Tang dynasty: 618-907
After the Sui Dynasty fell, the Tang Dynasty emerged as the most powerful ruling family. Building off the strong foundation the Sui left behind, the Tang started on a campaign to reconquer the lands to the north and west, lost after the decline of the Han Dynasty. By 668, the Tang had control over Korea as well. The empress during this time was Wu Zhao. While weak emperors pretended to rule, she was secretly ruling China until 690, when she claimed the throne and named herself as emperor- the only woman in China to ever do so. The Tang expanded the canal network, holding the empire together. They promoted foreign trade and agricultural improvements, too.
To aid in the management of the massive Chinese Empire, the Tang restored China's bureaucracy by reviving the civil service examination system. Not many people passed, but those who did became scholar-officials, an elite group of bureaucrats. Technically, any man could take the exams, but only the wealthiest could afford the proper education required to pass. If someone had high political connections, they could obtain a high position in the government without even taking the exams. Again, only the wealthy men had the proper political connections to do so. Even though the bureaucracy had its flaws, the system worked surprisingly well, creating an intelligent and capable governing class. Talent and education became more important than noble birth, and many moderately wealthy families helped govern China.
In the mid-700s, the Tang imposed crushing taxes to meet the demands of the costly government. These hurt the citizens financially and still failed to fulfill the military and building budgets. The Tang also struggled to control their vast empire, and in 751 Muslim armies captured Central Asia, taking it away from Chinese control. Internal rebellions and power struggles further weakened the government, until in 907, Chinese rebels destroyed the capital and murdered the last Tang emperor- a young child.
To aid in the management of the massive Chinese Empire, the Tang restored China's bureaucracy by reviving the civil service examination system. Not many people passed, but those who did became scholar-officials, an elite group of bureaucrats. Technically, any man could take the exams, but only the wealthiest could afford the proper education required to pass. If someone had high political connections, they could obtain a high position in the government without even taking the exams. Again, only the wealthy men had the proper political connections to do so. Even though the bureaucracy had its flaws, the system worked surprisingly well, creating an intelligent and capable governing class. Talent and education became more important than noble birth, and many moderately wealthy families helped govern China.
In the mid-700s, the Tang imposed crushing taxes to meet the demands of the costly government. These hurt the citizens financially and still failed to fulfill the military and building budgets. The Tang also struggled to control their vast empire, and in 751 Muslim armies captured Central Asia, taking it away from Chinese control. Internal rebellions and power struggles further weakened the government, until in 907, Chinese rebels destroyed the capital and murdered the last Tang emperor- a young child.
Tang Dynasty Art: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Spring_Outing_of_the_Tang_Court.jpg