December 7, 2012

Tang and Song Weaponry and Army

Tang Military
- very strong
- militia involved
- fubing system- local milita system that could be mobilized quickly
- units called Zhechongfu
- each was divided into sub-units: tuan, dui, huo
- centralized military didn't last- broke down when generals became dominant
Tang Weapons
- offense
  - throwing dagger
  - bow
  - sword
- defense
  - armor made of iron
  - shield
Song Methods of Warfare
- chiefly organized so the army couldn't threaten imperial control
- imperial army divided among 3 marshals, each responsible to the emperor
- strategies and training were treated as science to be studied and perfected
Song Weapons
- knife chariot
- repeating crossbow
- catapults with fireballs
Song People
- Zhao Kuangyin founded North Song Dynasty
  - military leader
- Zhao Gou founded South Song Dynasty
  - founded this after jin conquered north

Agriculture and Trade

Tang Agriculture
- made great advancements
  - underground wells
  - lightweight pump
- each peasant was given equal amounts of land under The Equal Land System
New Agriculture Techniques
- heavy iron plow
- harnessed oxen and water buffalo
- enriched soil with manure and compost
- expanded food supply
- improved irrigation systems
Tang Trade
- period of expansion in trading with foreign lands
- traveled as far as Syria
- glassware, tapestries, jazmine, exotic herbs
- silk trade in Tang Dynasty was prospering and reached an unprecedented level
- used the silk road
- expanded the Grand Canal
- used coins as currency
Song Agriculture
- rice improved
- peasants grew two to three crops annually with early ripening rice
- tools were being better developed
Importance?
- China was growing fast and food (rice) was needed
- song dynasty twice the size of tang- 100 million people
Song Trade
- trade to the north stimulated by song's payments to them
- exports like silk, porcelain, tea
- song set up markets along the border to encourage trade
- goods that flowed north- silk, tea, copper coins, jewelry, spices
- used china's rivers to ship goods like gunpowder
- trade grew in song and tang so much that copper coins were in shortage
- this led to the invention of paper money

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