• 3/2 Focus:
– During the Tang and Song Dynasties,
farming and trade flourished
– China made great advances in art,
literature, architecture, and technology
under the rule of the Tang and Song
• Do Now:
– What Chinese philosophy was reflected in
the Tang government?
Chinese Empires
The Tang and Song Dynasties
The Han Dynasty
• Had ruled China
from 206 BC-220
AD
• Dynasty
collapsed and
military leaders
divided China into
rival kingdoms
The Sui Dynasty
• Built the Grand Canal
– Connected northern
and southern China
• Increased trade
• Allowed food from
farms in the south to
be sent to cities in the
north
– Forced millions of
peasants to work on
canal
• Many workers died
• Forced labor on public
works projects angered
peasants
•
The Tang Dynasty
• Tang ruled China
from 618-907 AD
– Started by
Tang Taizong in
618
• Expansion and
contact with
Japan led to
increased foreign
trade and
economic
prosperity
Tang Government
• Established a strong
central government
– Government workers
were required to pass
civil service exams
– Schools were built to
prepare civil service
workers
– Ideals of Confucianism
reflected in
government
The Song Dynasty
• China entered into a period of disorder
after the collapse of the Tang
– Lasted for 53 years
– “The Period of the Five Dynasties and Ten
Kingdoms”
• The Song Dynasty reunited China in 960
AD.
– Ruled for 3OO years
Tang and Song Social Order
• Established a
strict social order
– Gentry
• Wealthy
landowners
• Some become civil
servants
– Peasants
• farmers
– Merchants
•
•
Status of Women Under the
Tang and Song
• Women were
considered inferior to
men
• Foot binding
– Goal was to create small
feet (“lotus”) by
restricting the growth
of the foot
• 3-4 inches long
• Done between ages 3 -11
•
•
•
• 3/3 Focus:
– During the Tang and Song Dynasties, China
was unified, government was efficient, and
society was stable
• Do Now:
– What Chinese philosophy was reflected in
the Tang government?
Tang and Song Achievements
• Expanded Trade
– Traded with India,
Persia, and the
Middle East along
the silk road
– Became expert
shipbuilders and
became a naval
power
• The Chinese Junk
Tang and Song Achievements
• Made improvements
in farming which
increased food
productive
• Fast ripening rice
could be harvested
2-3 times a year
• New methods of
farming
– Lead to population
increases and
increased trade
•
Tang and Song Golden Age
• China entered a golden
age during both the Tang
and Song dynasties
Tang and Song Golden Age
• Technological
Innovations
– Moveable type
and block
printing
– Paper Money
– Porcelain
– Gunpowder
– Magnetic
Compass
Tang and Song Golden Age
• Art
– Landscape
painting
– use of
calligraphy
• Artistic
handwriting
Tang and Song Golden Age
• Architecture
– Pagodas
•
Closure
• What was the impact of improved
farming techniques on China?
• Identify two advances that were made
during the Tang and Song golden age