China Civ Lectures 8 & 9: Division, Sui, Tang/decline, Eurasia

Tibetan Empire

Major Tang-era rival in Inner Asia, competing for territory, trade routes, and regional influence.

Songtsen Gampo

Tibetan ruler associated with imperial expansion, Buddhism, and diplomatic ties with Tang China.

Princess Wencheng

Tang princess married into the Tibetan royal family; symbol of diplomacy and cultural exchange.

Abbasid Caliphate

Major Islamic empire that competed and interacted with Tang interests across Central Asia.

Battle of Talas

751 conflict involving Tang and Abbasid-led forces, illustrating Eurasian rivalry over Central Asia.

An Lushan Rebellion

Massive conflict beginning in 755 that devastated Tang authority, finances, population, and military institutions.

Decline of Equal-Field System

Erosion of land allocation and household taxation as land concentration and upheaval weakened Tang institutions.

Tang Salt Monopoly

State control and taxation of salt used to raise revenue after the An Lushan Rebellion.

Southern Population Shift

Long-term movement of China's population and economic center toward rice-growing southern regions.

Tang Warlordism

Rise of regional military governors whose autonomy weakened central imperial authority.

Decline of Central Asian Connections

Political instability and shifting Eurasian power reduced some Tang-era overland exchanges.

Six Dynasties / Age of Division

Period of political fragmentation after Han, featuring northern and southern states and major cultural transformations.

Northern Wei

Non-Han Xianbei-led dynasty that adopted many Chinese governing institutions and promoted Buddhism.

Buddhism in China

Religion originating in India that spread through transregional networks and transformed Chinese ritual, art, and philosophy.

Sui Reunification

Restoration of imperial unity in 589 after centuries of division; foundation for Tang governance.

Grand Canal

Major waterway expanded under Sui, connecting northern political centers to southern agricultural resources.

Tang Dynasty

Cosmopolitan empire from 618 to 907 known for strong institutions, cultural exchange, and territorial expansion.

Chang'an

Tang capital and major cosmopolitan center of trade, religion, diplomacy, and elite culture.

Tang Code

Legal system combining imperial authority with Confucian hierarchy, kinship obligations, and graded punishments.

Equal-Field System

State allocation of farmland to households to support taxation, military service, and agricultural stability.

Fubing System

Tang militia system linking military service to landholding and household obligations.

Three Departments and Six Ministries

Imperial administrative structure dividing policy formulation, review, and execution among central institutions.

Emperor Taizong

Early Tang emperor associated with military consolidation, effective administration, and pragmatic rulership.