2.   Han Dynasty collapsed in 220 C.E.  China struggled to be unified and more than 30 local dynasties rose and fell.  Sui Wendi – first emperor of the Sui dynasty.  Unites Northern and Southern China once again.  Strong Central Government.  Hey! Hey! It is known as the Golden Age!!!!  - Rich, powerful, and most advanced country during its time. Setting the Stage

3.   Sui dynasty (589-618): Lasted only two emperors.  Greatest Accomplishment – Grand Canal.  - Water way connected Huang He (Yellow River) and the Yangtze River.  5 years – 1,000 miles  Thousands died build the canal and rebuilding the great wall.  618 – revolt and second emperor strangled by member of the imperial court. Sui Wendi

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5.   Ruled nearly 300 years (618 – 907).  Tang Taizong reign lasted 627 – 649.  - Reconquered Northern and Western lands that China lost under the Han dynasty.  668- Reigned over Korea.  Empress Wu Zhao had real power from 660 to 690 during a succession of weak emperors.  690 – Wu Zhao took the title of Emperor for herself. Only woman to ever do so in China. Tang Dynasty

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7.   Strengthened the central government of China.  Expanded network of roads and canals begun by the Sui.  Lowered taxes (remembered mistake of Sui Emperor)  Took some land from the wealthy and gave to peasants.  Promoted foreign trade and improvements in agriculture. Tang Rulers

8.   Tang needed to manage vast empire – restored China’s bureaucracy.  Civil Service Exam by the Han restored and expanded to recruit good officials.  - Schools opened to train young scholars in Confucianism, poetry, and other subjects that covered the exam.  Only a few passed.  Exam open to all. Scholar-Officials

9.   Civil Service Exam – Talent and education became more important than noble birth in winning power.  - Many moderately wealthy families shared in China’s government. Scholar-Officials

10.   Mid- 700s:  To pay for military expansion raised crushing taxes.  - Brought on hardships to people and still could not pay for the rising cost of government.  Famine – Peasants joined bandit gangs.  Empire to vast – could not control it.  751 – Arab armies soundly defeated Chinese on China’s western frontier at the Battle of Talas.  Chinese lost control of Central Asia.  Foreign and internal attacks weakened power.  907- Chinese rebels sacked and burned the Tang capital at Chang’and killed the child emperor. Tang Loses power

11.   End of the Tang Dynasty rival warlords split China into kingdoms.  960 – General reunited China proclaimed himself Song Taizu – First Song (Sung) emperor.  Lasted 960 – 1279.  Ruled smaller empire than Han and Tang, China remained stable, powerful, and prosperous. Song Dynasty restores China

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13.   Song armies never regained the western lands lost after 751 or the Northern lands.  Tried to buy peace with their Northern enemies.  - Annual tribute of Silver, Silk, and Tea.  1100s – Jurchen conquered Northern China and established Jin empire.  Song forced to retreat south across the Huang He.  1126 – Song emperors ruled only Southern China. Song Dynasty

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16.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO7NHZJ- eE4&list=CLqr7xzEodC74 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO7NHZJ- eE4&list=CLqr7xzEodC74 Quick Video

17.   Period of Tang and Song dynasties was one of intense growth.  - Population, trade, wealth, new ideas, and artistic achievements.  - Population grew to 100,000,000 by the Song era.  10 cities – 1 million in population each. Era of prosperity and Innovation

18.   Important inventions:  Movable type and gunpowder.  What is the movable type?  A printer could arrange blocks of individual characters in a frame to make up a page for printing Science and Technology

19.   Led to bombs, grenades, small rockets, and cannons.  Other inventions:  - Porcelain, the mechanical watch, paper money, and use of the magnetic compass for sailing.  1000-1200:  - Developed Algebra and began using Zero. Gunpowder

20.   1000: imported fast-ripening rice from Vietnam.  - Harvest two rice crops a year. Agriculture

21.   Tang dynasty: guarded the silk road  - Eventually lost control of the trade route.  Song Period: Turned to sea trade  Goods sent to Korea, Japan, Africa, and other colonies.  Chinese became tea drinkers and religions such as Islam and Christianity spread through the country. Foreign Trade

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26.   Tang and Song: Old aristocratic families faded and much larger upper class emerged.  - Scholar officials and other well to do people were called the gentry.  Middle class: merchants, shopkeepers, skilled artisans, minor officials.  Bottom: Laborers, soldiers, and servants.  Largest class:……….Peasants. Levels of Society

27.   Woman’s work was deemed less important to the family’s prosperity and status – Upper Class.  Foot binding: A young girl would have feet bound very tight with cloth.  - Broke the arch and would form a “lily-foot”  - It would cripple women but showed a high status.  Peasant women worked in the fields and helped produce an income. Status of Women

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31.  I always say put your best foot forward

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