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Tang and Song Dynasty. Sui (sway) Dynasty -- 581-618. Constructed Grand Canal 1,000 miles, connects the Yellow and Yangtze rivers Provided vital trade route between north and south Established a professional army P eople were overworked and overtaxed
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Sui (sway) Dynasty -- 581-618 • Constructed Grand Canal • 1,000 miles, connects the Yellow and Yangtze rivers • Provided vital trade route between north and south • Established a professional army • People were overworked and overtaxed • Eventually revolt and overthrow government Sui Wendi, first emperor of Sui Dynasty
Tang Dynasty -- 618-906 • Central government strengthened • Restored bureaucracy; • Empire expanded • Regained lands lost after the decline of the Han dynasty • Expanded roads and canals • Redistributed land from the wealthy to the peasants • Lowered taxes • Promoted foreign trade • Agricultural Improvements
Empress Wu Zhao (woo jow) • Only female empress to rule China alone • Construction of new irrigation system • Oversaw expansion to Korea • Buddhism was the favored state religion
Song (Sung) Dynasty -- 960-1279 • Song Taizugains control; empire is smaller than Tang • Cities experienced growth; China became the most populous country in the world. • China remains stable, powerful, and prosperous • Northern invaders force Song to move south • Experience rapid economic growth
Tang and Song Society • New “Gentry” society attained status through education and civil service positions • Replaced nobles as upper class • Status of women declined • Women’s work at home and on farms is viewed as less important
Foot binding in Tang China • Customary for upper class girls • Sign of social status
Tang and Song Science and Technology • Printing (movable type) • Gunpowder • Paper money • Porcelain • Mechanical clock • Magnetic Compass makes China a great sea power • New mathematical ideas
Rice cultivation • Fast growing rice imported from Vietnam to support rapidly growing population
Trade & Foreign Contacts • Imperial armies guarded Silk Roads • Expansion of sea trade • Chinese culture spread through trade & travel • Buddhism • Incoming ideas and goods: • Tea • Islam, some Christianity
Golden Age of Art • Prosperity stimulated high level of creativity • Produced great poetry • Painting • Daoist influence (nature)