1. Sui, Tang & Song Dynasties AP World History
Unit 2
Sui, Tang & Song Dynasties
AP World History

2. Sui Dynasty ( A.D.)
Wendi ( a noble) wins support of nomads & wins control of northern China
589 – Defeats the Chen kingdom (southern China)
Wins popularity by lowering taxes and establishes granaries

3. Sui Dynasty ( A.D.)
Yangdi (Wendi’s son) strengthens state by military conquest & victories over nomads
Reforms legal code & Confucian educational system
Undertook expensive construction projects (Great Canal)
Scholar gentry brought back into imperial administration
Moves capital to Loyang
Unsuccessful in attempt to conquer Korea & defeated by Turkic nomads – revolts followed
Assassinated in 618

4. Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) Established by Chinese general Taizong
Considered one of the greatest dynasties of China
Strengthened central government; influenced by scholar-gentry
Restored the civil service; civil service exam strengthened
Population in south (rice) surpassed north (wheat & millet)
Created a more stable economy; paper money & flying money introduced
Broke up power of large land owners - urban areas increased in size

5. Tang Dynasty ( A.D.)
Expanded control of China to NW & SW (Tibet), Bactria (Afghanistan), Manchuria, &
South Vietnam (tea & fast growing rice imported)
Chinese junks – Chinese merchants dominated Indian Ocean trade
Trade and travel along Silk Road increased; diplomatic relations increased;
Strengthened Great Wall; canals and irrigation systems increased agricultural prod.
High point of culture; short stories, poetry & painting
Empress Wu Zhao – only woman to hold title of emperor

6. Tang Dynasty ( A.D.)
Chang’an becomes seat of the empire again (pop. of 2 million)
Military superior to scholar gentry
Emphasized Confucian principles, but Buddhism gains acceptance
Buddhist monasteries increase wealth & power, but Tang reacts by placing restrictions on gifts - weakens
Uighurs (Turkic speaking mercenaries) overthrew govt. in 907 (civil war followed)
Decline: corruption, internal rebellions & invasions of northern nomads

7. Song Dynasty ( A.D.)
Moved capital to Hangzhou; overseas trade continued
Could not control the Khitan people (northern nomads); Chinese paid tribute – burdened economy
Civil service exams emphasized
Scholar gentry gains higher status over military
Neo-Confucianism emerges - respect for family and authority, but Chinese elite withdraw from society; hostility to foreign thought prevents entry of innovations while stressing tradition (stifles critical thinking)

8. Song Dynasty ( A.D.)
Problems: Uighurs, lost control of Tibet, paid tribute to Jurchen peoples from Manchuria
Warfare technology: catapults w/bombs & grenades; flame throwers and rocket launchers
Innovations: printing with moveable type, compass, abacus (for taxes)
Footbinding catches on with upper class - spreads to lower class
Alliance with Mongols backfired (Mongols defeated Jurchen and overthrew Song
dynasty)

9. Economy/Society Farming society – aristocrats owned most of the land
New technologies: steel, gunpowder, porcelain, mechanical clock, & magnetic compass
Guilds (association of merchants) formed
Money economy instead of barter
Paper money, coal (for fuel), & kites are used
Long distance trade (Silk Road) w/ Arabs & Romans
Chairs & tea drinking

10. Economy/Society
Women – status improved under the Tang and early Song (especially upper class), but steadily declined during late Song (Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism marriage alliances, foot-binding)
Islam & Christianity spread to China
Gentry class emerges (well-to-do people from education and civil service

11. Tang-Song Rankings Woman Buddhist Merchant Farmer
Nomadic Invader (Khitan or Jurchen)
Construction worker
Bureaucrat/scholar gentry
Military
Neo-Confucian/
Confucian
Entertainer – acrobat or singing girl