The Song Dynasty lasted from 960 to 1279 AD. It was divided into two periods which are the Northern Song lasts from 960 to 1127 AD and the Southern Song 1127 to 1279 AD. [1]
Northern Song [ 960-1127 AD ]
Southern Song [ 1127-1279 AD ]
The Rise to Power
The rise to power of the Song Dynasty started when the second ruler of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Shizong died. He made his six-year old son succeed his throne in 959. The soldier's are unstatisfied with this judgement and made a coup d'etat against the ruler and made General Zhou Kuangying (Emperor Taizu of Song) the new emperor in the following year. [2]
Emperor Taizu of Song, the founder of the Song Dynasty
Leaders of the Civilization
Emperor Taizu of Song [ Zhao Kuangyin ]Emperor Taizu of Song or Zhao Kuangyin, whom is the founder of the Song Dynasty reigning from 960 to 970 AD. He reunited China as a whole by a series of seige and campaign to take over different parts of China. He also replace and relocate many different Chinese official to reorganize the government system to loyal to the monarch. He is eventually succeeded by his brother after his death. He was also known for his martial arts skills. [3]
Emperor Taizu of Song
Emperor Taizong of Song [Zhao Kuangyi]Emperor Taizong of Song or Zhao Kuangyin is the younger brother of Emperor Taizu. He invaded the Northern Han territory in 979 and truly unified China as a whole. In his reign, he organized many system including agriculture. He died in 997 and left his throne to his son. [2]
Emperor Taizong of Song
Emperor Gaozong of Song [Zhao Gou]Emperor Gaozong of Song or Zhao Gou is the tenth emperor of the Song dynasty and the first emperor of the Southern Song. He fled Northern Song to the south which became the start of the Southern Song period. He was forced to abdicate his throne to his infant son but has later regained his position in the first three years. He signed a peace treaty for ending the war for the territories of Southern Song. He finally abdicate his throne in 1162 but lived until 1180. [2]
Emperor Gaozong of Song
Leaders From Other Civilization
Pho Khun Si Intharathit [1238 - 1270 AD]He founded the Sukhothai kingdom and the first Thai dynasty, Phra Ruang. By establishing his own territory from the Khmer control and tax, he created the first Thai land after the migration from South of China. His throne was succeeded by his son, Ban Mueang. This was around the end of the Song dynasty in China. [5]
Pho Khun Si Intharathit
Accomplishments
Technology -
Gunpowder - Gunpowder was put to use widely as weaponary in the Song Dynasty. Before the 11th century, gunpowder was used only as a celebration accessory to be put in those firecracker. IN the Southern Song Dynasty, gunpowder was put to use in warfare as a cannonball and flamming arrow. [7]
Moveable Printing Types - It was invented earlier before but was not put into use until the Song Dynasty. When printing was put into common use, there is an increase in the literacy rates in China due to the inexpensive texts. There are wider access to books which were once labriously copied by hand which leads to an increase of candidate for the government seats. [8]
Compass - Chinese scholar in the Song Dynasty has found a way to magnetized iron needles and putting them in water to make a first generation modern day compass. This enabled the Chinese to sail as far as the Middle East without geting lost with the help of the compass. [9]
Economy -
Paper Money - China is the first nation in the world to put paper money into use. This is due to the problem of the old money currency which were copper coins hung on strings. It is a heavy load to be carried around so the paper money is put into use.[6]
Transportation - There was an increase in market and trading. Though there were still heavily dependent on donkey, there was an alternative of using the water and river. While the camel are used by traveling across desert to the other side of the country. [5]
Bibliography -
[1] Noll, Bernice, and Paul Noll. "Song Dynasty Map." Paul and Bernice Noll Website. 10 Jan. 2008 <http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Dynasty/dynasty-Song.html>.
[2] Beck, Sanderson. "Ethics of China 7 BC to 1279 by Sanderson Beck." Literary Works of Sanderson Beck. 2005. 14 Jan. 2008 <http://www.san.beck.org/AB3-China.html>.
[3] "History of the Northern Song Dynasty." Melan?on Enterprises. 5 Dec. 2000. Melan?on Enterprises. 14 Jan. 2008 <http://www.melanconent.com/lib/knowl/history/china/song/north.html>.
[4] Chan, Nicholas L. "Portraits of Chinese Emperors." Portraits of Chinese Emperors. 6 June 2007. 14 Jan. 2008 <http://www.chinapage.com/emperor.html>.
[5] "Sri Indraditya." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 14 Jan. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Intharathit>.
[6] Schirokauer, Conrad. "He Song Dynasty in China." Asia Topics in World History. 2006. Columbia University. 14 Jan. 2008 <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/>.
[7] "Tqgunpowder." ThinkQuest. ThinkQuest. 16 Jan. 2008 <http://library.thinkquest.org/27895/tqgunpowder.html>.
[8] "CHINESE INVENTIONS." ThinkQuest. 1998. ThinkQuest. 16 Jan. 2008 <http://library.thinkquest.org/15618/inventor.htm>.
[9] "Four Great Inventions of Ancient China -- Compass." ChinaCulture.Org. 2003. Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. 16 Jan. 2008 <http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26519.htm>.
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