2. The strong Chinese Dynasties were a large part of China’s success. Some of the most important ones were the Qin, Han, Tang, and Song. Hallie Grossman
3. Qin The Qin left a legacy of a successful, centralized bureaucracy and set the stage for more great dynasties to follow. It was a unified dynasty under Shi Huangdi’s rule. Shi Huangdi was a great ruler who relied on legalism and created a strong, stable government after the feudalistic Zhou. After his death, the Qin dynasty fell apart and was replaced by the Han dynasty. Han Liu Bang, the first Han ruler reestablished a centralized government in China. He departed from the strict legalism of the Qin, lowered taxes, softened punishments, and brought peace and stability to China. After his death, his son was the emperor but the mother Lü, was the real ruler. After her, Wudi continued Liu Bang’s centralized politics. He was also the longest Han emperor. The Qin and Han
4. Tang The Tang dynasty was part of a golden age in China. During this age, China was the richest, most powerful and advanced country in the world. The first emperor of the Tang was Tang Taizong, who expanded the empire. After this, the Tang strengthened the central government, and expanded roads and canals begun by the Sue dynasty. This helped pull the country together, making it more unified. The Tang rulers lowered taxes, shared land among wealthy and peasants and made a great bureaucracy and civil service system. This system created a creative and intelligent government. The Tang fell in 907 B.C.E. Song The Song dynasty was also part of China’s golden age. It was smaller than the Tang, but still stable, powerful, and prosperous. During this dynasty, the Song tried to build peace with northern enemies but never regained the lands lost. They also paid annual tributes of silk, tea, and silver, but this did not stop northern threats. The Song fled south in 1126 and created the Southern Song.
