2. China flourished under the Tang (618 – 907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties
Both dynasties focused on building govt. with talented and educated people
Inventions
- gunpowder moveable type
- paper money mechanical clock
- porcelain magnetic compass

3. Foreign Affairs
- developed the greatest navy in the world during the Song dynasty
- traded goods and ideas with many foreign lands
Art
- scholars were expected to be poets and artists (thus the arts flourished)
- most art reflected the Daoist focus on nature
Society
- social mobility became much easier
- upper class women began the practice of “foot binding”

4. Chinese Junk

6. Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1368) Est. by Kublai Khan (Mongols)
Capital was established at Beijing
Mongols adopted many Chinese traditions and still used civil service exams, but focused less on Confucianism
Marco Polo served in his court
Tried to gain more land but were unsuccessful

7. Kublai Khan
Marco Polo… welcome to my land… I trust you will find many things here you have never laid eyes on before…

8. Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644)
came to power after the overthrow of the Mongols
restored the civil service exams and made them harder (more focused on Confucianism)
brought peace and prosperity through harsh law codes – internal trade flourished
sent out seven magnificent expeditions under the admiral Zheng He
built the “Forbidden City” in Beijing
mysteriously changed its foreign policy to isolationism and only traded through the government

9. Yongle Emperor

10. Admiral Zheng He