Tang and Song China
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Transcript of Tang and Song China
Tang and Song China
Madnick/Global History 9
China
Korea
Japan
Vietnam
Historical BackgroundAfro Eurasian trade routes were firmly established in the Post Classical Age.
1. Where were Afro Eurasian trade routes?– Silk Road --China to Europe– Gold Road -across North Africa/Sahara Desert– Indian Ocean routes– Mediterranean Sea routes– South China Sea routes
Gold
Road
Silk Road
Mediterranean Sea Routes
Indian Ocean Routes
East China Sea Routes
Historical Background
2. What effect did Afro Eurasian trade routes have?• Massive cross regional contact in Afro Eurasia, 500-1250• Ideas & technology diffused in all directions • We still use ideas and technology today
China: Tang and Song Dynasties
• Tang Dynasty, 618-907• Song Dynasty, 960-1127• Both had major achievements which diffused
along trade routes• Both effected Japan, Korea, Vietnam,
Europe….. AND THE WORLD
Tang Dynasty Achievements1. Block Printing• Letters carved on wooden boards, covered
with ink, & printed on paper• Replaced word of mouth and handwritten books • 868- first printed book was made in China
(Buddhist teachings)
• Effect: ideas spread quickly b/c books were printed quickly• Printing technology spread to Japan, Korea, Vietnam
Tang Dynasty Achievements
2. Gunpowder• Combination of charcoal, sulfur, saltpeter• Used for fireworks/ celebrations/ parades
• Effect: potential for new weapons of war
Tang Dynasty Achievements3. “The Three Teachings”a. Confucianism--code of social behavior started by Confucius, 400
BCEb. Daoism—philosophy that says happiness comes from accepting the
world as it is, 500BCEc. Buddhism—belief system from India, 100 CE --human suffering ends when a person
achieves enlightenment Effect: Buddhism spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Song Dynasty Achievements
1. Moveable type• Separate letters carved into clay blocks and baked
covered with ink, & printed on paper
Effect: quicker way to print books printing tech diffused to Japan, Korea, and
Vietnam Paper and printing reached Europe by 1100
Song Dynasty Achievements
2. Gunpowder• Used for warfare in Song Dynasty• New weapons: grenades, bombs, canons, flame
throwers
Effect: • China dominated Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with
superior weapons• nature of warfare changed: “whoever has guns wins”
Song Dynasty Achievements
3. Porcelain• Pottery that is almost unbreakable• White China clay (eastern China) fired at 1200
degrees• Rose to high art form in Song
Effect: expensive art that was highly prized in Asia&Europe - became a symbol of wealth, especially in WE
Tang and Song, the big picture…
• Chinese achievements & belief systems spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam along established trade routes
• For centuries, China was the dominant culture in East Asia
• Chinese achievements spread to European culture during the Middle Ages