By: Andy

618 – 907 AD Known as the second greatest dynasty Unified a vast territory, to spread its culture and to absorb the cultures of surrounding states and peoples. It was interrupted by the Second Zhou Dynasty by Empress Wu Zetian. Tang was founded by the Li family

Li Yuan, former governor under the Sui dynasty, rose in rebellion after being urged by his second son. Ruled until 626 before being disposed by his son, Li Shimin aka Tang Taizong. The Emperor has three administrations they were obligated to draft, review and implement policies. There were 6 divisions under the administration that also implemented policies, each were assigned a different task.

Technology, Science and Inventions Astronomy – calculated the paths of the sun and moon and the movement of different constellations. Math – Wang Xitong, a mathematician, wrote his book called Qigu Suanjing where he explained the solutions of third degree equations. Medicine – made further improvements in the fields of dentistry and inner medicine. Discovery of the blood circuit and the digestion system.

Economy The Tang Emperors prolonged the Great Canal (Yunhe) to transport grain from the rich Yangtse area to the north. The capital of Chang’an and Luoyang was fortified with wall and moat, the city was divided into quarters. Reintroduced the equal-land-system it was used during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Each peasant was given an equal amount of land and had to pay three kinds of taxes: grain, textiles or other materials, and service labor and military service. Every male adult person was given 80 acres state fields, 20 personal fields. Old and sick people obtained 40 personal fields, widows given 30 state fields, and as owner an additional 20 personal fields. Priests or monks obtained 20 state fields and craftsmen 10 states fields. The Amount of lended field depends on the rank it increases. In other words the higher the rank the more higher the acres.

Downfall Regional military governors took advantage of their increasing power and began to function more like independent regimes on their own right. Natural causes such as droughts and famine due to internal corruptions and incompetent emperors contributed to the rise of a series of rebellions. The Huang Chao rebellion lasted 10 years before it was suppress. In 907, after almost 300 years in power, the dynasty ended when one of the military governors, Zhu Wen, disposed the last emperor and took the throne for himself and formed a new dynasty called The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period.