Song Dynasty

The Song dynasty came to power in China in 960 AD after a period of turmoil and civil wars in China. Emperor Taizu of Song led numerous military campaigns to unite the country and in the long years of Song rule that followed China achieved many great things. Paper currency, the magnetic compass and gunpowder were all used for the first time during the Song reign. In 1127 the Manchuruan Jin dynasty seized the northern frontier of the Song and forced the court to relocate, starting the period known as the Southern Song. The population grew rapidly which forced a change in economics and the Song emperors tried to make use of gunpowder to improve their military forces but after an extremely long reign, in 1271 the Song were conquered by the Mongol forces of Kublai Khan who was then proclaimed Emperor of China of the Yuan Dynasty. During the long years of Song rule the examination system became much more central, printing was improved, many scientific and engineering advances were made, Confucianist philosophy flourished and knowledge was expanded. The last nominal Song monarch, Emperor Bing, drowned himself rather than be taken prisoner after being defeated by the Mongols at the battle of Yamen.