Chinese Dynasty Notes

Essential Questions

What were the two types of printing invented in China during this time?

How did the magnetic compass impact China?

Summarize the important events of Marco Polo’s life (think about the video).

China since the Han

Han collapsed in 220North: frequent

invasionsSouth: short-

lived dynastiesSui (589-618)Tang (618-907)Song (906-1279)

China’s Golden Age

Tang and Song dynastiesConquered territories into

Central AsiaGovernment

Restored civil serviceRevival of Confucianism

China’s Golden AgeEconomy:

Land redistributionImproved agricultureGrand Canal linked Huang

He and Yangzi RiversIncrease in foreign trade

China’s Golden AgeCreative arts

Literature and poetryPainting and calligraphyPerfected porcelain-makingBuddhist influence in sculpture and

architecture

Southern Song Events

1215 - Genghis Khan invades northern China

1260 - Kublai becomes Great Khan 1275 - Marco Polo reaches China

Chinese WomenWomen had always been subservient to menTheir role lowered even more during the Tang

and Song dynasties.Upper class would bind women’s feet together

produced a lily foot.

Chinese Dynasty Notes

Inventions of Tang and Song Dynasties

Porcelain

Late 700s Bone-hard, white ceramic made of a

special clay and a mineral found only in China

Became a valuable exportIs so associated with Chinese culture that

it is now called “china”

Mechanical clock

700s Clock in which machinery regulated the

movements Idea for mechanical clock was carried by

traders to medieval Europe

Printing

Block printing – 700sMovable type - 1040 Block printing – one block on which a whole

page is cutMovable type – individual characters

arranged in frames, used repeatedly Printing technology spread to Korea and

JapanMovable type also developed later in Europe

Gunpowder

800sExplosive powder made from mixture of

saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal First used for fireworks, then weaponsTechnology spread west within 300 years

Paper money

1020sPaper currency was issued by Song

government to replace strings of metal cash used by merchants

Contributed to development of large-scale commercial economy in China

Magnetic compass(for navigation)

1100s Floating magnetized needle that always

points north-south, adapted by sailors for use at sea

Helped China become a sea powerTechnology quickly spread west