World History – Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Must be 3 pages long single spaced. Must include at least 5 peer-reviewed sources

• Introduction: Introduce the concept of Dynastic China and provide a brief overview of the chosen dynasty’s historical significance.

Research & Include:

• Brief explanation of Dynastic China
• What a dynasty is (hereditary rule, Mandate of Heaven)
• The cycle of rise, prosperity, decline, and replacement
• Timeline placement:
• The Tang Dynasty (618907 CE)
• Who founded it:
• Emperor Gaozu of Tang (Li Yuan)
• Why it is historically significant:
• Considered a golden age of Chinese civilization
• Expansion of territory
• Strong central government
• Cultural flourishing
• Thesis idea (example):
• The Tang Dynasty was one of the most powerful and culturally influential dynasties in Chinese history because of its political organization, social structure, and major cultural achievements.
• Historical Context: Describe the historical context in which the selected dynasty emerged, including key events and developments.

Research & Include:

• The fall of the Sui Dynasty
• Heavy taxation
• Forced labor projects (Grand Canal)
• Military failures
• Rebellions and instability
• Rise of Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu)
• Role of:
• Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin)
• Strengthened the dynasty
• Military expansion
• Administrative reforms
• Expansion of trade along the Silk Road
• Growth of Changan (capital city)
• One of the largest cities in the world at the time
• Key turning point:
• The An Lushan Rebellion
• Weakened the dynasty
• Beginning of decline
• Political and Social Structure: Analyze the political organization and social structure during the reign of the chosen dynasty, highlighting the roles of emperors, bureaucrats, and common people.

Research & Include:

• Role of the emperor (absolute authority, Mandate of Heaven)
• Centralized bureaucracy
• Civil Service Examination system
• Based on Confucian teachings
• Merit-based positions (not just aristocracy)
• Law code:
• The Tang Code (influenced later East Asian legal systems)
• Local vs. central government control

Research & Include:

• Social hierarchy:
• Emperor
• Scholar-officials (gentry)
• Peasants
• Artisans
• Merchants
• Role of Confucianism in society
• Status of women:
• Example: Wu Zetian
• Only female emperor in Chinese history
• Urban life vs. rural life
• Religious diversity:
• Buddhism
• Daoism
• Confucianism
• Cultural and Intellectual Achievements: Explore the cultural and intellectual accomplishments, including art, literature, philosophy, and technological advancements, during the selected dynasty’s rule.

Literature

• Poetry flourished
• Famous poets:
• Li Bai
• Du Fu
• Themes: nature, politics, war, personal reflection

Art

• Landscape painting
• Ceramics (Tang sancai pottery)
• Buddhist sculptures

Religion & Philosophy

• Spread of Buddhism
• Buddhist monasteries and influence
• Government reaction against Buddhism later in dynasty

Technology & Trade

• Woodblock printing
• Advances in medicine and engineering
• Expansion of Silk Road trade
• Cultural exchange with:
• Korea
• Japan
• Central Asia
• Impact and Legacy: Discuss the dynasty’s lasting impact on Chinese history and how its legacy continues to influence the country today.

Research & Include:

• Influence on later dynasties (especially the Song Dynasty)
• Model for government and civil service exams
• Lasting impact on Chinese poetry and art
• Influence on East Asia (Japan and Korea adopted Tang systems)
• Changan as a model city
• Why historians consider it a golden age
• How modern China still references Tang culture in literature, tourism, and national identity