What major changes in political structures, and social and economic life, occurred during each of the following?
The Sui dynasty
The Tang dynasty
The Song dynasty
HS150.3.1 World Civilizations I
Assignment 06,
The Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties
In the world civilizations, China has its own long and mysterious of ancient civilization of almost 5000 years. As same as Roman and Persian empire, China also left the value of their culture and religion in a great country which we can see in today's life. China has produced many emperors who have devoted their life for the development and enrichment of their country. Such as the great philosopher Confucius, emperor Li Shimin of Tang dynasty and the great patriotic poets Qu Yuan. According to the long history, the first dynasty of China is Xia dynasty and the first emperor of China was Qin Shi Huang of Qin dynasty. Shang dynasty ruled over long period of time in China (571 years). The last dynasty who ruled in China was Qing dynasty. There are some dynasties whose contribute for their country was much more effective during their period and they were Sui, Tang and Song dynasties.
The Sui dynasty ruled for 38 years started from 581 to 618 in China. The founder of Sui dynasty was Yang Jian or Sui Wendi. Yang Jian was the one man who ruled all of China for the first time in centuries. In his regime, the major changes that occurred were increase of agricultural productivity and diminish the social gap between the rich and poor people in a society. He also devised the civil service system and centralized the power of government. Yang Jian spread the Buddhism in his country. He built one of the world's greatest city called Chang'an which was the capital city of his empire. He started the construction of the Grand waterway Canal for the prosperity of the agriculture. Yang Jian was poisoned by his own son Yangdi. After the death of Yang Jian, his son Yangdi took over the throne. Yangdi completed the Grand Canal which was started by his father. He rebuild the Great Wall. In his regime, Yangdi started the examination system bureaucrats at the recruitment of the government officers. He also restored the Confucian education in his country. By supporting educational forms, Yangdi didn't get a support from nomads. He expended his money in an expensive construction works. He lost the public support by imposing harsh taxes, his luxury expenses and by sacrificing millions of laborers. He ruined the economy of his country. In 618, he was murdered by his minister Li Yuan. After the death of Yangdi, Li Yuan declared the end of the Sui dynasty and himself as a emperor of China and a new foundation dynasty called Tang.
In china, the Tang dynasty ruled for a long time started from 618 to 907 for 289 years. It was founded by Li family after the end of the Sui dynasty. Tang dynasty enhanced their empire's borders and influence and it was the one of the greatest historic period in the history of China. The most capable emperor of Tang's dynasty was duke's son Li Shimin. The major changes that occurred in this dynasty were the raise of military strength, influence of Buddhism, improvement of civil service by investigation, founded a Bureau of Censors, increase the importance of Chinese literature and Confucian classics, wise governing and set up an international trade in a country. Tang dynasty reached the advance or modern level of changes in politics, economy and culture. Chinese creativity poetry and sculpture development took the highest point in this era. Li Zhu was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty who fought against An Lushan, the emperor of Yan. In 907, Tang dynasty came to an end when border troubles began with the nomadic people in the north called Khitan.
In reuniting China, the Song dynasty was established in 960 and ruled until 1279 (319 years). The founder of Song dynasty was Zhao Kuangyin. In China, Song dynasty lost their northern part with Jurchens in 1127 and after that they ruled in southern part only. They ruled only half of the country but it was probably the most prosperous place on earth in that era. Although this dynasty reduced its size and power but the development of technologies, cities, agriculture and business were in advanced level. The major changes that took place during the regime of Song dynasty were upgraded the Confucian civil service, managed and centralized control over the military force, standardized the civil service exam, stopped the conflicts between civil servants and court eunuchs, reduced the influence of local nobles and warlords, increased the revenue of the farmers, established price controls and government monopolies and engaged the government in business. They used to buy the product in one place and sell them in another place with a lot of profit. The Song dynasty fostered the Chinese commercial revolution. By involving the government in commerce, this dynasty developed the country by exporting domestic manufactured products from the advanced technology and transportation. The government had a enough capital for the growth of the country. Despite of its huge capital or wealth, the Song dynasty was betrayed by Jurchens and could not face the great challenge of the Mongol conquest and collapsed in 1279.
China has given birth to the great emperors in the history who has sacrificed and contributed a lot of things for the welfare of their peoples and their country. The Great Wall of China is the great example that how much they loved and tried to protect their land. The Great Wall was started to build during the empire of Qin dynasty to defend against the northern nomadic tribes and other potential enemies and continued until in the empire of Ming dynasty to keep safe from outsiders. China is also rich in old sculpture, Buddha stupas, monasteries and pagodas which was build in ancient times. China has its own culture, tradition and religion which was followed by generation to generation until this day.
References
Edward H. Judge & John W. Langdon (2012). Connections: A World History (2nd Ed.). New York: Pearson.
Sterling Seagrave (1986). Soong Dynasty. New York: Harper Perennial.
Mark Edward Lewis (2012). China's Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty (History of Imperial China). Cambridge: Belknap Press.
Arthur Wright (1978). The Sui Dynasty (1st Ed.). New York: Knopf.
