TWO GREAT DYNASTIES IN CHINATWO GREAT DYNASTIES IN CHINA

The magnetic compass can help sailors navigate the open sea.

Paper is relatively inexpensive and easy to produce surface for writing and printing

Gunpowder can be used for fireworks or made into explosive weapons

Silk makes a luxurious cloth-soft to the touch but also strong and warm

Imagine it is the year 1292. You have spent the last 17 years traveling around the most advanced country in the world-China. The civilization you come from is on the other side of the world. It too is very sophisticated, but it lacks many of the innovations you have seen on your travels. During your stay in China you were a great assistant to the emperor. As a going away present, he wants you to choose one of the inventions shown here to take back to your own society. After choosing you will receive the knowledge of how to create it.

Which one Chinese invention would you take back to your society? Why?

1. Which item would be most useful to a society that currently has none of the items?

2. Which would most improve the quality of life?3. Which might be the most profitable?4. What benefits and drawbacks might there be to

introducing the time into your society?

TANG DYNASTY

The Tang Dynasty (618-907)The Tang Dynasty (618-907)

•Tang Taizong armies reconquered Tang Taizong armies reconquered northern and western lands northern and western lands

•Expanded roads and canals to help bring Expanded roads and canals to help bring the empire togetherthe empire together

•Reopened the Silk roadReopened the Silk road

•Lowered taxes and took land from Lowered taxes and took land from wealthy to make peasants happy so they wealthy to make peasants happy so they didn’t rebeldidn’t rebel

CHINESE BUREAUCRACY

•CIVIL SERVANTS WERE THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE EMPEROR’S GOVERNMENT

•MOSTLY THE WEALTHY BECAME CIVIL SERVANTS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO COULD AFFORD THE PRIVATE EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS

•AS A RESULT OF THE EXAMS, TALENT AND EDUCATION BECAME MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOBLE BIRTH

•CHINESE BUREAUCRACY WAS COMPOSED OF DEPARTMENTS, OR BUREAUS, EACH WITH ITS OWN SPECIFIC AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

THE TANG LOSE POWERTHE TANG LOSE POWER

•TO PAY FOR MILITARY EXPANSION, LEADERS RAISED TAXES WHICH BROUGHT MANY HARDSHIPS TO THE PEOPLE

•COULD NOT CONTROL THE HUGE EMPIRE THEY HAD BUILT

•BORDER ATTACKS AND REBELLIONS EVENTUALLY LED TO TANG DECLINE

THE SONG DYNASTY

THE SONG DYNASTY RESTORES CHINA

•SONG TAIZU REUNITED CHINA AFTER THE TANG LOSE POWER

•DRIVEN SOUTH BECAUSE OF INVADERS IN THE NORTH

•MANY GREW RICH BECAUSE OF TRADE WITH CHINESE IN NORTH, NOMADS OF CENTRAL ASIA, AND PEOPLE OF WESTERN ASIA AND EUROPE

New Inventions

•PORCELAIN•MECHANICAL CLOCK•PRINTING-movable type•GUNPOWDER•PAPER MONEY•MAGNETIC COMPASS•FAST -RIPENING RICE FROM VIETNAM

AN ERA OF PROSPERITY & INNOVATION

CHANGES IN CHINESE SOCIETY

•MANY MOVED TO CITIES TO BECOME MANAGERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND SKILLED WORKERS

•OLD ARISTOCRATIC POWER FADED

LEVELS•GENTRY-SCHOLAR OFFICIALS AND THEIR FAMILIES

•ATTAINED THEIR STATUS THROUGHT EDUCATION AND CIVIL SERVICE

•MIDDLE CLASS-MERCHANTS, SHOPKEEPERS, SKILLED ARTISANS, MINOR OFFICIALS

•BOTTOM OF SOCIETY-LABORORS, SOLDIERS, SERVANTS

long fingernails showed that you did not do any

manual labor

STATUS OF WOMEN•UPPER CLASS WOMEN’S STATUS DECLINED, WORK DEEMED LESS IMPORTANT TO THE FAMILY’S PROSPERITY•PEASANT WOMEN WORKED IN FIELDS AND CONTRIBUTED TO FAMILY’S FOOD AND INCOME•FOOT BINDING-CRIPLED THEM FOR LIFE

•SHOWED WEALTH AND PRESTIGE OF HER HUSBAND WHO COULD AFFORD A BEAUTIFUL BUT IMPRATCIAL WIFE

Now that you have learned about Chinese inventions and have considered the impact they had, would you now choose a different invention from the one you choose at the beginning of the class? If so, what would you choose and why?