Song Dynasty

 

• Taizu (founder)

• 960-1279

• reunites China

• vast trade

• Jin Dynasty pushes them south

• new capital named Hangzhou

• sea trade

• faster growing rice

• made clocks

• gentry

• conquered by Mongols

 

 

 

The Song Dynasty was founded by Taizu, in 960, and lasted till 1279. He reunited China after 53 years of separation. Once China was reunited, trade began to increase again. The Silk Road and Great Canal left behind by previous civilizations helped the Song rebuild a trade empire. The Song would trade with people from as far as Spain. The Song did not establish a strong army, but instead relied on political marriages and bribes. They would give invaders goods like silk, gold, and silver. The Song also arranged marriages between governments to help keep hostile attackers at bay. This worked for a while, but when the Mongols began to attack the outer rim of the empire, they refused the Songs gifts and continued their attacks. Eventually, the Jin Dynasty forced the Song into south China. The Jin captured the Song capital, so the Song established a new capital in the south named Hangzhou. The Song lost their trade routes, so they reestablished trade, mainly by sea. They once again became a center of trade, but now in the south. The Song exported things like gunpowder, porcelain, paper, rice, cannons, bombs, and gunpowder. Their production of paper allowed them to have a surface to write on, which can easily be transported. The paper also allowed the Song to create paper money. The paper money was also much easier to transport and that helped spread the currency across the surrounding territories. Like paper, another invention that greatly contributed to the advancement of the Song was the clock. The ability to tell time helped people manage time, navigate, and harvest crops at the right time. To help support the expanding empire, the Song distributed a different type of rice from Vietnam, which grows two times as fast as their other rice. This helped support the growing population. Something called a gentry also formed. This is where wealthy people buy land from the poor, and turn the area into upper class residents. This upset the lower class. While they made some advances, the Song never fully recovered from the move to the south, and in their weaker state, they were conquered by the Mongol horde. (Jason)