part of the world where the sun seems to rise. According
to Japanese tradition, their race came from Amaterasu, the sun goddess.
Japan is an archipelago. It is divided into four large islands
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Tokyo, the current capital
of the country, is located in Honshu.
Ancient History
The beginning of Japan's history is based on legends and traditions.
The narratives in Kojiki (712 C.E.) and Nibon Sboki or Nibongi (720
C.E.), and Chinese annals (around 300 C.E.) were the first references on
ancient Japanese civilization.

Around 30,000 B.C.E. - It is believed that the ancient people in Japan

reached the islands by crossing a land bridge which connected Japan to
continental Asia. The early native Japanese were called Ainu. They were
typically fair-skinned, hairy, and of average height.

Around 10,000 B.C.E.-The Jomon culture of native hunters developed

during this time. The jars which they made are among the oldest jars in the world.
They also had tools made from stone and animal bones.

Around 300 B.C.E.-This period saw the development of the Yayoi culture.
The native Japanese have early knowledge in metal working, and how to make
and use the potter's wheel. During this period, clans in control of their own
territories became powerful.

From the South of Kyushu, the native Yayoi reached Honshu and lived
in the Yamato plains. The Yayoi were divided into different tribes with their own
respective leaders. Eventually, the leader of Yamato became more powerful
than the other tribe leaders.

During the first years of the seventh century C.E., the tribes faced the
threat of attacks from the Chinese Tang. Because of this, Prince Shotoku, the
leader of Yamato, wanted to unite the tribes and be ready for any attacks.

Shotuko’s achievements includes; sending scholars to China to study the

political system of the Tang Dynasty and reform the Japanese government,
formulation of the famous Seventeen-Article Constitution that established a
centralized government under one ruler, the selection of officials based on their
capabilities and achievements, and maintained the good conduct of the
Japanese people and embraced Buddhism and Confucianism during his time
Chinese Influence.
 A large part of the lives of the ancient Japanese was based on the
Chinese culture. At the start of 500 C.E., interactions between Japanese and
Chinese became more frequent by way of the Korean peninsula. Chinese
influence also spread in Japan because of the influx of native Koreans in the
country.

After Prince Shotoku died in 622, the Fujiwara family gained political power
in Japan. They allowed the reigning family to intermarry with the Fujiwara family
and continued Shotoku's reforms.

In 710, a new capital, Nara, was installed. It was patterned after the great
city of Chang'an in China. This can be found in the eastern section of the plains
of Yamato. The leader of Yamato invoked the mandate of heaven, as the
Chinese did in China.

In the beginning, power rested in the hands of the emperor. Eventually,

the nobilities who owned vast lands became more influential. In 1794, Emperor
Kammu transferred the capital to Heian (now Kyoto). The true power was no
longer in the emperor's hands, but in the hands of the Fujiwara family. The
Fujiwaras married members of the emperor's family in order to maintain their
political influence over Japan.

The emperor's centralized rule weakened because the nobility had

control over their own lands. Military forces were reinforced to protect their
interests.

At the end of the 12th century, the conflicts between the noble families
escalated, leading to civil wars. One family, led by Minamoto no Yoritomo (1142-
1199), defeated the other warring clans and set up the center of the
government i the Kamakura peninsula, south of present-day Tokyo. This marked
the beginning of a more centralized government, the Kamakura shogunate.

Having a centralized government proved to be beneficial for Japan at

the time of the Kamakura Shogunate. At the start of the 13th century, the
Japanese faced a serious challenge: the Mongol invasion.
 In 1268, Kublai Khan forced Japan to pay taxes to the Mongol Empire. Six
years later, the Japanese refused to pay taxes, causing the attack of 10,000
Mongols. Japan was saved from the Mongol invasion by a strong typhoon. In
1281, the Mongols attempted to invade Japan once again. They sent a large
army of almost 150,000 warriors. Their plans were foiled by an even stronger
typhoon which destroyed the Mongol battleships. After these two failed
attempts, the Mongols did not try to invade Japan again. This is why the
Japanese considered the typhoon sacred, and called it kamikaze meaning
“sacred wind”.

