The Tang and Song Dynasties

Background After the fall of the Han in 202 A.D., China went through 350 years and 30 local dynasties that were unable to recreate a strong central government By 589, China was reunified by Wendi who began the Sui Dynasty

The Sui Dynasty created the Grand Canal which connected the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers Endless labor on state projects as well as high taxes led to a peasant revolt which ended in the assassination of the second Sui Emperor

Expansion of the Tang The Tang Dynasty would rule from Begun by Tang Taizong who reigned from – Took power by killing his brothers and forcing his father to step down – Taizong means ‘Great Ancestor’ – Married Wu Zhao who virtually ruled China when her husband was sick

Tang armies reconquered northern and western lands lost since decline of the Han Tang rulers strengthened the central government of China and expanded roads

Revived civil service examinations (only wealthy could afford necessary education) Invented porcelain, the mechanical clock, explosive powder, and block printing

Silk making: Silk trade established during Han dynasty and flourished during the Tang dynasty Step One: Leaves are picked from the mulberry tree Step Two: The silkworms are stored on bamboo trays and feed mulberry leaves Step Three: The silkworm spins a cocoon Step Four: The cocoon is dropped into boiling water and the silk fibers come unwound Step Five: The thread is plucked from the water with chopsticks Step Six: A spinning machine is used to twist the thread into strands Step Seven: The stands are woven together on a loom Step Eight: The woven silk is dyed and hung to dry

Decline of the Tang To meet the rising cost of government, Tang rulers imposed outrageous taxes in the mid 700s Muslim armies defeated the Chinese Internal rebellions slowly collapsed the imperial government Chinese rebels sacked and burned the Tang capital of Chang'an Murdered the last Tang emperor who was only a child

The Chinese believed in the Mandate of Heaven, or divine right to rule The Mandate of Heaven helps to explain the Dynastic Cycle: illustrated in the following slide The Dynastic Cycle

The Song Dynasty After the fall of the Tang, China was divided by warlords into separate kingdoms In 960 a general named Taizu reunited China and declared himself first emperor of the Song Dynasty The Song Dynasty lasted from

The Song Dynasty Restores China Smaller empire than the Han and Tang, but still prosperous Manchurian people known as Jurchens forced the Song to move south of the Huang He river Despite military troubles in the north, the Southern Song saw rapid economic growth Moveable type: moveable blocks with characters used for printing

Women under the Song Status of women declined during the Tang and Song Dynasties Footbinding: practice of binding feet to conform to small lotus or lily foot – Crippled women for life!