Confucianism

a traditional Chinese philosophy dating from the 6th century BCE, it's purpose was to maintain order and provide effective government

Wu Zhao

Although once a concubine at the court of Tang Taizong, she rose to become the only women in Chinese history to claim the imperial title and rule as emperor

Song Taizu

Highly effective first emperor of the Song Dynasty, he restored centralized administration and placed the military under tight supervision and expanded bureaucracy

Tang Taizong

Ambitious and ruthless second emperor of the tang dynasty who provided effective and stable government and built the capital city of Chang'an

Sui Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty from 589-618 CE that built a strong, centralized government by levying high taxes and demanding compulsory Labor services

Sui Yangdi

second emperor if the Sui dynasty, he coordinated the construction of the grand canal by linking earlier canals with new ones although at such great cost that he was later assassinated

Uighurs

Nomadic Turkish mercenaries brought in by the Tang to help end a rebellion

Li Bai

Most popular poet of the Tang era who used Chinese social life as the dominant themes of his poetry

gun powder

First developed during the Tang Dynasty while attempting to produce elixirs to prolong life, it was quickly recognized for its potential military use

Yang Jian

Late 6th century military leader that brought China under centralized rule founding the Sui Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Dynasty (618-907 CE) replacing the Sui that organized China into a powerful, productive, and prosperous society

Hangzhou

Prosperous port city that became the new capital city of the song (southern song) dynasty after the establishment of the Jin empire

porcelain

Fired with glazes and lighter and thinner than earlier pottery, it's production diffused to other societies and was greatly demanded

Mahayana Buddhism

A religion foreign to China but encouraged by cultural exchange and interaction with peoples of other societies slowly gaining a following in tang and song China

Footbinding

Practice that spread widely during the song era that strengthened patriarchal authority to "enhance the attractiveness" of daughters

Song Dynasty

Dynasty (960 - 1279 CE) that managed to reinstitute centralized government in China after the collapse of the Tang Dynasty

Equal Field System

Governmental system put in place during the Tang Dynasty to assure equitable distribution of agricultural land

Grand Canal

Building project completed during the Sui dynasty to facilitate trade between northern and southern China