Transcript The Tang & Song Dynasties

Golden Ages of China
TANG & SONG DYNASTIES
SUI
CHAPTER 12: TANG &
SONG DYNASTIES
Reunification and
Renaissance
220 CE.—Han dynasty
ends
220-589—Era of Division
589-618—Sui dynasty
618-907—Tang dynasty
960-1279—Song dynasty
1279-1368—Mongol
(Yuan) dynasty
REBUILDING THE IMPERIAL EDIFICE
6th century—Sui dynasty
comes to power under
the rule of Wendi
 Rules with “Legalism”
brutal rule.
 Reunites China after the
fall of the Han Dynasty
 Wins widespread
support by

Lowering taxes
 Establishing granaries
(wards off famine)

GRAND CANAL
•
One of the world's
largest waterworks
before modern times
•
Purpose: bring
abundant food
supplies of the south
to the north
•
Linked the Yangtze
and the Huang-Hi
•
The canal integrated
the economies of the
south and north
SUI
Yangdi expands on his father’s
foundations
 Adopts Confuciusism rather then
legalism

 Milder
legal code
 Restoration of exam system
 Promotion of scholar-gentry
 Social order based on strict diarchy
DOWNFALL LOSS OF MANDATE OF HEAVEN
Excess, waste and wars
lead to collapse
 Grand Canal “Tour” Leads
to Peasant Revolt

 Yangdi
assassinated in 618
by his own ministers
TWO GREAT DYNASTIES IN CHINA

During the Tang (618-907)
and Song (960-1279)
dynasties, China becomes
the richest, powerful, and
most advanced country in the
world.

Key Point:
 Tang and Song China
experienced an era of
prosperity and
technological
innovation.

Significance:
 Chinese inventions from
this period, such as
printing, gunpowder, and
the compass, changed
history.

The Tang Dynasty World View:
 west
along the Silk Road
 Silk Road – trading network
with the west.
 The
Song Dynasty World
View:
 looks
east towards the sea
TRADE/FOREIGN CONTACTS

Silk Road

west; Tang Dynasty
TRADE/FOREIGN CONTACTS

Silk Road


west; Tang Dynasty
Junks:
ocean ships

east, Song Dynasty





Korea
Japan
India
Persian Gulf
east Africa
AGRICULTURE

imported fast-ripening
rice from Vietnam
AGRICULTURE


imported fast-ripening
rice from Vietnam
allowed two crops each
season instead of one
AGRICULTURE



imported fast-ripening
rice from Vietnam
allowed two crops each
season instead of one
fueled population
increase
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

mathematics flourished
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


mathematics flourished
adopted the use of algebra
and the concept of zero
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY



mathematics flourished
adopted the use of algebra
and the concept of zero
invented movable type
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY




mathematics flourished
adopted the use of algebra
and the concept of zero
invented movable type
developed gunpowder
INVENTIONS OF TANG AND SONG CHINA
GOLDEN AGE OF ART

wealth, education, and urban
culture = artistic
achievement
GOLDEN AGE OF ART


wealth, education, and urban
culture = artistic
achievement
great poetry

Li Bo and Du Fu
GOLDEN AGE OF ART


wealth, education, and urban
culture = artistic
achievement
great poetry


Li Bo and Du Fu
Three-color ware was one of
the greatest contributions of
the Tang Dynasty
GOLDEN AGE OF ART


wealth, education, and urban
culture = artistic
achievement
great poetry



Li Bo and Du Fu
Three-color ware was one of
the greatest contributions of
the Tang Dynasty.
Many figurines,
predominantly horses and
camels, were produced.

Most of these pieces have been found in the more affluent
tombs of the Tang period
THE TANG AND SONG DYNASTIES
COMPARED
Tang Only
Expanded the
empire,
had a female
ruler,
adopted
Buddhism
Both
Prospered
through trade,
improved
agriculture,
created great
art and
literature
Song Only
Ruled smaller
empire,
developed into
great sea power,
created paper
money and
movable type