Aim: Why did China experience a
golden age under the Tang and
Song dynasties?
Do Now: Recall what we learned
about Ancient China and the Han
dynasty.
VOCABULA
RY
•
Usurp- to illegally take over
•
Tributary states-A Tributary state is a state that is
subordinate to a more powerful neighbouring state
•
Land reform- the statutory division of agricultural land
and its reallocation to landless people
•
Gentry- wealthy land-owning class
•
Pagoda- a multistoried temple with eaves curving up at
the corners
SETTING THE SCENE
•
China had been divided into small feudal kingdoms
•
Sui dynasty briefly united North and South
•
It was later reunified under the Tang and Song dynasty
SOCIETY IN THE TANG AND SONG
DYNASTIES
● There were two main social classes
○ gentry
○ peasants
•many scholar officials were from the gentry
•government service and allies of emperors officials
•song valued learning over physical labor
•most of society were peasants
•many lived off farming
•small, self sufficient villages
The Tang Dynasty (618-90 AD)
•
Preceded Sui dynasty
•
Li Yuan was the first emperor of Tang dynasty
•
Gained control by revolting against previous dynasty
•
Son Li Shimin (Tang Taizong) took over
●
General
●
Government reformer
●
Historian
●
Calligrapher
The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD)
• Conquered territory in Central Asia
• Vietnam, Tibet and Korea became tributary states
• Many cultural achievements
● Art, architecture
• Restore China to Han system
● Restored bureaucracy
● Schools prepared men for exams
● Land reform strengthened central government; weakened power of large
landowners
● More taxes
Decline of the Tang Dynasty
•
Lost territory to Arabs
•
Conditions worsened
•
●
Corruption
●
High taxes
●
Drought
●
Famine
●
Rebellion
A general rebelled and overthrew last emperor
THE SONG DYNASTY (960-1279
AD)
• A scholar united China once again
• Controlled less territory
• Threat of Northern invasions
• Golden age despite military issues
● Wealth
● Culture
● Economical growth in farming
• Irrigation= two rice crops per year
● Caused surplus
THE SONG DYNASTY (960-1279 AD)
•
Efficient trade systems
●
Southeast Asia provided spices and woods
●
Porcelain from Song dynasty traded as far as East Africa
●
Paper money was issued
•
China became center of trade
•
Like the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty was also very
culturally rich
DECLINE OF THE SONG DYNASTY
•
During the reign of Emperor Shenzong
•
Decline was triggered by:
●
New policies were enforced
●
Invasions of external tribes weakened the Northern Song court
●
Invasions of the Jin Dynasty
●
Weak military strength
Society Continued
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
it was very painful
social mobility through education and government service
market towns/cities created wealthy merchants
normally low social status
women had high status
late 600s Wu Zhao became the first and only empress
men were still valued more
footbinding: a tradition for women in which they wrap long strips of cloth,
creating a lily shape on their feet.
● used to have a girl find a husband
● tiny feet= symbol of nobility and beauty
Activity
Debate on which was the
beater golden age
Exit Slip
1. In 3 to 4 sentences sum up the song
dynasty
2. In 3 to 4 sentences sum up the tang
dynasty