WHAP - Unit 4 - Regional and Transregional Interactions

Buddhist Ideals and Chinese Bureaucracy - to be a government official, one had to practice and study for years to pass the civil service exam, which had a success rate of 5% - the government was less centered around aristocrats and money and more on talent and skill

Massive taxes, forced labor, and conscription into the army - an extremely strong centralized government that started the trend of Chinese government having a strong central backbone, but the harsh treatment of subjects by the ruler downplayed that advancement

AGRICULTURAL: waterwheels/dikes/dams, stirrups, fertilization

MILITARY: gunpowder, compass

AGRICULTURAL: stirrups

MILITARY: guns

TRADE GOODS: fine china (porcelain)

TRADE GOODS: moveable type

Its economy - the development of paper "flying cash", tradeable food items, porcelain, feathers, pearls, tortoise shells, and other goods made the Song Dynasty culturally and financially rich.

Its government - the replacement of military officials in the bureaucracy with civil service officials ensured that the true power of the government lied with capable individuals such as the emperor and the talented people who passed the civil service exam.

Its culture - the development of Neo-Confucianism quelled the religious and philosophical conflict between Song Chinese Buddhists and Confucians.