| 1. |
Focus Question: What was
the nature of Chinese political situation after the fall of the Han and
the rise of the Sui? |
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What distinct features characterize the T'ang, Sung and Yuan dynasties?
In what part of China did the reunification movement begin? Which
state was most instrumental in continuing Chinese bureaucratic traditions
during this period? Why was the throne of the kingdoms of North China
so often ursurped?
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| 2. |
Focus Question:
What were the achievements of the Sui dynasty and why was it so short-lived? |
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Of what ancestry was the general who begin the Sui dynasty? What
were the principle achievements of the first Sui emperor Sui Wen-ti?
What achievements marked his reign? How did Sui Wen-ti attempt to
maintain peace with the Turkic tribes? What factors led to the fall
of the Sui? Why do historians often compare the Sui and the Chíin
dynasties?
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| 3. |
Focus Question: What were
the origins of the T'ang dynasty and how did it manage to rule China so
effectively? |
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What type of government did the first T'ang emperor seek and
what curtailed his authority? How did the T'ang make concessions
to the interests of the aristocrats? Who made up the T'ang bureaucracy?
What percentage can from the examination system? Why did the empress Wu
expand the use of the examination system? How was Hsuan-tsung's reign
different than empress Wu's reign? How large was Ch'ang-an
at the height of T'ang power? Who were the principal threats to the
T'ang? What was the problem with the Chinese using armies against
the nomads? What methods did the T'ang use to secure its borders?
Why did foreign embassies seek out relations with the T'ang? What
people aided the T'ang in restoring their rule after the reversals of the
mid-8th century? When and why did the government abandon the equal
fields system. After the An Lu-shan rebellion, from where did the
government acquire the majority of its revenue?
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| 4. |
Focus Question: What contributions
did the T'ang make to subsequent Chinese culture? |
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What were the three principal characteristics of T'ang culture?
What was the role of Buddhist temples in T'ang China? What advantage
did the emperor gain by attacking Buddhism from 841-845? What impact
did this have on Buddhism? According to Zen, how is enlightenment
obtained? What type of painting had its origin in the T'ang?
What was the greatest achievement of T'ang letters? How does the
poetry of Li Po compare with that of Tu Fu?
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"equal field systems"
An Lu-shan
Li Po
bodhisattva
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