1. Section 1 Two Golden Ages of China
Chapter 12
Section 1
Two Golden Ages of China

2. Early Chinese Dynasties
Shang Dynasty
1600 BC > 1025 BC
Zhou Dynasty
1025 BC > 256 BC
Early
Chinese
Dynasties
Qin Dynasty
221 BC > 206 BC
Han Dynasty
206 BC > 220 AD

3. The Tang Dynasty Reunifies China
Tang dynasty reunifies China in 618
Est. by Li Shimin (Tang Taizong)
Admired?
brilliant general, government reformer, & a historian
Conquers territories into Central Asia
Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea > tributary states?
Acknowledge supremacy & pay tribute

4. Tang Dynasty
Rebuilt bureaucracy, civil service system, and instituted system of land reform
Broke up large agricultural holdings > gave land to peasants > Why?
Strengthen central govt. by weakening the power of large landowners
Increased govt. revenues > peasants could now pay tax
Declined Why?
Lost territories in Central Asia to Arabs
Corruption
High taxes
Drought
Famine
Rebellion

5. Song Dynasty Social Class
960 > Zhao Kuangyin reunites China > Song dynasty
Ruled a bit longer than Tang but less territory
threat of invaders from north > eventually overthrow the Song dynasty > Invaders?
Mongolians
Song period > great achievement
Improved farming methods, open border policy
System of canals > Grand Canal
Internal trade & transportation
Under Tang & Song
Foreign trade flourished
Social Class
Gentry > Peasants > Merchants (lowest)

6. Status of Women Enjoyed higher status during Tang & Song Ran household
Subordinate position to her husband > patriarchal society society
Dowry?
Foot binding?

8. Tang and Song Develop Rich Cultures
Song period > landscape paintings
Masters at making porcelain
Architecture > Pagoda > a multistoried temple with eaves that curve up to the corners
Writing > poetry > most respected > most famous > Li Bo