China Flashcards
Why did the Tang dynasty decline?
Casual and careless leadership brought the dynasty to a crisis from which it never fully recovered.
Who mounted a rebellion that weakened the tang dynasty, and when.
An Lushan, 755 AD
Who was needed to help suppress An Lushan’s rebellion, and what were they like.
The Uighurs, a nomadic turkish people.
How did the Tang dynasty end?
- bureaucratic systems like the equal filed system and the tax system failed to meet dynastic needs.
- Imperial armies were unable to resist the encroachments of the turkish peoples.
- A series of rebellions devastated the countryside.
Who gradually became the effective rulers of China as the Tang dynasty came to an end, and why?
Military commanders, because the Tang emperors granted them more and more power in an effort to control rebellions.
When did the last tang emperor abdicate the throne?
907 AD
The Equal-Field system
Ensured equal distribution of land to avoid land being only in the hands of a few. Land was allotted to individuals and their families but was redistributed when the original recipients needs and circumstances changed.
Who ruled China between the Tang and Song dynasties
Warlords
Who reimposed centralized imperial rule on China.
The Song Dynasty
Was the song dynasty powerful. Why?
No, because they mistrusted military leaders and therefore military affairs took a backseat.
First song emperor
Song Taizu
How did song taizu consolidate military power
He convinced his generals to retire and organized a centralized administration that placed military forces under tight supervision.
What was the strength of the song rulers.
Developing a more advanced bureaucracy. They regarded all officials as servants of the government and rewarded them handsomely. They also expanded the bureaucracy based on merit.
What were the 2 problems of the Song dynasty.
- Their huge bureaucracy devoured China’s surplus production, and the more bureaucrats there were, the more resources they consumed. This placed a huge strain on the imperial treasury.
- Scholar-bureaucrats led Song armies and made military decisions but had no idea what they were doing. This led to China not being in control of their region in the same way that previous dynasties were.
Who demanded large payments of silk and silver from the Song.
The Khitan.
Who conquered the Khitan and northern China, capturing the Song capital, and setting up the Jin empire.
The nomadic Jurchen.
What was the Song dynasty that survived after the encroachment of the Jurchen called.
The Southern Song.
What happened to the Song dynasty after the establishment of the Jin empire.
They moved their capital from Kaifeng to Hangzhou and survived only in southern China.
In what area was the Song dynasty successful.
Economics. It transformed China into the economic powerhouse of Eurasia.
Agricultural progress during the Song dynasty.
Introduced a new strain of quick ripening Vietnamese rice. Used heavy iron plows and harnessed oxen and water buffaloes to prepare the land for cultivation. Enriched soil and created extensive irrigation systems.
What did agricultural progress during the Song dynasty lead to, and what did this lead to?
Surplus production, which led to a huge population boom and a lot of urbanization.
How did family structures change during the song dynasty.
They became more patriarchal, and more tightly knit. Veneration of one’s ancestors also became more important.
What was foot binding and what was its purpose.
It was when strips of cloth were wrapped around girls’ feet to prevent natural foot growth. It resulted in tiny, malformed feet. This was done to enhance the girl’s attractiveness, and make them easier to control, as they couldn’t walk properly.
What woman ruled China, and when.
Wu Zhao, from 626-706.
How did Wu Zhao hold on to power.
China was male dominated, so many wanted her gone, but Wu organized secret police to monitor dissident factions, punished those who stood in her way, and undercut aristocrats who threatened her rule.
What materials weres masterfully produced during the Tang and Song dynasties.
Porcelain, Iron, and Steel.
What new substance was invented during the Tang dynasty.
Gunpowder.
When did printing become common, and why was it important?
The Tang era, because it made texts able to be produced quickly, easily, and in huge quantities.
How did the Chinese travel across water. What did this lead to?
They sailed on advanced ships and navigated with compasses. This led to increased trade and dissemination of Chinese naval technology.
What stimulated China’s economy during the Tang and Song dynasties?
Increased agricultural production, improved transportation systems, population growth, urbanization, and industrial production.
What alternatives to cash were developed, and how did they work?
Letters of credit, which enabled someone to deposit cash or goods at one place and draw the equivalent at a different place in China. There were also promissory notes, and checks.
What were the problems with printed money, and what did they lead to?
Counterfeit notes and printing more money than value was actually possessed, which led to a partial loss of public confidence in paper money.
What foreigners came to trade in China, and how did they come?
Muslim merchants from the Abbasid empire and Byzantines came to China via the silk road. Persian, Indian, Malay, and Arab mariners got to China via the Indian Ocean and South China sea.
What did the Chinese export, and where did it go?
The Chinese exported silk, porcelain and lacquerware to Asia, India, Persia, and East Africa.
What did interactions with other peoples in Tang and Song China bring? How did it arrive in China?
The religion of Mahayana Buddhism. The silk road.
Why did Buddhism gain a following in China?
After the fall of the Han, Confucian traditions suffered a loss of credibility. In an age of warlords and invasions, the Confucian tradicion had failed.
What religions besides Buddhism established communities in China after the fall of the Han?
Nestorian Christians, Manichaeans, Zoroastrians, and Muslims.
How did Buddhism establish a foothold in China?
Missionaries, residents of oasis cities converting, and cave temples.
