The story of ancient opening to the outside world and its influence

1 condition

China's advanced politics, economy and culture in ancient times were important social foundations for developing foreign relations, advanced transportation and tools were its objective conditions, and the government's open and enlightened policies were its powerful driving force.

2. General situation

(1) Han dynasty: active foreign exchange. The East has close political and economic ties with South Korea and Japan, and the South has close political and economic ties with Vietnam. There are frequent economic and cultural exchanges between the West and countries in Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia, and they are directly related to Daqin in Europe. During this period, China mainly imported special products from various countries, and exported mainly silk and iron. For the first time, Chinese civilization radiated outward on a large scale, forming a Chinese cultural circle.

(2) Sui and Tang Dynasties: unprecedented prosperity in foreign exchanges. China has close and friendly relations with North Korea and Japan, and frequent political, economic and cultural exchanges. Exchange envoys with Southeast Asian countries, Europe's India, Persia, Oita and East Rome, and China's silk and porcelain are transported to Europe and Africa in large quantities through Persia and Oita; The Tang Dynasty was directly related to Europe and Africa. During this period, China's advanced thought, culture and system spread abroad, which had a great influence on neighboring countries, even revolutionary influence.

③ Song and Yuan Dynasties: China's world-leading science and technology spread to all parts of the world, especially to the west, which greatly promoted the development of the world. Overseas trade reached a climax, and Arabs played an intermediary role in the communication between China and the West.

④ Ming and Qing Dynasties: On the one hand, there were frequent foreign exchanges, and Zheng He made seven voyages to the West; On the other hand, it was invaded by foreign countries. On the one hand, the Ming and Qing governments led the anti-aggression struggle and won; On the other hand, the implementation of the sea ban policy is becoming more and more closed. It can be said that during this period, China's ancient aura gradually lost, and China gradually fell behind the world.

Second, economic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries in ancient times.

1. Economic exchanges

(1) Qin and Han Dynasties: There was frequent trade with North Korea, and Korean specialties such as sandalwood bow and goma were imported into China, while handicrafts and ironmaking tools such as bronze mirrors and lacquerware from China were exported to North Korea. Vietnamese ivory, rhinoceros and pearls are imported to China. Trade with West Asia and Europe is frequent through the Silk Road on land and at sea. China's silk and ironware were transported to the west, and the specialties of West Asia and Europe were also imported to China. Rest is an important transit point for economic and trade exchanges between China and countries in West Asia and Europe.

(2) Sui and Tang Dynasties: The government of the Tang Dynasty encouraged foreign businessmen to come to China and allowed them to live in China for a long time, be officials and marry China people. The trade between the Tang Dynasty and Korea and Japan was frequent. A large number of Tang coins "Kaiyuan Bao Tong" were unearthed in Japan, and Japanese silver coins were also unearthed in China. A large number of Persian and gourmet merchants came to China, and a large number of silk and porcelain from China were transported to Europe and Africa through Persia and gourmet.

(3) Song and Yuan Dynasties: The four great inventions were spread to the world by Arabs.

(4) Ming and Qing Dynasties: When Zheng He went to the West, China's silk and porcelain were welcomed by all countries, and Zheng He bought jewelry, spices and medicinal materials from the West. Later, due to the implementation of the sea ban policy, foreign trade was strictly restricted and shrank. In official trade, China's silk, porcelain and tea are mainly exchanged for jewels, spices and medicinal materials enjoyed by the royal family.

2. Cultural exchange

(1) Middle School Spreading to the West

① Science and technology: In the Tang Dynasty, the decimal notation founded by China was introduced to India, block printing was introduced to Silla, and papermaking was introduced to Korea, Japan, India, Arabia, Japan and Europe. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, China's movable type printing spread eastward to Korea and Japan, and westward to Egypt and Europe. Compass, gunpowder and gunpowder weapons were introduced to Arabia in the13rd century, and then to Europe. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, China's scientific and technological summary works Compendium of Materia Medica and Heavenly Creations were translated into many languages and spread abroad.

(2) Production technology: In Han Dynasty, Niu Geng and water conservancy engineering technology were popularized in Viet Nam. Silk reeling technology, cast iron method, well drainage method and papermaking method were first spread to West Asia and Europe. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, engraving printing, porcelain making and copper making technologies were introduced to Silla. China's cotton textile technology spread to Korea in the Yuan Dynasty, and Japan recruited carving and printing craftsmen from China to develop Japan's printing industry. During the Ming Dynasty, China's advanced production technology and tools were introduced to Nanyang.

