Olivia Gutierrez, Jessica Strand

Natalie Bocanegra, Veronica Curiel

Rise and fall of the Song Dynasty

I. Song Dynasty 

         1. Arose in Central China in 960.

         2. First dynasty to issue banknotes or paper money.

         3. First Chinese polity to establish a permanent standing navy.

I. Emergence

A. The Song Dynasty was divided into two separate dynasties the Northern Song (386-581) and the Southern Song (420-589). [ADDISON’S NOTE: INCORRECT. NORTHERN SONG EMERGES OUT OF A PERIOD OF WARRING FACTIONS WITH EMPEROR TAIZU <SEE BELOW> IN 960. EMERGENCE OF THE SOUTHERN SONG, IN CONFLICT WITH THE JIN, OCCURS WHEN THE SOUTHERN SONG ALLY WITH THE JIN <JURCHENS> AND OVERTHROW THE LIAO IN 1115; SUBSEQUENTLY THERE IS FIGHTING BETWEEN JIN AND SOUTHERN SONG UNTIL THE SONG AGREE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE JIN. THE SOUTHERN SONG EMPIRE LASTS 1127-1279.]

[ADDISON: I’M NOT SURE WHERE THIS GROUP GOT THE INFORMATION, BUT PLEASE REFER TO CHAP. 11 IN YOUR BULLIETT CROSS TEXTBOOK; The Zhou dynasty was overthrown in 220 bce, although the subsequent military ascension of power by Song Taizu is correct. He then implements feudalism and a centralist bureaucracy.]

B. The Northern Song: This dynasty was founded by Zhao Kuangyin. He was a military general who launched a mutiny against the Zhou Dynasty and was successful. He established the Northern Song Dynasty and he became Emperor Taizu. Emperor Taizu and his brother Emperor Taizong managed to unify the territories in China within two decades.

After removing military power from the Jiedushi, Emperor Taizu placed the military under the power of the emperor and established a centralized state power.

Advances made in the Northern Song Dynasty were plentiful. They were quite advanced in science, culture, and art. They developed typography and gunpowder under science, they created the ‘ci’ poem in literature, and their painting was at a high artistic level. [ADDISON: POINT B IS CORRECT]

[ADDISON: background: See the map on pg. 320. Atop the Southern Song Empire is the Liao Empire, consisting of the Khitan tribe, which was a multi-ethnic tribe that extended quite a distance, traded with many, and was very mobile. Liao rule from 916-1121. They became excellent military combatants with newest technology of weapons, as well as being excellent horsemen and archers. The Southern Song, in a period of weakness, agreed to pay tribute to the Liao. This lasted until 1115, when the Southern Song united with a group to the North-East of the Liao; this group is the Jurchens (subsequently known as the Jin). ]

C. Southern Song: The army of the Jin Dynasty invaded and demolished the Northern Song Dynasty and captured its imperial family except for Zhao Gou. Zhao Gou would be placed as emperor of the new Southern Song Dynasty and establish its capital at Lin’an.

The Southern Song Dynasty continued the legacy left by the Northern Song in that literacy was more important the military. Due to this it is considered the weakest dynasty in China’s history. Turbulent times between the Southern Song and the Jin were caused to the Emperor Gaozong. After his reign, things between the two dynasties stabilized.

The Southern Song would then join forces with the Mongolian Regime and over power the Jin Dynasty.

II. Fall

A. Political corruption and invasions from external tribes, and civilian uprisings greatly weakened the Northern Song Dynasty.

Due to weak military strength the Northern Song were not able to withstand the invasion from the Jin Dynasty. In 1127 the Jin army captured the Northern Song capital of Kaifeng, ending the Northern Song Dynasty.

B. After the Southern Song Dynasty joined the Mongolian Kingdom to overthrow the Jin Dynasty they found themselves in turmoil with them. The Mongolians attempted to expand into the Song territory several times but due to the brave song soldiers they failed.

After initiating peaceful gestures with the Mongolians the Song Dynasty was finally conquered by them

After the death of the former king of the Mongolians, his younger brother, Kublai Khan, became the new king. In 1271 Kublai Khan established a new dynasty, the Yuan (1271 - 1368). In 1276 the Yuan court launched a massive attack on the Southern Song, resulting in the capture of the Song's capital, Lin'an, and the downfall of the Southern Song Dynasty.