A Resurgence of Empire in East Asia Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties
Sui Dynasty (589 – 618 CE) Yang Jian: 580 Mandate of Heaven Similar to Qin Dynasty Legalism Public Works Grand Canal Trade b/w North and South
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) Tang Taizong Capital of Chang’an Confucianism Safe Trade, Low Taxes, Stability
Tang Policies Transportation and Communication - Grand Canal - Road System - Postal System Land Distribution - Equal Field System Merit Based Bureaucracy - Civil Service Exams - Classical Chinese Philosophy - All Males (Except Criminals) Expansion - Manchuria and Korea
Tang Decline 755 – Casual and Careless leadership Northern Invasions Uighurs (Turks) sack capital Revolts Warlord Rule After Fall
Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 CE) Restored Imperial Structure Mistrust of Military Song Taizu (960 – 976) Greater Bureaucracy Feared Military (emphasized other areas) Capital Hangzhou
2 Problems of Song Enormous Bureaucracy Weak Military $$$$$ Weak Military - Nomadic pressure from North (Mongols) - Captured Capital (Kaifeng) - Southern Song – Capital to Hangzhou
Economic Development in China Agriculture Increases in production Fast ripening rice New Tech: Fertilizer/Iron Plows Commercial Agriculture Facilitation of Trade “Flying Cash” + Paper Money Banking/Checking Government Involvement/Market Economy
Technology and Industry Porcelain High Demand Metallurgy Iron and Steel Architecture Gunpowder Late 1200s diffused to Europe and S. Asia
Printing Naval Technology Block Printing Cheap Books Propaganda Ships: Compass, Rudders, Iron Nails, etc.
Chinese Economy Market Economy Currency Regional Specialization Foreign Demand Government Involvement Currency “Flying Cash” Paper Money Copper Coins (Hoarded Silver)
Tang Coin
Chinese Society Cosmopolitan Entertainers South Port Cities (Guangzhou, Quanzhou) Vast Trade and Cultural Sharing