③ Ideology and culture: During the Han Dynasty, the East Asian cultural circle centered on China expanded day by day, and its influence broke through the scope of East Asia, reaching as far as Europe and Africa. During the Tang Dynasty, China's traditional culture and Buddhism were introduced to Japan and South Korea, and Laozi's Tao Te Ching was introduced to India, forming a cultural circle in China. In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, some missionaries came to the East to introduce Confucianism and Taoism in China to the west.

(2) Western learning spread to the east

① Science and production technology: During the Tang Dynasty, Indian astronomy, medicine, calendar knowledge and sugar cooking methods were introduced to China. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, missionaries introduced western works on astronomy, mathematics and geography to China, and European water conservancy technology was also introduced to China.

② Species spread: Tulips and Bodhi trees from Tianzhu were introduced to China in the Tang Dynasty. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Vietnamese occupation rice was introduced into southern China. In the late Ming Dynasty, sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes and tobacco originated in America were introduced into China.

③ Thought and literature: Buddhism was introduced into China in the Han Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, Korean music, Central Asian dance, Indian painting, sculpture, music and dance were introduced to China. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, missionaries introduced western music and painting to China.

3. Foreign trade

(1) Land transportation first, then sea transportation. Although the Han Dynasty opened up two silk roads, land and sea, due to the constraints of shipbuilding technology and navigation technology, Chinese and foreign trade was still dominated by land. With the improvement of shipbuilding technology and navigation technology, land trade and maritime trade were developed in the Tang Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty, due to the coexistence of domestic ethnic regimes, trade with the West by land was blocked, and foreign trade was dominated by sea until the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.

(2) China's foreign trade in ancient times was both official and private, with official trade as the main trade. Most official trade is not for profit, mainly to strengthen friendly exchanges. In official foreign exchanges, he brought the most exquisite handicrafts, silk and porcelain from China. Although they sell well, many of them are gifts to each other. When they return, they not only bring back goods, but also are often accompanied by foreign envoys.

(3) Foreign trade is accompanied by cultural exchanges. In the process of foreign trade, Chinese and foreign cultures keep exchanging. Many businessmen in West Asia brought western religions, and China culture also spread abroad, which promoted the development of world culture.

(4) Foreign trade promotes national integration. Many Persians and Arabs who believed in Islam came to settle in our country, lived with China people for a long time, intermarried and gradually merged with each other, and formed a new nationality-Hui nationality in the Yuan Dynasty.

Third, the development of ancient external traffic.

1. Silk Road on Land

(1) The Silk Road is a land artery connecting China and the West. Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions to send troops to defeat the Xiongnu, thus opening the Silk Road on land. China has frequent economic and cultural exchanges with countries in Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia, and has direct ties with Europe.

(2) During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Western Turks were defeated, and Anxi and Beiting were successively established to protect the country, which ensured the smooth flow of the Silk Road on land. The Silk Road in Tang Dynasty started from Chang 'an and reached India, Iran, Arabia and even many countries in Europe and Africa in the west. Through the Silk Road, the Tang Dynasty had direct contact with Africa.

(3) During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, due to the closed door policy, the traffic with the West through the overland Silk Road was shrinking day by day.

2. Maritime Silk Road

(1) After Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, the Maritime Silk Road was opened, starting from Guangdong coastal ports, going south to the western coastal coastline and Indo-China Peninsula, bypassing the present Malay Peninsula, leaving the Straits of Malacca, reaching the countries along the Bay of Bengal and reaching the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula as far as possible. The opening of the Maritime Silk Road has strengthened China's ties with countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and connected the diplomatic circles of the East and the West through waterways.

(2) The Maritime Silk Road developed further in the Tang Dynasty, starting from Guangzhou, bypassing the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula and reaching the Persian Gulf as far as possible.

(3) Zheng He's voyage to the West in Ming Dynasty promoted the further development of the Maritime Silk Road, reaching as far as the Red Sea coast and the east coast of Africa.

(4) In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, the closed door policy was implemented, and the Maritime Silk Road was restricted.