CHINA DURING THE TANG AND SONG

Government

Tang ruled for almost 300 years, followed Sui (618-907)

Capital – Ch’ang-an Tang Taizong – first

emperor Wu Zhao – China’s

only female ruler

Unified after period of instability – 960-1279

Taizu – first emperor Problems with

nomads Lost Tibet Tried to make peace

with northern enemies – tributes of silk, tea – lost N to Jin Empire (Manchuria) in 1127

Accomplishments

Reconquered land lost after the Han

Wu Zhao – took control of parts of Korea

Expand roads and canals

Revived civil service exam - bureaucracy

Peace, stability, prosperity restored

Training academies – civil service exam

During both dynasties – population hits 100 million; 10 cities with population over 1 million

Land redistribution

Social Changes

New upper class – gentry – earned status through education and civil service – not nec. Based on land ownership

Entertainment – chess, cards Transportation – boats Urban middle class Most still at bottom – laborers, soldiers,

servants

Daily Life

Mostly centered on village Patriarchal – move in with husband’s

family Men – rights over wife; could take second

wife if no male heir Children – obedience to parents – filial

piety Dowry

Status of Women

Declined during Tang and Song Foot binding – “lily foot”

Inventions/Advancements

Science and technology Gunpowder Moveable type Manufacturing steel Porcelain New weapons Paper money - banking Mechanical clock Compass, rudder, sail Negative numbers – math Acupuncture

Agriculture

New variety of rice 2 crops a year instead of one Helped feed growing population

Trade

Armies guarded Silk Road; still dangerous though

Sailing technology – compass, rudder, sail New port cities Exported tea, silk, porcelain, fruit Spread of culture – ex. Buddhism

Culture, Art and Poetry

Growth of Buddhism under Tang (monasteries)

Li Bo – poet – life’s pleasures Tu Fu – hardships of war Artists – natural landscapes Favorite color/ink - black

Downfall

Taxes too high Corruption Muslim armies –

challenge – lost Central Asia

907 – rebels murdered the last Tang emperor

Fall to the Mongols – 1206; defeated Jurghen (Manchuria) first, then Song