The Song Dynasty of China

This lesson is about the organization, characteristics, and collapse of the Song Dynasty of China during the Post-Classical period of World History (600-1450CE). Don't forget to hit the Like and Subscribe videos to make sure you receive notifications about upcoming Literature, Grammar, Reading, Writing, and World History lessons from MrBrayman.Info. Below is the outline of the slides used in the lesson: The Song Dynasty of China Part Two of a Six-Part Series on East Asia in the Post-Classical Period Rise of the Song 907CE: the last Tang emperor resigns Nomads were threatening again 960CE: Zhao Kuangyin led his armies to conquer all of the northern kingdoms Became first emperor of the Song dynasty The Khitan Khitan peoples from Manchuria threatened the Song Forced the Song into a tribute arrangement Followed Song culture, government, and economics Limited Government Song government was intentionally weak Military controlled by civilian government Generals couldn't be in government Scholar-gentry held power Less aggressive against the nomads The Return of the Scholar-Gentry More applicants passed the civil service exams and got jobs than under the Tang Loyalty to the government Put Confucianists back at the top over aristocrats and Buddhists The Neo-Confucians Return of Confucian values—especially traditionalism Reinforcement of social roles, patriarchy, the family, strict morality Song Declines Scholar-gentry class became too big (paid by taxes) Military became too big Threats from Khitan nomads and Tangut tribes from Tibet Exam system that emphasized memorization over thinking and analysis stopped STEM and intellectual progress Here Come the Nomads Jurchen tribe overthrew the Khitans and struck into China Song moved their capitol south Northern and Southern Song dynasty Southern Song—Rump State as in the back end of an animal 1279CE: Southern Song dynasty dies out Dynastic Cycle turns again Lesson Completed