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Period: Dec 2, 605 to Dec 2, 610
The Grand Canal
The building of the canal began in 486 B.C. during the Wu Dynasty. It was extended during the Qi Dynasty, and later by Emperor Yangdi of Sui Dynasty during six years of furious construction from 605-610 AD
The Grand Canal reached its hieght when the Song Dyansty used it to ship thousands of grain to northern China each year -
Period: Nov 30, 620 to
The Tang Dynasty
The tang created a system known as land reform, which had them brake up large agricultural areas and distribute it to peasants -
Dec 5, 1205
The Mongols
About 1200, the Mongols burst out of central Asia to conquer an empire streching across Asia and Europe. Mongols were nomadic people who graxed their sheeps and horses on steppes or treeless plains. -
Dec 5, 1205
The Mongol Army
Mongol armies conquered the Asian steppe lands with some ease, but as they turned on China, they encountered the problem of attacking wlled cities. Chinese and Turkish military experts taught them how to use cannons other weapons. -
Dec 5, 1209
Mongol Empire
A great Mongol leader took the name Genghis Khan meaning "Universal Ruler" and united the other tribes. They eventually had an empire that went from the Pacific Ocean to Easteren Europe. Genghis Khan was known for his fierceness and his army had the most skilled horseman in the world. -
Period: Dec 5, 1209 to Dec 5, 1300
Mongols Spreading across China
Genghis Khan did not live to complete the conquest of China. his heirs, however, continued to expand the Mongol empire. For the next 150 years, they dominated much Asia. their furious assaults toppled empires and spread destruction from southeren Russia through Muslim lands in Southwest Asia to China. Although Genghis Khan had subdued northeren China, the Mongols needed nearly 70 more years to conquer the south. His grandson Kublai Khan finally toppled the last Song emperor in 1279. -
Dec 5, 1230
The Yuan Dynasty
Under Mongol rule an uneasy mix of Chinese and foreign customs developed. Kublai Khan adopted a Chinese name for his dynasty, the Yuan. -
Period: Dec 5, 1271 to Dec 5, 1290
Marco Polo's China Experience
Marco Polo an Italian merchant visited China during the Yuan Dynasty. In 1271 Marco left Venice with his father & "uncle" cough*cough rapist. He spent 17 years in Kublai's service then returned to Vencie by sea. -
Tang Dynasty
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Tang Dynasty Falls
The Tang slowly declined. Other emperors lost terrritory in Central Asia, a rebel general otherthrew the last bit of order left. -
The Song Dynasty
Zhao Kuangyin reunited most of China and found the Song Dyanasty in 960. This Dynasty ruled for 319 years, which was a bit longer then the Tang. -
Technology
Gunpowder wsa introduced in 850 and was first used for fireworks, until it was later discovered as a good weapon. The Song used it to be the first known users of the cannon. -
Peasnants
Peasants had to deal with drought and faminie and the peasants who worked on the land usually lived off what they produced. Pesants in China relied on each other rather then the gov't. They had village leaders who settled disputes. In China peasants were able to work up the ranks through gov't service & education. Slaves exsited in much of early China, but didn't last long in the society. -
Gentry
The gentry class or wealthly landowing class were known for becoming part of the scholar-offical in the court. The Song gentry valued learning over labor and believed highly of Confucian practices. Schools of Confuician were created to help emphasize scholar beliefs -
Chinese Writing
Chinese writing was mainly about religion, history, philosophy and the most respected poetry. Li Bo was considered the greatest Chinese poet of his time. It's said that he died by drowning when he attemped to embrace the reflection of the moon in a lake. -
Period: to Dec 2, 1200
The Tang & Song Dyanasty
China became a well ordered-society under the Tang & Song Dynasties. At the top they had the emperor who had a court filled with aristocratic families. The court supervised a bureaucracy. Then there was China's two main social classes the gentry and the peasants. -
Period: to
Sui Wendi Dynasty
The Sui dynasty begins to crumble. So Li Yuan's 16yr old son told his father, Li, to start a revolt and overthrow the Sui dynasty. -
Period: to Dec 2, 1200
Song Dynasty Reign
Under the Song China's wealth and culture dominated most of East Aisa even though military wise they were inferior. Improved farming methods and open border policy was what really helped China's economy grow. The open border policy allowed farmers to make a faster growing rice.