Despite the defeat of the Mongols, the Kamakura Shogunate weakened

because of depleted funds and the samurais' disloyalty to the government. In
1333, Emperor Go-Daigo overthrew Kamakura and proclaimed himself the
leader of Japan in what became known as the Kemmu Restoration. After five
years, he was challenged by an influential clan led by Ashikaga Takauji and a
new shogunate was established, the Muromachi.

The city of Kyoto became Ashikaga's political center. During this time,the
Ashikaga government was not completely centralized. Civil wars and political
strife continued to erupt from 1467 to 1568. This period was called Sengoku or
the Warring States Period.

In 1568, Oda Nobunaga, a daimyo, succeeded in defeating other

daimyo. However, he was unable to unite Japan. After his death in 1582, he was
succeeded by his greatest general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi continued
conquering the other daimyos. By 1590, he was in control of a large portion of
Japan. This period was named the Azuchi-Momoyama, after the provinces
where the two leaders established their kingdoms. Hideyoshi also sought to
occupy China. To this end, he attempted to occupy Korea but in vain. Hideyoshi
forbade the spread of Christianity by prohibiting its practice. He died in 1598.

Among Hideyoshi's allies, Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the strongest.

Tokugawa successfully united Japan. He vanquished his enemies during the
Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. After three years, he ordered the emperor to
proclaim him as shogun. This was the start of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which
lasted for 265 years. Japan experienced unity and peace under the Tokugawa
Shogunate that lasted for more than 200 years.
 Japan was not spared from the coming of Westerners. The arrival of the
Portuguese in 1543 marked the beginning of the influx of Westerners in Japan.
This included Catholic missionaries led by the Jesuit priest, St.Francis Xavier. He
won over many of the daimyo, and thus succeeded in spreading Christianity.
Hideyoshi believed that Christianity had a negative influence on the lives of the
Japanese, and that religion could be used to conquer the country. In 1587, he
prohibited the practice of Christianity in Japan and had the missionaries
executed or exiled.

Likewise, Ieyasu and his successors in the Tokugawa Shogunate were

alarmed at the continued spread of Christianity. They also had missionaries and
their companions exiled or tortured. The Tokugawa Shogunate

In 1639, the Tokugawa Shogunate completely closed Japan, prohibiting

contact with other countries. This lasted for almost 200 years. Initially, this brought
peace in the country any development in manufacturing and trading within
Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate eventually weakened due to corruption and
weak leadership. To make matters worse, the farms yielded poor harvests, which
angered the farmers. In spite of these circumstances, the Tokugawa leaders
kept Japan isolated.

Civilizations in North Asia

At present, Mongolia is considered to be part of East Asia. This is because
Inner Mongolia is under China. But historically, Mongolia is part of North Asia. The
culture and history of the Mongols are different from that of the Chinese,
Japanese, and Koreans.

North Asia has been home to nomadic, pastoral groups since the Neolithic
Period. Because of its environmental conditions, a warrior culture emerged. The
formation of states in North Asia was dependent on conquest and occupation
of land. The civilization here was militarized, and armed conflicts were prevalent.
Despite these, they were open to and embraced influences from other
civilizations. This is evident in their acceptance of Islam from West Asia and
Buddhism from South Asia, all the while retaining their native religion, shamanism.
At the center of this religion is the shaman, who is believed to have control over
and connection with the spirits. Shamans are believed to have magical powers
which they use to heal the sick and control events.
 The Hun and the Xiongnu were tribal states. They reigned during the
Neolithic Period until the middle of the 12th century. The Hun and Xiongnu were
nomadic, pastoral groups which planted grain occasionally. The Xiongnu lived
in northern China. Their political system was based on loyalty to their head
warrior. Some of their great kings were Maodun and Attila.

In the last decades of the 12th century, the Mongols were the strongest
nomadic group in Central Asia. They came from Mongolia, a place in northwest
China that had scattered forests and steppes.

Like other nomadic groups, the Mongols were divided into clans. Around
1200, a Mongol leader successfully united the clans under him. He was Temujin,
known as Genghis Khan or “world leader” in 1206. For 26 years, he led the
conquest of a large portion of Asia.

