Download Unit 4: China`s Golden Age After the fall of the Han

Unit 4: China's Golden Age
After the fall of the Han dynasty in 589 C.E., China descended into
political and cultural turmoil. The bureaucracy collapsed and a
“foreign” religion—Buddhism— replaced Confucianism as the primary
force in cultural life. Decline was evident in most aspects of Chinese
society—including in technology, the economy, and urban areas. But
beginning in the latter sixth century, two successive dynasties restored
the Chinese bureaucracy and economy. As we will see in this unit, the
Tang and the Song reinvigorated the Chinese political system and
revived the Confucian order. In fact, these influential dynasties ushered
in China’s “golden age.”
In this unit, we will begin by examining the downfall of the Sui dynasty
and the subsequent emergence of the Tang and Song dynasties. We will
then turn our attention to the changes and developments in government,
society, the arts, and the economy during this “golden age.”
Unit 4 Time Advisory
This unit will take you 4 hours to complete.
☐
Subunit 4.1: 2 hours
☐
Subunit 4.2: .5 hours
☐
Subunit 4.3: 1.5 hours
Unit 4 Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
 Identify the dynasties associated with China’s decline and revival
over the period under review.
 Identify some of the causes of the turmoil that destabilized the
empire and precipitated the crises of the Sui period.
 Identify the policies and innovations undertaken by Tang rulers
restore the empire’s internal cohesion and power.