Sui China Tang Song China Golden Ages Two

Sui China

Tang & Song China Golden Ages

Two Great Dynasties in China /During the Tang (618907) and Song (960 -1279) dynasties, China becomes the richest, powerful, and most advanced country in the world.

/Main Idea: /Tang and Song China experienced an era of prosperity and technological innovation. /Why it Matters Now: /Chinese inventions from this period, such as printing, gunpowder, and the compass, changed history.

/The Tang Dynasty World View: /west along the Silk Road /The Song Dynasty World View: /looks east towards the sea

Trade/Foreign Contacts /Silk Road /west; Tang Dynasty

Trade/Foreign Contacts /Silk Road /west; Tang Dynasty /east, Song Dynasty /ocean ships /Korea /Japan /India /Persian Gulf /east Africa

Agriculture /imported fastripening rice from Vietnam

Agriculture /imported fastripening rice from Vietnam /allowed two crops each season instead of one

Agriculture /imported fastripening rice from Vietnam /allowed two crops each season instead of one /fueled population increase

Science and Technology /mathematics flourished

Science and Technology /mathematics flourished /adopted the use of algebra and the concept of zero

Science and Technology /mathematics flourished /adopted the use of algebra and the concept of zero /invented movable type

Science and Technology /mathematics flourished /adopted the use of algebra and the concept of zero /invented movable type /developed gunpowder

Technology and Industry A typical junk ship from the Song Dynasty /Porcelain /Increase (“Chinaware”) of iron production due to use of coke, not coal, in furnaces /Agricultural tools, weaponry /Gunpowder invented /Earlier printing techniques refined /Moveable type by mid-11 th century /Yet complex Chinese ideographs make technique easier /Naval technology /compass wood block

Inventions of Tang and Song China

Golden Age of Art /wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement

Golden Age of Art /wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement /great poetry /Li Bo and Du Fu

Golden Age of Art /wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement /great poetry /Li Bo and Du Fu /Three-color ware was one of the greatest contributions of the Tang Dynasty

Golden Age of Art /wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement /great poetry /Li Bo and Du Fu /Three-color ware was one of the greatest contributions of the Tang Dynasty. /Many figurines, predominantly horses and camels, were produced.

/Most of these pieces have been found in the more affluent tombs of the Tang period

Dunhuang /Mahayana Buddhism especially popular at Dunhuang in western China (Gansu province), 6001000 CE /Cave temples /Buddhist temples, libraries /Economic success as converts donate land holdings /Increase popularity through donations of agricultural produce to the poor

Footbinding

The Tang and Song Dynasties Compared Tang Only Expanded the empire, had a female ruler, adopted Buddhism Both Prospered through trade, improved agriculture, created great art and literature Song Only Ruled smaller empire, developed into great sea power, created paper money and movable type