When Genghis Khan died of illness in 1227, his successors continued

expanding the territory of the Mongol Empire. From China, the empire extended
to Poland in Europe. Ogedei (Ogodei), the son of Genghis Khan, ruled the
empire from 1229 to 1241. After his reign, the Mongol Empire was divided into
four sections. Each division was called a khanate.

Over time, the Mongols were influenced by the people they conquered.
For example, the Great Khanate was patterned after China's political system.
Also, Mongols in the Ilkhanate and the Golden Horde embraced Islam.
From the middle of the 13th century up to the 14th century, peace and order
reigned in the Mongol Empire. It was safe to travel, trade was booming, and the
empire was generally peaceful. This period of peace was known as Pax
Mongolica or “Mongol Peace.”

Timur’s family hailed from the Khanate of Chagadai. He attempted to

form a new empire. Timur occupied Persia and Mesopotamia. He defeated the
Golden Horde of south Russia and occupied India for some time. Timur was a
cruel invader. His troops destroyed schools, palaces, and other important
buildings. He had 1,000 decapitated heads of their victims piled into a big
pyramid. The keys to his victories were a strong military force and spies who gave
information on what routes to take.
 In spite of these, Timur was known for being a great patron of art and
architecture, and incorporated Islamic symbol and designs in his empire. When
Timur died in 1405, the territory which he occupied did not remain intact. This
was because of a power struggle among his children and relatives.

In the 10th century, the Ottoman Turks from North Asia travelled to Persia
and Mesopotamia, and settled in Anatolia (currently Turkey). Just like the
Mongols, the Turks were nomadic shepherds. They lived in tent-houses called
yurt. Over time, and as the Turks travelled, their culture slowly changed. They
embraced Islam and some aspects of the Persian culture.

In 1299, Osman I established the Ottoman Turk, a small state with a strong
military force. This was composed of warriors who considered one another as
brothers. Over time, the Ottoman state strengthened and expanded its territory.

In 1453, under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II, the Ottoman Empire
defeated the Byzantine Empire. During Suleiman the Magnificent's reign, the
Ottoman Empire reached its peak, rapidly expanding and occupying Egypt,
North Africa, Syria, and Arabia.

Under the Ottoman Empire, the people's lives improved and prospered.
This was because of active trade in different parts of the empire. Many people
went to Istanbul, the capital of the empire. It remained as the center of Ottoman
until 1918.
Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims were granted the freedom to
practice their own religion. In terms of architecture, different structures such as
mosques and libraries were built in Istanbul.
Application: Google Quiz

Instructions: The quiz is compose of Multiple Choice type and Essay type of tests.
Carefully read and understand each of the questions and provide
the answers needed.
PART 1.
1. First empire in the world.
2. Its capital was Hattusas.
3. Famous for their Aramaic language.
4. An empire renowned for the code of Hammurabi.
5. Known as the “Land of Purple”.
6. A vast empire from the east of Mesopotamia.
7. First empire to use coins.
8. Second Babylonian Empire.
9. Empire that was feared and had ruthless warriors.
10. First group that promoted monotheism.
11. Famous structure in China that protected the Qin Dynasty from the Nomadic Groups of
northern Asia.
12. Ancient Japanese Religion that means “the way of gods”.
13. Highest ranking official of the Japanese shonugate.
14. Powerful kingdom in Korea that occupied Baekje and Goguryeo.
15. Approval from “the heavens” for a family or clan to rule China.
16. First foreign dynasty that ruled over China.
17. Biggest empire in the history of China.
18. Sun goddess from whom the Japanese race is believed to have descended.
19. Trade route of the Chinese and foreign merchants that was active during the Han period
because of the popularity of silk.
20. Korean Writing system that was developed during the time of Joseon Dynasty.

PART 2.
1. As a student, which among the great contributions from the different civilizations and
empires of Ancient Asians is very relevant to you and benefited you the most?

Closure

Congratulations for completing Module 3!

“You are one step closer”