Song Dynasty and Chinese Innovations

Vocabulary terms and definitions related to the Song dynasty's political systems, social structures, and economic innovations based on the lecture transcript.

Song dynasty

A dynasty known for centralized bureaucracy, civil service exam, and new Confucianism.

Bureaucracy

A system featuring a hierarchy of officers and organized departments for specialized tasks.

Civil service exams

A design for maintaining loyalty towards the emperor that allowed social mobility by selecting people based on knowledge and hard work regardless of social background.

New Confucianism

A kind of order that allows people to accept order without complaint and is beneficial for maintaining the harmony of the society.

Merit based selection systems

A selection process used by the Song dynasty to select officials based on merit rather than birth.

Grand Canal

The inland waterway connecting Northern and Southern China for grain transport that broadened the domestic market.

Rice imported from Vietnam

A drought resistant and fast ripening crop that served as an important factor for boosting the population.