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Chapter 12 Study Guide: Reunification & Renaissance in Chinese
Civilization: The Era of theTang & Song Dynasties
Chapter Summary. Basic themes of Chinese civilization underwent vital consolidation during the postclassical
period. Although less fundamental innovation occurred than in the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe,
important developments took place in technology. Political turmoil followed the fall of the Han, and the
empire’s bureaucratic apparatus collapsed. The scholar-gentry class lost ground to landed families. Non-Chinese
nomads ruled much of China and a foreign religion, Buddhism, replaced Confucianism as a primary force in
cultural and political life. There was economic, technological, intellectual, and urban decline. New dynasties, the
Sui and Tang, from the end of the 6th century brought a restoration of Chinese civilization.
1. What religion/philosophy flourished, because of this period of chaos?
2. How did Wendi rise to power?
3. What did Wendi do at the beginning of his reign that was typical of a new dynasty?
4. What did Yangdi, Wendi’s successor, continue that would contribute to and consolidate his empire?
5. What were some of the things Yangdi began to do to signal the end of a dynasty?
6. Who rose to power to create the Tang Dynasty?
7. Who dominated power-wise during the Tang and why?
8. What role did the nomadic people have in the empire?
9. How did the Tang handle the nomadic people in order to keep them in check? Not like the Romans.
10. Who did they finally bring back under their control?
11. Who was needed to run this largest of the Chinese empires?
12. What was created to keep tabs on the government officials?
13. Who administered the civil service exams and what purpose was there to have different types of civil
service exams?
14. What were some of the honors given to the jinshi?
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Chapter 12 Study Guide: Reunification & Renaissance in Chinese
Civilization: The Era of theTang & Song Dynasties
15. What problems may the privileges that the jinshi were given cause in the future?
16. Which type of Buddhism was attractive to the elite?
17. How did the Daoist compete with Buddhist?
18. Who ruled at the height of the Tang and what did he focus his energies on?
19. Which concubine began to influence the emperor?
20. Who did the Tang make concessions with to try to put down rebellions? What did they use their power
to do?
21. What military commander reunited China? What was so unique about him compared to others?
22. What was he renamed and what dynasty did he found?
23. Who did the Song have a problem overcoming and what types of interaction did the Song have with
them over time?
24. What were the difference between how the Tang and Song used the exams and their bureaucracy?
25. What problems did this create?
26. How did the Song try to further Confucianism?
27. Who wanted to spread Neo-Confucian thought and what is it?
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Chapter 12 Study Guide: Reunification & Renaissance in Chinese
Civilization: The Era of theTang & Song Dynasties
28. What nomadic empires challenged what parts of the Song?
29. What was the importance of the Grand Canal?
30. What area was becoming the biggest producer of food?
31. What did the Tang expansion do for trade?
32. What construction techniques and technologies improved because of increased trade?
33. What other areas of commerce expanded do to increased trade? What added benefits did it have?
34. What portion of the Chinese population lived in urban centers?
35. What new technologies and acquisitions improved agriculture production?
36. What was the most dramatic and oppressive action upper class men took toward women? Why?
37. List and explain the impact of various inventions/technology.
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