Global History ReviewGlobal History Review
Development of EmpireDevelopment of EmpireTang and Song Chinese DynastiesTang and Song Chinese Dynasties
Mali, Ghana and Songhai West African KingdomsMali, Ghana and Songhai West African Kingdoms
Tang Dynasty (618-907)Tang Dynasty (618-907)Rise of the Tang
• Li Yuan, a general in the Sui Army, seized the capital city of Chang’an and proclaimed
himself the New Emperor.
•His Son, Li Shimin soon took over and assumed the name Tang Taizong, the Grand
Emperor
•Tang launched a program of internal renewal and external expansion that would
make it one of the greatest dynasties in Chinese history!
Tang Dynasty (618-918)Tang Dynasty (618-918)Political
Three Keys to success3. Maintenance of transportation and
communication networks4. Reliance on a bureaucracy based on
merit, a meritocracy using the civil service exams
5. Revival of Han Confucianism: Created a foundation for stabil i ty and prosperity for the Chinese people
Tang Dynasty (618-918)Tang Dynasty (618-918)Empress Wu – (649-705)
• Wu Zetian became the first and only woman to be Emperor – supported Buddhism.
• Began a campaign to elevate the position of women. Said that the ideal ruler was one who
ruled like a mother does over her children.
• Meritocracy - Civil Service exams- best people ran the government and were treated
fairly.
• Reduced the army's size and stopped the influence of aristocratic military men.
• Fairness to peasants- lowering taxes, raising agricultural production, and
strengthening public works.
How did Empress Wu challenge the traditions of
Confucianism?
Expansion of the Tang DynastyExpansion of the Tang Dynasty
Territorially, the Tang Empire ranks among the largest in Chinese history
Economic System:
Canals: Grand Canal connected Yellow River and Yangtze River. Allowed grains in south to be shipped to north.
Expanded Trade: Tang merchants traded with India, Persia, and the Middle East. Chinese became expert shipbuilders and a naval power.
This led to a huge influx of precious metal into China – a trend that would continue unti l the 19 th century.
Land Reform – Equal-f ield system, redistr ibuted land to peasants.
Chang’an (Xian) had a population of over 1 million people making it one of if not the
largest city in the world.
Tang Dynasty (618-918)Tang Dynasty (618-918)
The game of Polo was .imported from Pers ia
Buddhist Carvings along the Silk Route by Tang Artists.
The Golden AgeThe Golden AgeArtistic, Technological and Industrial Developments
Gunpowder and Rockets
Moveable Type
Chinese junks
Porcelain - Chinaware
Landscape art
► Other reasons for declineOther reasons for decline Equal land system breaks downEqual land system breaks down Persecution of Persecution of BuddhismBuddhism Poor attention to canal & irrigation systemsPoor attention to canal & irrigation systems Nomadic alliances and attacksNomadic alliances and attacks
Decline of the Tang DynastyDecline of the Tang DynastyEmperor Xuanzong
• (Empress Wu’s grandson) Ruled for 44 years• Patron of arts• Began to neglect the people and engaged in pleasure seeking lifestyle• Decline due to lack of morality?• Government corruption• He was forced to abdicate his power
Song Dynasty (960-1279)Song Dynasty (960-1279)
The Rainbow Bridge
Political System:
• Song Taizu united much of the former Tang Dynasty
• Moved capital to Huangzhou in the south
• Centralized government, limited the military, and expanded the Bureaucracy, offered many political positions with generous salaries
• Civil Service Exams
• Used Neo-Confucianism as basis of political system
Song Dynasty (960-1279)Song Dynasty (960-1279)Economic System:
•Rise of the Merchant
•The basic unit of payment was copper coins strung on a string, but these were heavy and cumbersome for use in large-
scale transactions. The Song solution was to print paper money
• Rural markets, as well as cities and towns, facilitated the exchange of goods
and services.
• International maritime trade also flourished during this time. Quanzhou in
the Fujian region became a major center of trade with Southeast and South Asia, as
well as with Korea and Japan.
Paper Money
AchievementsAchievements• New developments in rice cultivation, especially the
introduction of new strains from what is now Central Vietnam, spectacularly increased rice yields.
