1. Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties World History - Libertyville HS

2. Post Han China Han Dynasty ended in 220 AD Jin Period (265-618 AD) – Political fragmentation – Three main forces fighting for dominance Northern kingdom Southern kingdom Nomads Sui Dynasty unified China for 40 years but lost to Tang Dynasty

3. T’ang Dynasty (618-907 AD) Economic, cultural flowering of China Buddhism established as state religion Int’l trade routes maintained (traders in China) Two main trade routes – Silk Road (Persians, Indians, Muslims – 639 AD) – Ocean Trade throughout E. Asian coastal areas incl. Korea, Japan (70+ countries!)

4. T’ang Culture & Government At height, T’ang China / allies / client states controlled from Caspian Sea to SE Asia Ideal T’ang Man – Scholar, Poet, Painter, Statesman – Ideal person today? Perfection of civil service – Hard tests based on Conf. – Career bureaucrats were commoners, not nobility (no ambition for Imperial throne)

5. T’ang Government & Culture Rice cultivation greatly expanded (pop to 100 million) Roads, canals, irrigation built Poetry, literature & arts flourished – Painting with strong Taoist influence New Social Order Emperor & Royal Family Gentry (Civil Servants) Urban middle class (merchants) Urban lower class (laborers, soldiers, servants) Peasants (worked farms of rich)

6. T’ang Dynasty Inventions of T’ang – Block printing (carve into block, stamp on paper) – Gunpowder (fireworks) – Mechanical clocks (wind, w/ gears) – Porcelain (hard white ceramic) Oldest dated block print from China, 868 AD

7. Fall of the T’ang Lost fights against Persian & Indian Muslims After 816 AD, rebellions weakened state High taxes sped the disintegration of the state Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960 AD) – Political fragmentation – 10 kingdoms, 5 dynasties rule

8. Song Dynasty (960-1279) General finally took over, est. Song Dynasty Empire smaller than T’ang, but stable Early 1100s – invasion by Jurchens from N – Loss northern half of China – Jurchens est. own Empire, the Jin – Jin invaded by Genghis Khan

9. Song Dynasty Accomplishments Ten cities of one million + inhabitants 1020s – paper money, making trade easier 1040 – invented magnetic compass (navigation) Algebra advancements Refined gunpowder – Cannon – Primitive flamethrower Chinese flamethrower; 2 pistons shot out Stream of flaming oil / Gas combo

10. Song Dynasty “Industrial Revolution” By 1078, Song Dynasty producing 125,000 tons of iron, per year! Equal to 1.5 kg per person Compare to Europe, at same time: 0.5 kg / per person Iron used to mass produce tools, esp. plows, hammers, etc Chinese blast furnace; Waterwheel driving furnace

11. Fall of Song Dynasty Long, bitter struggle against Mongols eventually ended with defeat of Song Defeated by 1279 Estimated 50 million Chinese killed during war – about 50% of population

12. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Nobility Resurgence – Population of China back to 120 million by 1600 – Regained past prestige, power Exploration: Zheng-He – Eunuch in service of emperor – Seven voyages in Treasure Ships – Purpose: expand trade, contact new peoples Isolation and stagnation – New emperor cut off further exploration, trade – Closed borders, threw out foreigners cut off contact with rest of world Dimensions:350-400 feet long, 150 feet wide; weighed 14,000+ tons displacement Fleets had 62 ships, 27000 crew, incl. soldiers, merchants, etc Treasure Ship – compared to size of Columbus’ Santa Maria

13. Fall of Ming Dynasty Ming Dynasty conquered by Manchu Manchu were nomads from the North Manchu est. dynasty that lasted until 1912