Transcript Unit 10 - Weebly
Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties AP World History
Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE)
Wendi
( a noble) wins support of nomads and wins control of northern China
589 – Defeats the Chen kingdom (southern China)
Wins popularity by lowering taxes and establishes granaries
Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE)
Yangdi
(Wendi’s son) strengthens state by military conquest & victories over nomads
Reforms legal code and Confucian educational system
Undertook expensive construction projects (Great Canal)
Scholar gentry brought back into imperial administration
Moves capital to Loyang Unsuccessful in attempt to conquer Korea & defeated by Turkic nomads – revolts followed
Assassinated in 618
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)
Established by Chinese general Taizong Considered one of the greatest dynasties of China Strengthened central government; influenced by scholar-gentry Restored the civil service; civil service exam strengthened Population in south (rice) surpassed north (wheat & millet) Created a more stable economy; paper money & flying money introduced Broke up power of large land owners - urban areas increased in size
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)
Expanded control of China to NW & SW (Tibet), Bactria (Afghanistan), Manchuria, & South Vietnam (tea & fast growing rice imported) Chinese junks – Chinese merchants dominated Indian Ocean trade Trade and travel along Silk Road increased; diplomatic relations increased; Strengthened Great Wall; canals and irrigation systems increased agricultural prod.
High point of culture; short stories, poetry & painting Empress Wu Zhao – only woman to hold title of emperor
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)
Chang’an becomes seat of the empire again (pop. of 2 million) Military superior to scholar gentry Emphasized Confucian principles, but Buddhism gains acceptance Buddhist monasteries increase wealth & power, but Tang reacts by placing restrictions on gifts - weakens Uighurs (Turkic speaking mercenaries) overthrew govt. in 907 (civil war followed) Decline: corruption, internal rebellions & invasions of northern nomads
Pre-Mongols
Song Dynasty (960-1269 A.D.)
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Moved capital to Hangzhou; overseas trade continued
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Could not control the Khitan people (northern nomads) (Liao Dynasty); Chinese paid tribute – burdened economy
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Civil service exams emphasized
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Scholar gentry gains higher status over military
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Neo-Confucianism emerges - respect for family and authority, but Chinese elite withdraw from society; hostility to foreign thought prevents entry of innovations while stressing tradition (stifles critical thinking)
Song Dynasty (960-1269 A.D.)
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Problems: Uighurs, lost control of Tibet, paid tribute to Jurchen peoples from Manchuria Warfare technology: catapults w/bombs & grenades; flame throwers and rocket launchers Innovations: printing with moveable type, compass, abacus (for taxes) Footbinding catches on with upper class - spreads to lower class Alliance with Mongols backfired (Mongols defeated Jurchen and overthrew Song dynasty)
Economy/Society
Farming society – aristocrats owned most of the land
New technologies: steel, gunpowder, porcelain, mechanical clock, & magnetic compass
Guilds (association of merchants) formed
Money economy instead of barter
Paper money & coal (for fuel) is used
Long distance trade (Silk Road) w/ Arabs & Romans
Economy/Society
Women – status improved under the Tang and early Song (especially upper class), but steadily declined during late Song (Confucianism, Neo Confucianism marriage alliances, foot-binding)
Islam & Christianity spread to China
Gentry class emerges (well-to-do people from education and civil service
Tang-Song Rankings
Woman
Buddhist
Merchant
Farmer
Nomadic Invader (Khitan or Jurchen)
Construction worker
Bureaucrat/scholar gentry
Military
Neo-Confucian/ Confucian
Entertainer – acrobat or singing girl