Tang ruled for almost 300 years, followed Sui ( ) Capital – Ch’ang-an Tang Taizong – first emperor Wu Zhao – China’s only female ruler Unified after period of instability – Taizu – first emperor Problems with nomads Lost Tibet Tried to make peace with northern enemies – tributes of silk, tea – lost N to Jin Empire (Manchuria) in 1127
Reconquered land lost after the Han Wu Zhao – took control of parts of Korea Expand roads and canals Revived civil service exam - bureaucracy Peace, stability, prosperity restored Training academies – civil service exam During both dynasties – population hits 100 million; 10 cities with population over 1 million Land redistribution
New upper class – gentry – earned status through education and civil service – not nec. Based on land ownership Entertainment – chess, cards Transportation – boats Urban middle class Most still at bottom – laborers, soldiers, servants
Mostly centered on village Patriarchal – move in with husband’s family Men – rights over wife; could take second wife if no male heir Children – obedience to parents – filial piety Dowry
Declined during Tang and Song Foot binding – “lily foot”
Science and technology Gunpowder Moveable type Manufacturing steel Porcelain New weapons Paper money - banking Mechanical clock Compass, rudder, sail Negative numbers – math Acupuncture
New variety of rice 2 crops a year instead of one Helped feed growing population
Armies guarded Silk Road; still dangerous though Sailing technology – compass, rudder, sail New port cities Exported tea, silk, porcelain, fruit Spread of culture – ex. Buddhism
Growth of Buddhism under Tang (monasteries) Li Bo – poet – life’s pleasures Tu Fu – hardships of war Artists – natural landscapes Favorite color/ink - black
Taxes too high Corruption Muslim armies – challenge – lost Central Asia 907 – rebels murdered the last Tang emperor Fall to the Mongols – 1206; defeated Jurghen (Manchuria) first, then Song