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-
First government 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
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 where 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-Destroyed the southern states slowly unifying the south
Emperor Taizong-Unified all of China for the Song, rebuilt China, restoring lands to agricultural production and settling the army to work rebuilding the country's infrastructure
Wang Anshi- A prime minister, helped reform the lower class by giving them land and the upper class didn't like this. was also the first time they used gunpowder in wars
Weapons, armor, and Tactics-
Tang weaponry-
Pikes (hand held)
Swords
Throwing dagger
Bow and arrow
Tang armor-
Shan wen Kai mountain pattern armour
Made up of a multitude of small pieces of steel
It covers up your torso your thighs and your shoulders
It's comfortable and flexible so they could move
Tang Tactics-
The tang's liked to come up from behind their enemy and take them out so the enemy is scared
almost all of the generals that were in the tang military were very good at tactics
Song weaponry-
Some of the first uses of gunpowder
firelance-cross between a flamethrower and a gun
Used a single cylinder piston system to pump fluid ignited by the gunpowder
firelance also shot shrapnel
Trebuchets
grenades and land mines
swords and daggers
first documented use of a canon
quality was controlled by a bureau called teh Directorate of Weaponry
Song Armor
shields
horses were armored
made from hide of rhino
Shan Wen Kai (mountain pattern armor)
small pieces of metal interlocked and riveted to cloth or leather backing
covers shoulders, torso and thighs
Song Tactics
viewed military training and tactics as a science
soldiers were tested in use of weapons and athletic ability
platoon 50 men, company 2 platoons, battalion 500 men
1 million men-made up army
crossbowmen units were very effective against cavalry and war elephants also used as long-range snipers
armories manufactured enourmous amounts of weapons each year
very large navy, some could caryy up to 1000 soldiers
Tang-Song Social classes and status of Women
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 political and less seen on the streets
womens' rights 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 "scholars"
the nong "peasant farmers"
the gong "artisans and craftsmen"
the shang "merchants"
Tang Status of Women
women were accorded with more respect and power
women were even allowed to take religious orders and become pristesses
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
Marco Polo-Marco Polo
Doodle Jump
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