Banknotes, books, and accurate navigational tools have become a part of daily life for many people. Yet, they don’t recognize that these everyday objects didn't always exist. Not to mention, they all emerged in the same region, near the same time, and diffused along similar paths. The mariner’s compass, block printing, paper money, and several types of paper were all developed and used during the Tang dynasty, and they had a great impact on China. Knowledge of these creations was spread by groups of people and animals along the Silk Road, sub-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade routes.
The period of the Tang dynasty was a high point in Chinese history. This period lasted from 618 to 907 AD (Strayer 243). It succeeded the Sui dynasty and preceded the Song dynasty (243). The time of the Tang and Song dynasties has been described as a “golden age” of arts and literature (244). Furthermore, economic and agriculture achievements during the Tang and Song dynasties caused China’s population to soar (244). These dynasties also established a government structure that was used for many decades (244). Not to mention, industrial production increased and China became highly commercialized in the Tang and Song dynasties (245-246). Many people moved into the cities as well, so China came to be very urbanized (244). The successes of the Tang dynasty were outcomes of the discoveries made at that time, and some of those discoveries are different kinds of paper.
According to Dr. Keith Ray, paper is one of China’s four great inventions. Paper is made by laying out a mix of organic fibers and draining off the water (Lienhard). Papyrus was invented in Egypt around 2,200 BC, but the Chinese created the modern-like version of paper around 105 AD (Ray). The ...
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...n H. "No. 894 Inventing Printing." The Engines of Our Ingenuity. Houston Public Media. 1993. Radio. Transcript.
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Gardner, Angela. "Emergence of East Asia to 1200." Cypress Creek High School, Orlando. Nov.-Dec. 2013. Lecture.
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Gardner, Angela. "Inner Asia, 600-1200." Cypress Creek High School, Orlando. Nov.-Dec. 2013. Lecture.
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Pickering, John. "The History of Paper Money in China." Journal of the American Oriental Society 1.2 (1844): 136-42. JSTOR. Web. 8 Dec. 2013. .
Crandall, Abbey, and Daniel Green. "Chicago Inventions." Chicago World's Fair. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2013.
In Document 1,2, 3, and 4 the Han dynasty is shown making things and inventing things for their citizens to use. During this time period the Han dynasty was described as the Golden Age in China. Confucianism gave a new way to life. The Historical context is that during this time period when the Yellow river flooded the crops and trade would be put to a stop.
During the interval of time between the years 1000 A.D. and 1400 A.D., a multitude of events referring to cultural exchange transpired. In the given documents, In the sense that the Silk Road was brought under the rule of the Mongols, people felt that is was now safe to travel through the Asian continent. Most people would sometimes come all the way from Europe. A multitude of these people were merchants, missionaries, or travelers. They carried along with them goods, news, or cultures from the corners of the then ‘known’ world. These are people who contemplated a multitude of sights on their journeys, which usually ended in China or Cathay. These given documents state the many dissimilarities in politics, social status, religion, and economics which all affected the cultural exchange.
During the Tang and Song dynasty, many excellent achievements have been accomplished which are still being preserved and used widely over centuries. Their citizens were excelled in many fields with several of new and practical inventions which all directly affected the citizens’ lives.
Timothy Brook’s book, The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China is a detailed account of the three centuries of the Ming Dynasty in China. The book allows an opportunity to view this prominent time period of Chinese history. Confusions of Pleasure not only chronicles the economic development during the Ming dynasty, but also the resulting cultural and social changes that transform the gentry and merchant class. Brook’s insights highlight the divide between the Ming dynasty’s idealized beliefs, and the realities of its economic expansion and its effects. Brook describes this gap through the use of several first hand accounts of individuals with various social statuses.
All fields of science affects the lives of many people, but the inventors are left out. Inventors make many lives more comfortable and convenient. George Edward Alcorn, Jr. was a not so well-known inventor, but he...
The second part of the journey visits, ancient China in 1500 BCE, a thousand years prior to the formation of the Daoism school of thought. (Brodd, Little and Ny...
Innovations are both internal and external factors that helped provide the Tang and Song dynasties have a Golden Age. In Documents 2 and 4 both illustrate items like paper, compass, gunpowder, and paper money were being traded from the Tang and Song dynasties to other places they had communication with like Korea and Europe. Therefore this shows how innovations helped the Tang and Song dynasties have a Golden Age because of early communications and bonding with other countries that can influence decisions in the
"Four Inventions of Ancient China: Paper Making, Gunpowder, Printing, Compass." Four Inventions of Ancient China: Paper Making, Gunpowder, Printing, Compass. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
The Tang dynasty was founded in 618, and lasted until 907. The emperor was supreme and government officials were chosen by examination. A census was taken to simplify tax collection and to draft citizens to perform labor for the empire. This was a period of great land expansion. (Halsall, 1998) The emperor also had a great love of the arts, and the Tang became known as the golden age of literature and art. Block printing was invented and made writing more available. (Unknown, 2003) Shipbuilding and firearms development were also refined during the era. Art was heavily influenced by Buddhism, especially rock sculpture. One major problem that arose was the heavy burden of taxation. Many were unable to meet their heavy tax burden. To escape this, many placed themselves under the protection of great landlords who were exempt from taxes, or became bandits. (Halsall, 1998)
The significance of the Tang Dynasty was that the next dynasty to come after would have a foundation of building up another empire. The Tang had major success in Science and Agriculture making it easier for others to continue what they had
Today we can look around ourselves and see thousands of technical innovations that make life easier; But if we take a step back and ask ourselves “How?” we will soon realize that most often, these technological advancements did not just “poof” into existence, but are usually the outcome of building upon yesterday’s technology. If we follow this cycle back into time, we can attribute almost any modern day invention to an ancient civilization during its golden age. China was no exception. China’s Song and Tang dynasties fostered scientific advances comparable to Rome’s during its Pax Romana. The most significant and impacting of these were the development of primitive gunpowder and porcelain of the Tang and paper money, and the magnetic compass of the Song Dynasties. Although these may seem very far off, if you look hard enough, you can see traces of their impacts in society today because most of the advancements today we owe to them.
Hobson, J. M., 2004. The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 57
The Tang Dynasty (618 -907 A.D), also known as China’s glorious revelation, was a time of major change both politically and economically in the Chinese Empire. During this time period, trade became greater than ever. The military power strengthened. The population also increased during this time period from fifty million to eighty million in just two centuries with its large population base, the dynasty was able to raise professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inter Asia. The Tang also has a strong influence on its neighboring states such as Korea (which was at the time made if of three kingdoms) and Japan. During this time period the Silk Road expanded and trade
This essay gives an overview of early civilization in China and the different periods within this era. Also, it includes political and cultural pursuits of the people within this time period and the struggles of the Asian peoples and their religious beliefs and community uniqueness and differences.