Today we did presentations.
Tang Dynasty-
- Accomplishments-
- China achieved the peak of civilization and became the center of trade.
- The study of medicine- conducted a study on diabetes and discovered the source.
- The study of complex chemicals- created gunpowder and air-conditioning.
- The study of Law and Math- achievement in the field of education. Marked a huge contribution for economic growth and stability of building a strong foundation for China.
- 618-907 A.D.
- Key Players-
- Li Yuan- Known as Taiyun Gong- a chancellor of the Sui Dynasty who rose in rebellion.
- Li Shimin- The 2nd son of Li Yuan- powerful ruler good at both military strategy and Chinese calligraphy.
- Li Zhi- The 9th son of Li Shimin- considered a weak ruler because he was assisted by Empress Wu Zetian for most of his reign.
- Before Tang Dynasty-
- The Sui Dynasty ruled from the years 581-618.
- It was the last dynasty before the Tang.
- It fell because it went in to chaos due to tyranny of Emperor Yang.
- Fall of the Tang Dynasty-
- Difficult for people to make a living.
- People began to rebel.
- Huang Chao led an army of 100,000 soldiers.
- Huang Chao declared himself emperor.
- Rebellion lasted for a decade – 875-884 A.D.
- Rebellion was defeated by the Tang- never really recovered.
- Huang surrendered to Tang forces- caused a rapid military promotion.
- After about 300 years in power, the dynasty ended.
- Zhu Wen took the throne for himself and renamed the Tang Dynasty to the Liang Dynasty.
- Where is the Tang Dynasty –
- Imperial Dynasty of China.
- Capital is at Chang’an China.
Science, Poetry, Technology, and Arts-
- Science Tang-
- Monk Yixing- the first to successfully measure the length of the meridian line.
- Sun Simiao- the medicine king wrote a medical book – Qianjin Fang- Thousand Golden Prescriptions.
- Yi Xing- led a national project to observe, identify and locate stars.
- Science Song-
- Acupuncture- A system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin or tissues with needle, used to lessen pain.
- Shen Kuo- the first to discover magnetic declination of true north while experimenting with a compass.
- Astronomer Yang Zhongfu- made the system of astronomical calendar and took 365.2425 days as one year.
- Poetry Tang-
- About 50,000 poems.
- Poetry was very important in the Tang Dynasty.
- Professional and social life of the literate class.
- Imperial examination- government jobs.
- Still very influential.
- Poetry Song-
- New form of poem called the ci lyric.
- Ci lyric- new lyric to the rhythm of a pre-existing song.
- Titled as “To the tine of…”
- Usually expressed feelings of desire.
- Technology Song-
- Movable type printing helped the spread of woodblock printing to teach Confucian students.
- During the 13th century the windmill started to be used throughout China.
- Paper printed money was another advancement of currency during the Song Dynasty.
- Advancements in agriculture like new developments of rice cultivation- harvesting.
- Iron production increased almost six fold from 800-1078 C.E.
- Technology Tang-
- First clock escapement mechanism- called the astronomical clock- Yi Xing.
- Gunpowder- had no life threatening properties but exploded when exposed to fire.
- Air Conditioning- A cool hall was built in the palace- device called a Tang-Yulin functioned as an air conditioner- it had water powered fan wheels that moved the cold air about the hall.
- Art Tang-
- The tang period was considered the golden age of literature and art.
- Toward the beginning of the Tang Dynasty the most common painting was the landscape.
- Painting and calligraphy were viewed as some of the noble arts.
- Most of these paintings were put onto scrolls so they could be hung on walls.
- Shanshui- painting of the landscapes.
Weapons, Army, and Strategy-
- Song Dynasty rose after the Tang Dynasty fell in 906.
- Soldiers were drafted from the families of landowners, peasants, and court officials below the 6th rank of the social class.
- People had to provide their own clothing, weapons, and food.
- They began to serve at 21 years old, staying in the military until they reached 60 years old.
- Soldiers didn’t leave their land.
- In 749 the Fu military system was replaced by the mercenary system, which weakened the Tang military.
- Strategy Tang-
- They Tang used a Fu system of military which was very effective.
- There were 3 categories with a certain number of men in each one.- Upper Fu commanded 1,200 men, Middle Fu- 1,000 men, Lower Fu- 800 men.
- However, the Fubing (Fu) system was abandoned because it prevented agriculture.
- The economy depended on it.
- They they adopted a different system causing great loss in military dominance.
- Strategy Song-
- Military used like the U.S.
- Used flanks.
- Soldiers were rated on athletic ability and divided into companies, platoons, and a group of men called the cross bowers.
- Army Tang-
- 3 categories- upper, middle, lower Fu.
- Each Fu had- regiments, companies, and huos.
- Each huo contained 10 soldiers ranked by size.
- Army Song-
- A lot of generals did something and are now considered a god or a legendary leader for their contributions.
- Che Kung appeared in the villagers dreams who suffered from a plague and saved them.
