Sui, Tang, Song Dynasties
Period of Disunion 220-589 CE Period of disunion: the time of disorder that followed the collapse of the Han dynasty
Sui Dynasty 589-618 Conquered the south and unified China Known for harsh rule: forced peasants who owed taxes to fight in the army Created a centralized and unified state and laid the foundation for the golden age that followed
Sui Dynasty-Achievements Repaired and lengthened the Great Wall Provided security from Northern invaders which allowed cultural and economic growth Many died while building the wall Those who died were often buried among the walls bricks: giving the nickname “The world’s longest cemetery”
Sui Dynasty- Achievements Built the Grand Canal, which connected the Yellow river in the north and the Yangzi river in the south Connected northern and southern China Farmers and merchants in the south (rice) used the canal Government and military officials could travel and watch over citizens Many died while building the canal
Tang Dynasty-Government 618-907 CE: Golden Age of culture China was the richest most powerful country in the world Conquered Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea as tributary states Rebuilt bureaucracy Civil Service exams: ability not rank
Tang Dynasty-Government Only dynasty to have a female emperor: Empress Wu Chao After her husband died she decided her sons were not capable of ruling Ruled with an iron fist: if anyone threatened her, they risked being killed Chose advisors based on ability not rank
Tang Dynasty-Economics After conquering the west, the Tang were able to reopen the silk road- a system for trade, travel, communication, exchange of ideas Connected China to central Asia and the middle east From China to west: silk, porcelain, jade, tea, paper, printing, farming methods, weapons From West to China: glass rugs, horses, silver, medicine, spices, Christianity, Islam
Tang Dynasty-Economics Equal Field System- redistributed land to peasants Citizens paid taxes on how much land they received Central Government strengthened: benefited from increased number of taxpayers, limited power of wealthy landowners Benefited commoners and peasants by giving them a chance to gain wealth
Song Dynasty-Government 960-1279 CE Song China was limited to provinces south of the Great Wall Strengthened the system of meritocracy-jobs based on ability Stricter civil service exams
Song Dynasty-Economy Chinese farming reached new heights Irrigation techniques Dug underground wells Dragon Backbone pump-light portable pump that allowed farmers to scoop up water and pour it into a canal Amount of land under cultivation increased Discovery of fast ripening rice= 2 or 3 harvests a year
Tang and Song-Technology Mechanical Clock (700s) Gunpowder (850) Block Printing (700s) Moveable Type (1040s)
Tang and Song-Culture Landscape paintings-influenced by daoism Pagodas: Temples Porcelain Li Bo and Du Fu- famous Chinese poets and Wu Daozi- famous artist lived at this time