The Tang and Song
Dynasties of China
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China experienced a similar dark age as Europe
had experienced after the fall of Rome
This time is known as the Six Dynasties
China emerged from this dark period to
become one of the world’s leading civilizations
under the Tang Dynasty
Conquered Korea and Manchuria
Tang Dynasty (618-907)
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The “Golden Age” of China
Used their military to suppress peasant uprisings and
to reunited China
Empire had around 50 million people
Expanded trade on the Silk Road with Persia, Arabia,
Japan and the Byzantine Empire
Tang Dynasty (618-907)
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Reintroduced a civil service system to find
candidates for government office
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People took test to determine what position they
could hold in public office
Government built roads and public works projects
Song Dynasty 960-1279
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The Song Dynasty arose
after the fall of the Tang
Dynasty
It was smaller then the
Tang Empire
They expanded on the
achievements of the Tang
Dynasty
Song Dynasty 960-1279
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First people to use paper currency
(money)
Used coins made of copper and iron
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
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Eliminated forced labor
Very large increase in farm production
which led to greater wealth for China and
it’s people
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
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Inventions in Science and
Technology
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The Compass
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Moveable type of printing
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Discovered that a magnetized
needle floating in water will
always point north
Able to print at a faster rate
Gunpowder
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First to use gunpowder in
combat
The Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire
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Central Asia
Steppes- Treeless grasslands that stretch
from Eastern Europe to Northeast Asia
The Mongol Empire
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Nomadic people (roamed the grasslands
without a permanent home)
Developed excellent horsemanship and fierce
fighting skills (archery)
Lived in yurts- domed tents that could be easily
moved
The Mongol Empire
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Like most nomads they were divided in several
loosely organized tribes
Ghengis Khan united the tribes around 1206
Khan began a career of conquest by attacking
neighboring people beyond Mongolia
The Mongol Empire
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They faced very little resistance from outside forces
200,000+ skilled Mongol horsemen
They had sturdy stirrups, strong bamboo bows and
giant catapults
Known for their fierce brutality, sometimes killing all
defenders of a city if they refused to surrender
The Mongol Empire
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Ghengis Khan was:
 Tolerant of other religions within the territories he conquered
 Promoted trade throughout the Mongol Empire
 Ordered the creation of a written Mongol language
 Leader of the largest empire the world had ever seen
 Stretched from the Black Sea in Europe to the Pacific Ocean
The Mongol Empire
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Pax Mongolia: People could safely travel and
trade from one end of the empire to the other
The empire was so large it was divided into 4
separate kingdoms that were each ruled by
Khan’s descendants
The Mongol Empire: The Yuan
Dynasty
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Kublai Khan: Genghis Khan’s grandson
Born a Mongolian but was fascinated with
Chinese Culture
Reunited Northern and Southern China
and encouraged Mongols to adapt Chinese
ways
The Mongol Empire: Marco Polo
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Merchant from Venice
Journeyed along the Silk Road and visited China in the 1270’s
He was astounded by Kublai Khan and the Mongol’s
technological superiority over Europeans (used of gun powder
and burning coal for heat)
The Mongol Empire: Influence on
Russia
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13th century Mongol warriors conquered
most of Russia
Controlled it for nearly 200 years
1480: Ivan the Great declared Russia
independent from Mongol Rule
Mongol Empire: Notes
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Central Asia saw the rise of nomadic peoples who excelled at
horsemanship and fighting skills
 During 1200, the Mongols of Central Asia established the
world’s largest empire
 Ghengis Khan united Mongols and attacked China:
promoted trade
 Kublai Khan: established the Yuan Dynasty in China
and visited with Marco Polo
Japan
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Very mountainous
Protected by seas from foreign influences
Early history
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Religion was important
Believed in Gods and spirits called Kami
 Called Shinto Religion
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Emperors
Modeled after Tang
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Art
Science
Government
Fashion
Feudal Japan
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Emperor was at top of chain
Shogun Controversy
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Shoguns- Served emperor; Japanese ruling
class
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Struggle for power, Ashikaga claimed authority
for Shoguns
Daimyo – local warlord, ranked below
shogun
Samurai – warrior class, served daimyo
Peasants were lowest class
Korea
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Korea’s history
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Three kingdoms emerged in opposition to
Chinese rule
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Bridge from eastern Asia to neighboring island
chains
Korea was unified under the Silla Dynasty
The growth of Korean culture
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Reflected many elements of Chinese culture
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Written language, Buddhism, civil service exams,
dynasties
Southeast Asia
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Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Thailand, Vietnam
Vietnam influenced by China
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Mahayana Buddhism
Other nations adopted both Chinese and
Indian traditions
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Theraveda Buddhism
Written languages - Sanskrit
Architecture – Angkor Wat in Cambodia