1. Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties
Miss Fisk

2. Sui Dynasty

3. Yang Jiang (Sui Wen Di): The First Sui Emperor
Sui Wen Di, who had been a leader of the Northern Zhou, Went on a mission to unite China and reigned from AD. His capital city was Chang’an.
Major Accomplishments:
- Conquered Northern Zhou and Chen dynasties, united China for first time in four centuries
- Repaired Great Wall -
Grand Canal system linking fertile central region with northern plain
- Expeditions to check on Turks on
Central Asian steppe
- Son and successor: Yang Guang (Sui Yang
Di, Yang Kuang, Sui Yang Ti) lost the money Yang Jiang had built up, lots of revolts, assassinated in 618, causes collapse

4. Grand Canal

5. Grand Canal
Grand Canal built during the Sui Dynasty (precursor to Tang)
One of the world’s largest waterworks projects before modern times
Built to facilitate trade between northern and southern China, particularly to make the abundant supplies of rice and other agricultural products from the Yangzi River valley available to residents of the northern regions
China’s rivers generally flow east to west so an artificial waterway had to be built to facilitate trade between north and south

6. Sui to T’ang Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was short-lived but important because it unified China and paved the way for the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was one of the most glorious periods in Chinese history. Culture flourished, government was well organized, and the country was unified.

7. T’ang Dynasty

8. T’ang Dynasty
Li Yuan (Pictured right) reigned from when he abdicated in order to let his ambitious son, Taizong, reign

9. T’ang Rulers Taizong (Pictured left) reigned from 627-649. His
Reign marked the blossoming of the Tang era and he is recognized as one of the greatest leaders in Chinese history. During his rule, Chinese influence was extended to Afghanistan and Turkistan as well as south to Tibet.

10. T’ang Rulers
Taizong was succeeded by Gaozong, who reigned from
Gaozong brought Korea and Japan into tributary relationship with China.
Empress Wu, his wife, continued this consolidation.
Then Tang Xuansong reigned from
Under Xuanzong, military commanders began to establish independent authority and central administration declined,
As did the empire due to border wars and rebellions.

11. Economy during the T’ang
Trade grew so rapidly during the Tang and Song era that copper coin shortages developed
Traders began issuing letters of credit (“flying cash”) as an alternative
Enabled merchants to deposit goods or cash at one location and draw the equivalent cash or merchandise somewhere else
Paper money was invented during the T’ang

12. Urbanization Leads to Specialization
Increased urbanization brought a host of specialized activities to the cities
Merchants, artisans, metallurgists, printers, chemists, craftsmen, textile workers, performers, restaurateurs, etc
China’s various regions specialized in the cultivation of particular food crops and traded their own products for imports from other regions
The government developed a specialized class of bureaucrats

13. T’ang Successes Early successes based on
Well-articulated transportation and communication network (Grand Canal)
Equal-field system
Bureaucracy of merit

14. Equal Field System Governed allocation of agricultural land
Ensured equal distribution of land to avoid the concentration of landed property that had caused social problems during the Han Dynasty
Land was allotted to individuals and their families according to the land’s fertility and the recipient’s needs
About one-fifth of the land became the hereditary possession of the recipients, while the rest was available for redistribution

15. Bureaucratic Merit
Rulers recruited government officials from the ranks of candidates who had progressed through the Confucian educational system
Merit was based on performance on the imperial civil service examinations
Some powerful families were able to use their influence, but most officeholders won their posts on the basis of intellectual ability
Talented class of bureaucrats were generally loyal to the dynasty and worked to strengthen and preserve the state

16. Song Dynasty Age of autocracy
Emperors had direct personal control over more offices than Tang predecessors
Central government better funded
Monopolies on salt, wine, tea
Commerce as vital source of revenues
Disappearance of the aristocracy
Officials were commoners
Mostly products of the examination system