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Tang Dynasty in Imperial China - Rise and Fall of a Flourishing Era

Explore the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty in Imperial China, known for its wealth, power, and foreign contact. Discover the system of government, civil service exams, foreign relations, and the eventual Mongol invasion. Witness the mingling of cultures and China's transition to the Ming Dynasty.

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Tang Dynasty in Imperial China - Rise and Fall of a Flourishing Era

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  1. Imperial China

  2. Geography • About the same size as the United States • Mountains and deserts cover the land • 2 major rivers • Yellow River • Yangtze River • Climate goes from bitterly cold to hot and humid • Civilization began around the Yellow River and spread outward

  3. Review from 6th Grade Divided into periods ruled by dynasties 4 Dynasties: Shang – Worshipped Ancestors Zhou – Mandate from Heaven Qin – First Magnificent Emperor – legalist Han – Followed Confucius, lasted 400 years

  4. Divided China • Han Dynast falls in 220AD due to corrupt officials • China was broken into small separate kingdoms • China reunites under the Tang Dynasty • Lasts for 300 years

  5. Tang Dynasty 618-907 AD • Strengthened central government • Period of wealth and power • In order to control such a large country, there had to be a lot of people working for the government • Bureaucracy • Officials collected taxes, oversaw building and irrigation projects, enforced laws, and made sure the army had supplies

  6. Tang Capital • Chang’an – Population 2 million • Designed in the shape of a square • Two Markets on either side of the city • Great trade city • Known for pottery • Horses and camels

  7. Quickwrite Government jobs often come with a lot of power and are well paid. During ancient times they were also very corrupt. How can governments make sure they hire the best people for the positions?

  8. Foreign Contact Under Tang • 618-907 AD • Welcomed contact with foreigners • Trade along the Silk Road and from camel caravans brought new ideas goods and fashions to China • China Traded: Silk, paper, porcelain, iron and jade • Received: Cotton, perfume, spices, and horses • New foods like peas and spinach were introduced • Upper classes enjoyed the new wealth and goods from foreign lands

  9. Changing Attitudes • Toward the end of the Tang Dynasty foreigners became less welcomed • Wealth of Buddhist monasteries made people angry • they did not have to pay taxes and had lots of money • Tang government takes over Buddhist properties • Monks and nuns were forced to give up their way of life • Temples and shrines were destroyed • Buddhist statues were melted down and the metal given to the government

  10. Exams? • Early on, emperors chose aristocrats to fill high level jobs • Hired based on who your father was, what family you married into, or someone else’s recommendations • Civil Service Exams • Opened to everyone but… • Geared toward the wealthy who could afford the books to study

  11. Song Dynasty • Meritocracy – • Officials got jobs based on merit (or ability) • Civil service exams were opened to more people • State run schools and universities for lower classes • Exams had questions about political and social problems as well as essay and poetry writing parts

  12. Exams based on Confucianism • People should respect their elders • Elders should act kindly, wisely, and honestly to set an example for those below them • Only a small percentage passed the exams • Had to move far away from their hometown so they couldn’t play favorites • Didn’t have to pay taxes or be in the military

  13. Mongols invade! • A group called Mongols from the north captured the capital of China • Kublai Khan took the title of emperor and his dynasty ruled for 100 years. • Ended civil exam program • Chose other Mongols and family members to have government positions • Many Mongols couldn’t read and there were not enough of them to fill the positions

  14. Foreign Contact Under Mongols • Developed and improved maritime trade • From India: Pearls and diamonds • Encouraged cultural exchange • Set up rests stops along the Silk Road every 20 miles • Christian missionaries increased but made few converts • Persians brought advanced knowledge in math, astronomy and medicine • Europeans learned about gunpowder

  15. Continued • Foreign merchants were respected and did not have to pay taxes • Received better treatments and fair laws than the native Chinese • Native Chinese begin to resent foreigners and Mongols • Work on the Great Wall stopped • No one left to keep out

  16. Ming • Mongols make so many enemies of the native Chinese that the people rebel • Chinese set up their own government called the Ming Dynasty • Rules for 300 years • Reestablish the exam system • Continued in the 17th century

  17. Foreign Contact Under Ming • Believed China to be the oldest, largest, most civilized, and most important country in the world • Other nations should pay tribute because of this • Wanted to find many tributes • Sent explorers to show off China’s power and collect gifts • Many tributaries • Had to submit to China • China provided military help and allowed trade with them

  18. Turning Inward • Fighting Mongol invasions • Wanted to protect Chinese from foreign influences • Travel outside China Forbidden • Contact with foreigners had to be approved by the government • Move back toward traditional values • Eventually the government became to stiff to change and fell in 1644 after a rebellion

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