1. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
Chapter 10 (pp. 284 – 291)

2. China’s Hegemony
For most of the period 600 – 1450 C.E., Chinese dynasties established regional hegemony over East Asia
China became the strongest civilization in the world
Dynasties like the Sui, Tang and Song reconstituted governments that combined traditional sources of power & legitimacy with innovations better suited to the current circumstances

3. The Sui Dynasty 581 – 618 C.E. Centralized imperial rule
Built the Grand Canal
State-sponsored commercial infrastructure
Manmade waterways that connected the major rivers in China
Increased volume/variety of trade

4. The Tang Dynasty
618 – 907
Li Shimin seized China’s capital Xi’an (Chang’an) and proclaimed himself emperor of the Tang Dynasty

5. Accomplishments of the Tang
Strong transportation/communication systems
Grand Canal
Built/maintained an advanced road system
Continued to use Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Maritime System
Cultural/technological transfers between Tang and Abbasids
Chinese merchants setup diasporic communities through Southeast Asia

6. The Battle of Talas
751 C.E.; Between the Tang and Abbasids; Led to the exchange of printing; Chinese prisoners of war were forced to produce paper in Samarkand.

7. The Tang Tribute System
Existed in earlier dynasties, but was expanded/enhanced to support the enormous Tang dynasty
Neighboring realms were required to pay tribute in forms of gifts or money
China acted as “the Middle Kingdom”

8. Religion in the Tang
Buddhism had been growing in China since its Classical Period
Mostly Mahayana Buddhism
It allowed easier incorporation to Chinese culture
Empress Wu (690 – 705) was a strong supporter of Buddhism
Contributed huge sums to monasteries and to commission paintings & sculptures
More than 50,000 temples were built
Buddhist art, literature and cultural traditions flourished
Ex. Wu Daozi

9. The Art of Wu Daozi

11. The Collapse of the Tang
Over time, tensions between Confucianists & Buddhists grew
Stemmed from ideological & economic differences
In the 9th century, Confucian scholar bureaucrats along with emperor Wuzong conspired to end Buddhist influence
Burned thousands of monasteries & forced Buddhist monks to flee
Results
Confucianism reemerged as dominant belief system
Tang Dynasty weakened due to internal turmoil and again China declined into a period of decentralization

12. The Song Dynasty
Chapter 10 (pp. 291 – 297)

13. The Song Dynasty Song reunited China in 960
Emphasized civil administration, industry, education and art
“Golden Era” in terms of finance & technology
Strong centralized government
Increased size of merit-based bureaucratic system (civil service)

14. Problems Under the Song
Finances
Large bureaucratic system was expensive, so taxes were raised
Led to free peasant revolts
Military
Led by scholar bureaucrats
Little understanding of how to direct armies
Jurchens (northern nomads) & other groups overran the northern part of the Song Empire
1279, Mongols conquered the southern Song

15. Economic Revolutions of the Tang and Song
Changes in economy began in Tang & were refined in Song
Revolutions
Increased agricultural production to deal with growing population
Fast-ripening rice from Vietnam
Improved irrigation techniques
Urbanization
Tang capital Chang’an
Largest city in the world at the time
Song capital Hangzhou

16. Economic Revolutions of the Tang and Song
Revolutions (continued)
Technological innovations
Porcelain (chinaware)
Improved iron & steel metallurgy
Gunpowder
Movable type printing
Magnetic compass
Financial inventions
As trade grew, merchants developed paper money
Letters of credit called “flying cash” allowed merchants to move money (like a bank)
Primitive checking

17. Neo-Confucianism Neo-Confucianism
Focused less on social & political order, and more on the soul & spiritual relationships
Reconciled relationship with Buddhism
Influenced many civilizations throughout East & Southeast Asia

18. Patriarchal Social Structures
Patriarchal structure grew more rigid
Especially for the upper-classes
Foot binding
Demonstrated class & subservience to males