• As a result the population, which had never before
exceeded 60 million, grew to 100 million by 1127. Led to
Urbanization.
• Shaped Korea, Vietnam, and Japan
Footbinding is a tradition that evolved in the concept of "ideal image" including beauty. It was considered
charming, showed a sense of class, and was the symbol of chastity in most Chinese cultures. It was believed to promote health and fertility, although in
the reality the tradition was painful and virtually crippling. It was a way to keep women in seclusion,
which made them more dependent on others and less useful around the house.
An imperial Confucius Temple in modern Hangzhou
The government began an expensive and massive project to restore Confucian temples around the empire – was responsibility of local population.
North & Southern SongNorth & Southern Song
► Scholar-gentryScholar-gentry class dominates class dominates►abuses in civil service exam abuses in civil service exam
developdevelop► Heavy dependence on growth of Heavy dependence on growth of
civilian government at expense of civilian government at expense of militarymilitary By 1127, the Song court could By 1127, the Song court could
not push back the Northern not push back the Northern nomadic invaders nomadic invaders
Surrounded by north ‘empires’ Surrounded by north ‘empires’ (Jurchin’)(Jurchin’)
► Invasion of Invasion of MongolsMongols from North 1279 from North 1279 Start of Yuan (Mongol Dynasty)Start of Yuan (Mongol Dynasty)
Decline of the SongDecline of the Song
West African EmpiresWest African Empires
The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of Ghana750-1076750-1076
Political:
•Led by powerful King who ruled over a splendid court
•Capital city was Kumbi Saleh
•Had a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry – helped to expand kingdom
The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of GhanaEconomic SystemEconomic System
► Commercially based empire. Commercially based empire. Gold-Salt TradeGold-Salt Trade
► Controlled and secured trade Controlled and secured trade routes.routes. Also traded in ivory, slaves, Also traded in ivory, slaves,
horses, cloth, salt.horses, cloth, salt.► Conversion by emperors to Islam Conversion by emperors to Islam
improved diplomatic and improved diplomatic and economic relations between West economic relations between West Africa and the Islamic World.Africa and the Islamic World.
The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of GhanaAchievementsAchievements
► Influenced by Muslims:Influenced by Muslims: Military technologyMilitary technology Arabic writingArabic writing ArchitectureArchitecture
► Women had a high status and Women had a high status and active role in market placeactive role in market place
The Mali EmpireThe Mali Empire1100-14001100-1400
Mali EmpireMali EmpirePolitical:
► Ruled by powerful kings called Mansas.► Expanded territory and appointed governors to rule areas► Laws based on Muslim system of justice (The Quran)► Mansa Musa: Most powerful leader, converted to Islam and made
pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
Mali EmpireMali EmpireEconomic:
► Controlled Gold Salt Trade: ► Its wide variety of environments
produced a wide variety of goods.► The rule of the Mansa (king)
created peace and security for merchants to travel and trade freely.
► As a result, merchants began to establish family firms, with different individuals settling in far-flung parts of the Mali empire to carry on trade.
► Common items of exchange were kola nuts, butter, textiles and metal goods.
Mali EmpireMali EmpireAchievements:
► Developed the city of Timbuktu which became a great trading city and center of Muslim learning.
► Conversion to Islam and Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca brought world wide attention to West Africa
► Made the need of a large population and a large army a permanent necessity for states in West Africa.
Songhai Songhai EmpireEmpire
Political:► Sunni Ali- 1464 gained power and restored order► Powerful army used war and force to control region► Askia Muhammad- great leader who made pilgrimage to Mecca► Organized provinces and created a bureaucracy► Developed a code of laws based on Islam
Songhai EmpireSonghai EmpireEconomic:
► Controlled Gold Salt trade► Industrious farmers and skilled
craftsmen in iron and copper► Slave trade developed► Merchants became very wealthy and
influential► Timbuktu remained a major
economic and cultural city
Djenne MosqueDjenne Mosque
Songhai EmpireSonghai EmpireAchievements:
► Encouraged Muslim Scholars to settle in Timbuktu► Timbuktu became a cultural and learning center► University of Sankore - study of medicine, grammar, literature► Expanded empire with the use of force
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