LESSON 10.3 What was China like before Mongol conquest?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to explain the way that life changed for the imperial Chinese once the Mongols invaded.
Tune in In the eleventh century, the city of Kaifeng, the capital of the Song dynasty , had a population of more than 1 million people.
SOURCE1 An illustration created in the twelfth century of the beautiful city of Kaifeng
1. Use SOURCE 1 to identify as many aspects of daily life in the Song dynasty as you can. 2. This scene depicts a market — can you identify the different people coming to this central meeting space? How is this similar or different to the life we live today?
10.3.1 The Song dynasty In the twelfth century, over 100 million people lived in the Song Empire, which covered 4 million square kilometres of land. In 960 CE, the first Song emperor, Taizu, took control by leading a rebellion. Instead of using military force, Taizu focused on building a strong government. The Song dynasty’s government included:
• civil servants selected through exams and interviews • an imperial academy and university for training officials • local governors and magistrates • officials responsible for public opinion and problems • taxes from trade and industry to fund government projects like irrigation • regulation of prices in key industries such as the production of salt, tea and wine. Life in the Song cities
Peace in Song-dynasty China led to a big population growth because farming improved, irrigation systems were rebuilt, and trade grew. Song city streets were busy with horses, mules, carts, rickshaws and porters carrying goods. People shopped at booths and stalls marked by tall posts and banners.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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