-
Nov 17, 627
Tang Taizong
Emperor Tang Taizong was the Tang dynasty's second emperor. He was an ambitious and ruthless ruler who rised to the throne by killing 2 of his brothers and pushing his father aside. Taizong built a capital at Chang'an . He saw himself as a Confucian ruler, in effect banditry ended during his reign and the prices on rice remained low. Tang experienced great succes during Taizong's rule. He built good transportation and communication networks, equal distrubution of land, and educated bureaucracy. -
Nov 18, 700
Military Expansion
Tang forces brought Manchuria under their authority and forced the kingdom of Silla to treat the Tang emperor as their overlord. Tang army also conquered the northern part of Vietnam along with a portion of the Tibetan plateau. They extended as far as the Aral sea to the west and became one of the largest dynasty's. -
Nov 18, 755
An Lushan rebellion
While the emperor of Tang was preocuppied and neglected public affairs, An Lushan, one of the dynasty's military commanders, mounted a rebelion and captured the capital at Chang'an. Also the other capital at Luoyang. -
Nov 18, 757
An Lushan's Murder
His rebellion was very shortly lived because he was murdered by a soldier who was against him. -
Nov 18, 1010
The Khitan
Nomadic people flourished along China's northern borders throughout the Song dynasty. A group of seminomadic people from Manchuria, the Khitan, ruled an empire that extended from northern Korea to Mongolia. They demanded tribute payments from the Song state like silk and silver. -
Nov 18, 1200
Jurchen Invasion
The Jurchen conquered Khitan, overran northern China and captured it's wealth, captured Song capital at Kaifeng, and finally, established the Jin empire. In effect, the Song had to move it's capital to Hangzhou. -
-
Equal-Field System
Governed allocation of agricultural land and led to prosperity and stability. It ensured equitable distribution of land, avoided concentration of landed property, and avoided problems between social classes. It gave land to families based on land fertility and the peoples needs. In the 800's the system encounters problems because big population creates pressure on available land, and favors and bribery from influential people who got redistributed land. -
Song Taizu
Song Taizu began as a military officer who served powerful warlords. He was considered honorable and effective and he consolidated Song control throughout China while claiming himself as emperor. He persuaded generals to retire so they could not displace him. Also, he organized a central administration in which military forces were under strict supervisions. Taizu created opportunities for people to seel Confucian education. -
Huang Chao uprising
Uprising by military commander Huang Chao which contributed to the Tang's decline. It reflected popular discontent amongst people because it pillaged the wealthy and gave land to the por. In effect, regional military commanders got more power and the last Tang emperor abdicated his throne. -
Period: to
Tang Dynasty
Tang Taizong, a rebel leader, seized Chang'an and proclaimed himself emperor of the new Tang dynasty. This ambitious ruler brought success to Tang dynasty with his good transportation networks, equal distribution of land, and bureaucracy based on merit. Military expansion made it the largest dynasty in Chinese history, Tributary relationships with neighboring lands fostered trade. The dynasty survived for almost 300 years, until it weakened because of rebellions and emperor abdicated throne. -
Period: to Nov 17, 1279
Song Dynasty
The Song dynasty reimposed centralized imperial rule in China. It never built a powerful state because Song rulers mistrusted political leaders and they focused more on civil administration, industry, education, and art. Song Taizu was the first emperor. He imposed centralized imperial rule which caused two problems: financial and military. This and invasion of Mongol forces eventually led to the decline of the dynasty.
