Accomplishments of the Song Dynasty
When
The song dynasty began in 960 and ended in 1279
The founders of the song dynasty reunified china that had been in political turmoil since the fall of the tang dynasty
The empire ended in 1279 as a result of the invasion of the Mongol Empire on China
This began the Yuan Dynasty which was ruled by the Mongols.
What they were known for
They were the first gov. to use paper money
The song dynasty was the first to use gunpowder
They were known for their art and technology
the art is what inspired the painters of today's Chinese paintings
654,321
Marco polo was a Venetian merchant traveler. His pioneering influenced Christopher Columbus. His travels were recorded in a book. He didn't see his father until he was 15 or 16 years old. He knew four different languages.
How they lost power
The frontier management policies of the Chancellor Wang Anshi exacerbated hostile conditions along the Chinese-Vietnamese border sparking a border war with the Ly Dynasty
This conflict was fought to a mutual draw, there was a military defeat from invading Jurchens from the north in 1127 forcing the remnants of the song court to flee south and establish a new capital at Hangzhou.
It was there that new naval strength was developed to combat the Jurchen Jin Dynasty formed in the North
Although the song dynasty was able to defeat further Jurchen Invasions the Mongols led by Genghis Khan, Ogedei Khan, Mongke Khan, and Finally Kublai Khan gradually conquered China until the fall of the final song Emperor in 1279.
Key Players
Emperor Taizu- He and his army destroyed the southern states slowly unifying the south
Emperor Taizong- unified all of china for the Sung rebuilt china restoring lands to agricultural producitn and setting the army to work rebuilding the country's infrastructure
Wang Anshi- he was a prime minister he helped reform the lower class by giving them land and the upper class didnt like this this was also the first time they used gunpowder in the wars.
Weapons, Armor, and Tactics
Tang weapponry
Pikes -hand-, Swords -hand-, Throwing Dagger-long ranged-, Bow and Arrow -long ranged-
Tang armor
Shan Wen Kai mountain pattern armor
Made up of a multitude of small pieces of steel
it covers up your sholders. it is comfotable and flexible so they could move the same
Tactics-
The tang's liked to come up from behind and their enemy and take them out so the enemy was scared.
almost all of the generals that were in the tang military were very good with tactics
Song weapons
Some of the first used of gunpowder
fire lance cross between a flamethrower and a gun
Trebuchets- catapult like structure
Grenades and landmines
some traditional weapons used as well
Used the cannon
Directorate of weaponry
Song armor
Shields
Horses were armored
Made from hid of rhino
Shan Wen Kai
Small Pieces of metal interlocked and riveted to cloth or leater backing
Song Tactics
Wiewed military training and tactics as a science
Soldiers were tested in use of weapons an athletic ability
[latoon- 50 men company-2 platoons battalion- 500 men
at the end had 1,000,000 men
Crossbowmen units were very effective against cavalry and war elephants, also used as long ranged snipers
Armories manufactured enormous amounts of weapons each year
very large navy some could cary up to 1000 men
Song status of Women
It was known as the time where the status of women declined.
They would only gain respect if they gave birth to a son
Compared to tang times women were less active in politics and less seen on the streets
women's right to property were relatively secure in the song times
Song Social Classes
Was marked by Political and legal reforms
there was four social classes
The Shi were scholars
the nong were peasant farmers
the gong were artisans and craftsmen
the shang were merchants
Tang status of women
Women were accorded with ore respect and power
Women were even allowed to take treligions orders and become priestesses
were encouraged to exert their influence in politics, arts and managing property
also given rights to defend themselves in court
Tang social classes
Attitude towards women was more liberal than was previously found
there was 8 different classes
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