Han Dynasty fell Econ Collapsed Fighting destroyed farms

Han Dynasty fell, Econ. Collapsed. Fighting destroyed farms and cities. Poor harvests. Econ. Improved under Tang.

618 Tang gave farmers more land. Improved irrigation and crops. Grew tea. With improved food supply, population increased. .

Roads and waterways increased trade in China. Silk road reopened. Silk was in demand in the West. China traded tea, steel, paper and porcelain for gold/silver.

AD 600’s begin to use Coal for heat. Coal-heated furnaces used to melt Iron and carbon. This created steel. Used in swords, armor and tools.

Chinese Monks began woodblock printing in the 600’s. Printers would carve a woodblock for each page. . AD 100’s Pi Shung invented movable type. Each piece was a character and could be used over. 1024 Song print the first paper money.

Tang, gunpowder used in explosives and weapons. Fire lance was a gun like weapon. Built large ships with rudders and sails. 1150 perfected the magnetic compass.

Tang and Song were golden age of Culture.

Tang was an age of Poetry. Li Bo was a famous poet. Nature. Du Fu wrote about the poor and war.

Song – Artists painted landscapes. Often left empty spaces. People are portrayed small, nature was large. Tang – Artisans became skilled making Porcelain. Often called China - figures, vases, cups and plates.