1. Warm-Up In your opinion, why do civilizations fall?
Discuss with someone next to you

2. Rise of the Song Dynasty

3. The Tang Dynasty

4. Expanse of the Song Dynasty

5. Fall of the Tang...The Down and Dirty...
All good things must come to an end
Typically, when a civilization falls there are certain things that happen:
Series of weak leaders
Threats from outside sources
Weakening of an economy
Decreased nationalism

6. Rise of the Song
After the fall of the Tang, China went through 53 years of warring and turmoil
A military general by the name of Taizu
He grew tired of his king’s tyranny
Decided to overthrow him
Began conquering over territories around him

7. Taizu
Once in power, he required all government officials to take the “Confucian Literati”
Basically a competency exam used for all government officials
Continued the tradition set forth by the Tang Dynasty

8. Why all of the dynasties?
Feudalism
Nepotism leads to weakness
Outside threats
Weak economies
Corrupt political officials

9. China’s Seamless Dynasty Changes
Most of China’s Dynasties allowed the Chinese to stay unified because:
They all had the same written language
They all practiced Confucianism
They all spoke the same language

10. Video