Postclassical China
589 – 1279 C.E.
Ch. 13 pg. 264-286
1. Label the Tang and Song Dynasties on the map. Also include the Grand Canal, Yellow River (Huang
He), Yangzi River, Chang’an and Hangzhou.
2. Timeline: Must include dates for start and end of Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties.
3. Explain one continuity during the rule of Tang Taizong from Classical China (Han Dynasty).
4. What three policies helped the Tang dynasty become successful?
5. Analyze/Explain why Transportation and Communications helped ensure the success of the Tang
dynasty.
6. Describe the Equal Field System.
8. What territories did the Tang dynasty conquer?
9. Explain kowtow.
10. The fall of the Tang dynasty took from 755 – 907 C.E. Fill in the categories from the Empire Model.
Poor Leadership
Rebellion
Military defeat
11. How was China ruled after the fall of the Tang dynasty? What key term describes this type of
government (Hint: not mentioned in the reading)?
12. What did the Song dynasty focus on instead of the military?
13. What were the Song dynasties two greatest weaknesses?
14. Explain fast-ripening rice. What effect did the rice and new agricultural techniques have on China’s
population? (Be specific)
15. Describe the capital city of Hangzhou during the Song dynasty.
16. Describe foot binding? How did it reinforce the patriarchal social structure of China?
17. Describe at least two technological developments of Postclassical China (Tang and Song)
18. Fill in the chart below in order to organize trade during Postclassical China. (Hint: Not all categories
will be filled in because trade is not always a two way street)
Trade Partners
Abbasid Empire
Byzantine Empire
Arab, Persian, Indian,
Malay mariners
Southeast Asia
Route(s) Used
Products received from
China
Products given to China