3-11-13

Empires of Asia: China

Background: After the Han Dynasty fell, no dynasty or emperor was strong enough to hold China together.

After 350 years Tang and Song dynasty finally restore strong central government for China.

China

Wendi- first emperor of this dynastyGreatest accomplishment: completion of the Grand CanalThe Grand Canal connected the Huang He and the Chang Jiang : was vital for trade.

connected the northern cities to the southern rice-producing region

Sui Dynasty 581-618

Due to the endless labor of peasants on state projects like the Grand Canal and the Great Wall, peasants revolted and killed the second Sui Emperor in 618

End of the Sui Dynasty

Tang Taizong began the dynasty. He reigned from 626-649

Empire Expanded-armies reconquered western lands China had lost

Extended influence into KoreaWu Zhao was empress during campaign in

KoreaShe took over power of China in 690

Tang Dynasty

Strengthened central government in ChinaExpanded network of roads and canalsPromoted foreign tradeMade improvements in Agriculture

Tang Dynasty revived and expanded civil service examinations

Those who pass became part of an elite group of scholar-officials

Exams were open to all men- however only wealth could afford necessary years of education to pass the exam.

Men with political connections could earn positions without taking exam

Civil Service Examinations

Imposed crushing taxes in mid 700’s to pay for governments programs and military expansion

Muslim armies defeated ChineseCentral Asia was under foreign control907 Chinese rebels attacked Tang capital and

assassinated the emperor.

Tang Lose Power

After the fall of the Tang Dynasty rival warlords divided China into separate kingdoms.

960: General Taizu reunited China and declared himself the first emperor of the Song Dynasty.

Lasted about three centuries(like the Tang Dynasty)

Under this dynasty China remained strong, stable and powerful

They could not recover the land conquered by foreign enemies.

Tried to buy peace to their northern enemies by paying tributes of silver, silk, and tea.

This method failed and the Jurchen took over northern China, leaving the Song dynasty only southern China to rule.

They moved capital city to HangzhouThey prospered economicallyMerchants in southern cities grew rich from

trade

Technological innovations: moveable type and gunpowder.

Advances in mathematics-arithmetic and algebra

Agriculture improvements: cultivation of rice (faster ripening rice) produced more food

Trade Flourished: Silk Road (until end of Tang Dynasty)

Increased Ocean Trade-advances in sailing technology

Golden Age of Poetry and Art

Achievements during Tang and Song Dynasty