Chapter 8, Section 1

 Sui Yandi  Completed the Grand Canal  A cruel leader-  Used forced labor  High taxes  Extravagant and luxurious lifestyle  Military failures caused rebellion  Murdered and his dynasty came to an end.

 Oldest and Longest Canal  6,000,000 laborers to complete  approximately, 3,000,000 of those people died from the sheer labor and hunger.  At that time, many believed the endeavor was a complete waste of human life and money, which was a huge contributor to the downfall of this dynasty.  1,200 miles long.  Connects the Huang He (Yellow River and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)

 Reforms  Restored the civil service examination.  Tried to create a more state economy by:  Giving land to the peasants  Breaking up the power of the large estates.  To restore power they:  Brought peace to northwestern China.  Chinese imperial court set up trade and diplomatic relations with states of Southeast Asia.

 Their demise –  Rulers were unable to prevent plotting and government corruption.  Tang Xuanzang  Became prey to rebellions.  Hired Uighurs (WEE-GURZ), a tribal group to fight for the dynasty.

 Period of economic prosperity and culture achievement.  When their northern neighbors moved into China, the Song rulers moved the imperial court of Hangzhou (HONG-JOH).  During the 1200s---Here come the MONGOLS!

 Monarchy with large bureaucracy.  Government Structure:  Provinces, districts, and villages  Confucian ideals.  Economy grew in size  Agriculture flourished  Manufacturing and trade grew.  Worked to weaken the power of large landholders.

 Tang and Song Eras were an age of prosperity.  Hangzhou, the capital city  Marco Polo  Described the capital as one of the wealthies and largest cities on Earth.  New Forms of Entertainment for the rich.  Vast majority still lived off the land in villages.  Social structure had changed.  Landed Gentry  Scholar-gentry  Wu Zhou (WOO-JOW)  Strangled her own daughter and then accused the empress of the crime.