1. Were the Sui and the Tang the Qin and the Han redeux?

2. Qin 221- 206 BCE

3. Han 206 BCE - 220 CE

4. Sui Dynasty 581- 618

6. Sui Dynasty Like the Qin, come from north; reunite China Builds Grand Canal from south to north– what’s the significance? Short-lived: corvee labor, high taxes, constant wars Moral: can’t act like conquerors and run a country – re: Qin

7. Tang 618 - 907

9. Tang Dynasty (610-907) Reinstate Confucian educational system, bureaucracy – common culture of administrators throughout China Equal field system - land was regularly reapportioned to ensure equal holdings. Why? Expand borders into Central Asia. What ’ s the danger? Develop the “ Tribute ” system with Central Asian tribal peoples Technological improvements: steel, gunpowder, smallpox vaccine, abacus, moveable wooden type, canals “Fast-growing rice” – adopted from Vietnamese

10. “Terracing hillsides” to flood the rice paddies – fast growing rice produced two crops a year

11. Tang Dynasty Decline (610-907) Political and economic systems start to break down after 150 years More land in the hands of rich – transfer of wealth to the gentry Tenant farming, bad times lead to peasant revolts: less income for imperial government Rebellious generals Emperors invite the barbarians to cross the borders – Uighurs (like Germanic tribes in Rome?) Moral: Keeping power centralized in a big state is a never-ending struggle

12. Northern Song 960-1127

13. Song Dynasty State-Building: Institute Confucian exams as we think of them today Pay off barbarians, but also institute policy of “using barbarians to fight barbarians” Make a big mistake in dealing with barbarians in the early 12 th century; repeat it 100 years later

14. Oops! Southern Song 1127- 1276

15. Song Dynasty Economic and demographic growth: 45 million population in 600 – 100 million in 1100 Development of cash crops – extensive trade Huge tax revenues available to state Perhaps 20% of population lives in cities What is the downside of the big city? Inequality, poverty also grows Moral: Was Song economic and foreign policy wise or misconceived?

16. China’s Grand Canal

18. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=tfWyBz5bHj8&feature=related

19. Great Wall