Tang and Song China

Madnick/Global History 9

China

Korea

Japan

Vietnam

Historical BackgroundAfro Eurasian trade routes were firmly established in the Post Classical Age.

1. Where were Afro Eurasian trade routes?– Silk Road --China to Europe– Gold Road -across North Africa/Sahara Desert– Indian Ocean routes– Mediterranean Sea routes– South China Sea routes

Gold

Road

Silk Road

Mediterranean Sea Routes

Indian Ocean Routes

East China Sea Routes

Historical Background

2. What effect did Afro Eurasian trade routes have?• Massive cross regional contact in Afro Eurasia, 500-1250• Ideas & technology diffused in all directions • We still use ideas and technology today

China: Tang and Song Dynasties

• Tang Dynasty, 618-907• Song Dynasty, 960-1127• Both had major achievements which diffused

along trade routes• Both effected Japan, Korea, Vietnam,

Europe….. AND THE WORLD

Tang Dynasty Achievements1. Block Printing• Letters carved on wooden boards, covered

with ink, & printed on paper• Replaced word of mouth and handwritten books • 868- first printed book was made in China

(Buddhist teachings)

• Effect: ideas spread quickly b/c books were printed quickly• Printing technology spread to Japan, Korea, Vietnam

Tang Dynasty Achievements

2. Gunpowder• Combination of charcoal, sulfur, saltpeter• Used for fireworks/ celebrations/ parades

• Effect: potential for new weapons of war

Tang Dynasty Achievements3. “The Three Teachings”a. Confucianism--code of social behavior started by Confucius, 400

BCEb. Daoism—philosophy that says happiness comes from accepting the

world as it is, 500BCEc. Buddhism—belief system from India, 100 CE --human suffering ends when a person

achieves enlightenment Effect: Buddhism spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

Song Dynasty Achievements

1. Moveable type• Separate letters carved into clay blocks and baked

covered with ink, & printed on paper

Effect: quicker way to print books printing tech diffused to Japan, Korea, and

Vietnam Paper and printing reached Europe by 1100

Song Dynasty Achievements

2. Gunpowder• Used for warfare in Song Dynasty• New weapons: grenades, bombs, canons, flame

throwers

Effect: • China dominated Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with

superior weapons• nature of warfare changed: “whoever has guns wins”

Song Dynasty Achievements

3. Porcelain• Pottery that is almost unbreakable• White China clay (eastern China) fired at 1200

degrees• Rose to high art form in Song

Effect: expensive art that was highly prized in Asia&Europe - became a symbol of wealth, especially in WE

Tang and Song, the big picture…

• Chinese achievements & belief systems spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam along established trade routes

• For centuries, China was the dominant culture in East Asia

• Chinese achievements spread to European culture during the Middle Ages