Golden Ages of China
The Han Dynasty
(206 B.C.–220 A.D.)
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One of the longest of China’s major dynasties.
It rivaled the Roman Empire in the West.
With only minor interruptions it lasted a span of
over four centuries and is considered a “Golden
Age” in Chinese history especially in arts, politics
and technology.
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Dynasty- a line of hereditary rulers of a country.
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China escaped the
chaos and ruin that
came to a lot of regions
as a result of the fall of
the Roman Empire.
China’s history consists
of the rise and fall of
various dynasties.
After the Han Dynasty
collapsed in 220, China
remained divided-into
North and South.
Tang Dynasty (618-906 A.D.)
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Empress Wu
624-705 A.D.
Page 476
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This division lasted until the
Tang Dynasty took over in
618
The Tang Dynasty restored
uniform government
throughout China and
enlarged the civil service.
Under the Tang, China
conquered many lands, like
Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam.
The most powerful emperor
was Taizong.
Empress Wu ruled in the late
600s: only woman to rule in
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Tang
Dynasty
Conquered lands became
“tributary states”-meaning they
remained independent but had
to acknowledge Chinese
supremacy.
“land reform”-broke up land
and redistributed it to
peasants.
They built a system of canals
and built the Grand Canal,
which linked the Huang-He to
the Yangzi.
Even though they were
successful, the dynastic cycle
took over and collapsed in 907.
Song Dynasty
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In 960, China was
reunited under the Song
Dynasty which ruled for
319 years.
Under the Song, the
Chinese culture and
economy expanded and
trade flourished.
They issued paper money
due to their booming
trade centers and became
a very wealthy dynasty
known for their economic
success.
Society During the Song
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Chinese society during this
time was well ordered.
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At the top-the emperor and his
court of aristocratic families
The gentry (wealthy land
owners)
At the bottom- peasants
During the late Song
Dynasty, women had much
fewer rights and the custom
of foot binding began.
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This reinforced the Confucian
tradition that women should
stay inside the home.
Why foot binding?
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Women had a subordinate position that had to be enforced
The tradition started in the aristocratic sect of society but
eventually spread to lower classes
Feet were bound with strips of cloth-as a result feet became
half the size of a foot that was allowed to grow normally
Tiny feet and an extended walk became a symbol of nobility
and beauty
Women feared not being able to find a husband if their feet
were large
The practice was extremely painful
Peasants who had to work in the fields did not bind their
feet because binding often prevented women from being
able to walk
Foot binding reinforced the Confucian believe that women
should remain inside the home.
Footbinding
Assignment for Today!
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Look in your book on pages 302-307 and
identify a technology or achievement of
the Tang or Song Dynasties.
Draw, describe, and color a specific
technology on a ¼ of a piece of paper.
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Description should be at least 3-4 sentences
Then we will make a “quilt” and put your
technologies together.
Then do page 307 in the book 1-5