- If a man had a successful career in the military he had a sure path to success in politics.
- The Du was basic combat unit in the army, smallest permanent unit – 100 men.
- Ranked by physical strength and courage.
- Split in to 2 Xian Bing the local provincial forces and the Jin Bing which formed the Imperial Army.
- Weapons Tang-
- For hand to hand combat they used spikes also known as spears and swords.
- For long range weapons they used the throwing dagger and the bow and arrow.
- The Tang wore armor made out of plates of iron and they used shields.
- Weapon Song-
- The Song discovered gunpowder and this gave them a big advantage in their battles.
- They could now have explosives and guns.
- Landmines, booby traps, gunpowder propelled rockets.
Agriculture and Trade-
- Song Dynasty Trade-
- Silk Road was very important for trade with the west.
- There was also vigorous sea trade with Korea, Japan, and lands to the south and southwest.
- The major port of Quanzhou dominated trading for the Song Dynasty.
- During Song time’s maritime trade for the 1st exceeded overland foreign trade.
- Trade between the Song Dynasty and its northern neighbors was stimulated by the payments Song made to them.
- The Song Dynasty set up supervised markets along the border to encourage this trade.
- Chinese goods that flowed north in large quantities included- tes, silk, copper coins- widely used as a currency outside of China, paper, and printed books, porcelain, lacquer ware.
- The return flow included some of the silver that had originated with the Song and the horses that Song desperately needed for its armies, other animals like camels, and sheep.
- Song Dynasty Ag.
- Agriculture as the basis of the national economy of China experienced considerable improvements during this dynasty.
- There was a shortage non- farmable field, and every inch of soil in mountainous regions had to be opened for agriculture.
- In these steep hills, the famous terrace fields improved substantially.
- Agrarian tools and irrigation technique improved.
- Iron harrow, hay cutters, sickles were forged with improved standards, and water wheels driven by human or animal power were common.
- Improved techniques of plowing, fertilizing, and weeding lead to an increase in ag output.
- Especially in the lower Yangtze region where at least 2 harvests could be obtained in a year.
- Wheat and beans were imported form the northern region and rice was cultivated in the north were possible.
- Watermelons became popular.
- Tang Dynasty Trade-
- The Silk Road was the most important per-modern Eurasian trade route.
- Silk was a very valuable item that they traded away.
- The Islamic world coveted and purchased in bulk Chinese goods- silks, lacquer wares and porcelain wares.
- Handicraft, commerce, technologies for textile manufacturing and dying, porcelain making, smelting, and printing developed, and land and water transportation greatly improved.
- The currency is the same as the Song Dynasty currency.
- With a friendly foreign policy and use of the Silk Road, trade with more than 70 countries flourished, which also brought foreigners with new technologies and ides, such as astronomy, and math.
- The Tang capital of Chang’an became the most populated and wealthiest city in the world at the time.
- Through trade, Tang developed strong ties with many countries.
- Tang Dynasty Agriculture-
- A system of equal land allotments to the male population increased agriculture production that was the backbone of a prosperous farming civilization.
- Taxes on the allotments were the Tang’s greatest source of income, and increase the gov. wealth and strength.
- The Tang Dynasty powerful army was composed of volunteer famer-soldiers, and helped the Tang extend its control beyond traditional China proper through several successful expeditions.
- The Tang Dynasty made great advances in ag- digging underground well for better irrigation and made a very light weight pump used to take water to farm land far from water sources
- Rice, ripened quickly so China was able to hold such a large production with these small inventions.
Accomplishments of the Song Dynasty-
- Northern/Southern Split-
- The Northern Song was destroyed by the Jin in 1127.
- The Southern Song was set up by Zhao Gou, son of the last emperor of the Northern Song.
- Zhao Gou escaped being captured by the Jin in 1127 and fled to Nanjing Yingtianfu.
- Nanjing was the 1st capital city of the Southern Song.
- Key Players-
- General Zhao Kuangyin-
- Served in army of Zhou Dynasty and then founded the Northern Song.
- Elected emperor after that
- Got rid of the emperor of the Zhou and established the Song Dynasty.
- Took the title of Taizu.
- Built a centralized and efficient civilian bureaucracy.
- Emperor Taizong-
- He followed Tauizu as emperor.
- Son of Tauizu.
- Unified all of China for the Song.
- Rebuilt China.
- Restored devastated lands.
- China began to grow strong again under his power.
- Population started to increase.
- Wang Anshi-
- He was prime minister in 1069.
- Made reform designed to help the common people.
- Expanded use of money.
- Broke up private monopolies.
- Introduced some forms of government regulation and social welfare.
- Land reforms also.
- Yu Fei-
- During the 1130’s general Yu Fei waged war on the Jin.
- He had many victories.
- He was an awesome general.
- He was executed though because of the traitor, Qin Hui.
- Hui persuaded the emperor that a peace treaty was much better than war. Killed Yu Fei.
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