CHINA DURING THE MIDDLE AGES
SUI (SWAY) DYNASTY 581-618
220 Han Dynasty came to an end - China fell into chaos and civil war.
Accomplishments
- Grand Canal - linking the Huang He and Yangtze Rivers completed by the 2nd Emperor Shi Yangdi
- improved shipping and north and south
- built by forced labor
- paid for with high taxes
- Shi Yangdi's harsh forced labor, high taxes, and lavish lifestyle caused a rebellion - he was assassinated
Tang (Tong) Dynasty 618-907
- instituted reforms:
- restored civil service exams
- tried to create a more stable economy by giving land to the peasants and breaking up the power of the owners of large estates
Accomplishments
- strong centralized government
- uniform legal system
- census every three years
- equal allocation system of land distribution to all eligible males in exchange for labor or military service 20 days of the year and a set amount of grain and cloth
- prosperous trade along the Silk Road
- religious tolerance (even Christianity for a time)
- invented the printing
- invented gun powder
- Decline
- government corruption, weakened, rebellions
- collapsed in 907
Song (Soong) Dynasty 960-1279
- education increased - more schools and libraries - a direct result of printing
- introduced paper money in 1204
- water-powered mechanical clocks
- developed rockets and multi-stage rockets
- magnetic compass perfected
- guns and cannons
- refined porcelain making
- population explosion due to increase in rice production
- improved sailing - stern-mounted rudders
- iron
Decline
- invaders from the North, the Mongols, eventually overtook the Song Dynasty and established a Mongol dynasty in China - Yuan Dynasty
581 Sui Dynasty was established, uniting China under the emperor's authority.
Economic Prosperity and Cultural Achievement