1. The Revival of Confucian Thought
Libraries established
Old texts recovered
Neo-confucians
Stress on personal morality
Hostility to foreign ideas
Gender, class, age distinctions reinforced

2. Tang and Song Prosperity: The Basis of a Golden Age
Canal system
Built to accommodate population shift
Yangdi's Grand Canal
Links North to South

3. A New Phase of Commercial Expansion
Silk routes
Greater contact with Buddhist, Islamic regions
Sea trade
Developed by late Tang, Song

4. A New Phase of Commercial Expansion
Commerce expands
Credit
Deposit shops
Paper money
Urban growth
Changan
Tang capital
2 million

5. Expanding Agrarian Production and Life in the Country
New areas cultivated
Canals help transport produce
Aristocratic estates
Divided among peasants
Scholar-gentry replace aristocracy

6. The Neo-Confucian Assertion of Male Dominance
Neo-Confucians reduce role of women
Confinement
Men allowed great freedom
Men favored in inheritance, divorce
Women not educated
Foot binding

7. A Glorious Age: Invention and Artistic Creativity
Influence over neighbors
Economy stimulated by advances in farming, finance
Explosives
Used by Song for armaments
Compasses, abacus
Bi Sheng
Printing with moveable type

8. Global Connections: China’s World Role
An era of consolidation for China
Few great changes
Greater hold over neighboring peoples
Strong economy