MOON AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Home
European History
What is History?
Europe in the Middle Ages
Renaissance and Reformation
The Age of Exploration
Crisis and Absolutism
Revolution and Enlightenment
French Revolution and Napoleon
Industrial Revolution and Nationalism
World Cultures
Geography
Middle East
South Asia
East Asia
Pacific Nations
Chapter PDF's
Final Review Page
CWH Syllabus
Song (Sung) Dynasty 960-1279
Song Overview
prosperous economy/ trade along Silk Road
radiant culture with goods and entertainment from all over the world
Most urban Chinese culture
Beginning of modern China
Strongest empire in the world at this time
Spread influence of culture to other Asian countries
SONG Politics
effective centralized bureaucracy
Elite families important locally
Official must pass the Civil Service Exam
the mercantile class grew in power as they became wealthy
SONG Economics
Agriculture improved = more food
paper currency used regularly
private trade grew, and a market economy began to link the coastal provinces and the interior.
Much trade along Silk Road, Grand Canal and coastal regions of China and SE Asia
Song Grain Mill
SONG Religion
Confucianism remains the most important official philosophy
Neo-Confucianism added metaphysical answers to many Buddhist questions
Buddhism continued
Taoism also
Ancestor worship
SONG Social Life
Poor farmers’ remain the same as always; women still oppressed
City life improves with better food, music, art, and great entertainment
Many opportunities for travel
Education increases in the city
House and architecture improve
SONG Intellectual Life
magnetic compass and calculator (the abacus) invented
Education improved since schools were abundant.
Woodblock printing made books more widely available.
Confucian scholars were
respected
Military was not respected
SONG Art
monumental landscape painting
often done in a watercolor/ink wash style
Great poetry continues
Fall of the Song
Heavy dependence on growth of civilian government at expense of military
By 1127, the Song court could not push back the Northern nomadic invaders
Cut the size of the Song about in half
Coming of the Mongols (Yuan Dynasty)
Empire fell because they stopped emphasizing military and relied on wealth
Often hired N. tribes to defend China
Corruption in govt lost confidence of the peasants and the peasants did not support the Song government enough when the Mongols invaded
Chinese Dynasties
Shang
Zhou
Warring States Period
Qin
Han
Sui
Tang
Song
Yuan (Mongol)
Ming
Qing
Home
European History
What is History?
Europe in the Middle Ages
Renaissance and Reformation
The Age of Exploration
Crisis and Absolutism
Revolution and Enlightenment
French Revolution and Napoleon
Industrial Revolution and Nationalism
World Cultures
Geography
Middle East
South Asia
East Asia
Pacific Nations
Chapter PDF's
Final Review Page
CWH Syllabus