Tang and Song China
Madnick/Global History 9
Korea
Japan
China
Vietnam
Historical Background
Afro Eurasian trade routes were firmly
established in the Post Classical Age.
1. Where were Afro Eurasian trade routes?
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–
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Silk Road --China to Europe
Gold Road -across North Africa/Sahara Desert
Indian Ocean routes
Mediterranean Sea routes
South China Sea routes
Mediterranean Sea Routes
Silk Road
East
China
Sea
Routes
Indian Ocean Routes
Historical Background
2. What effect did Afro Eurasian trade routes have?
• Massive cross regional contact in Afro Eurasia,
500-1250
• Ideas & technology diffused in all directions
• We still use ideas and technology today
China: Tang and Song Dynasties
• Tang Dynasty, 618-907
• Song Dynasty, 960-1127
• Both had major achievements which diffused
along trade routes
• Both effected Japan, Korea, Vietnam,
Europe…..
AND THE WORLD
Tang Dynasty Achievements
1. Block Printing
• Letters carved on wooden boards, covered
with ink, & printed on paper
• Replaced word of mouth and handwritten books
• 868- first printed book was made in China
(Buddhist teachings)
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•
Effect: ideas spread quickly b/c books were printed quickl
Printing technology spread to Japan, Korea, Vietnam
Tang Dynasty Achievements
2. Gunpowder
• Combination of charcoal, sulfur, saltpeter
• Used for fireworks/ celebrations/ parades
• Effect: potential for new weapons of war
Tang Dynasty Achievements
3. “The Three Teachings”
a. Confucianism--code of social behavior started by
Confucius, 400 BCE
b. Daoism—philosophy that says happiness comes
from accepting the world as it is, 500BCE
c. Buddhism—belief system from India, 100 CE
--human suffering ends when a person
achieves enlightenment
Effect: Buddhism spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Song Dynasty Achievements
1. Moveable type
• Separate letters carved into clay blocks and baked
covered with ink, & printed on paper
Effect: quicker way to print books
printing tech diffused to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Paper and printing reached Europe by 1100
Song Dynasty Achievements
2. Gunpowder
• Used for warfare in Song Dynasty
• New weapons: grenades, bombs, canons, flame
throwers
Effect:
• China dominated Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with
superior weapons
• nature of warfare changed: “whoever has guns wins”
Song Dynasty Achievements
3. Porcelain
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Pottery that is almost unbreakable
White China clay (eastern China) fired at 1200
degrees
Rose to high art form in Song
Effect: expensive art that was highly prized in Asia&Europe
- became a symbol of wealth, especially in WE
Tang and Song, the big picture…
• Chinese achievements & belief systems
spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam along
established trade routes
• For centuries, China was the dominant culture
in East Asia
• Chinese achievements spread to European
culture during the Middle Ages