Great Lecture on Chinese History (A Chat about the Song Dynasty)

Author: Wu Tai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-31
Features: The history of the Song Dynasty is divided into two periods: the Northern Song and the Southern Song. The Northern Song was established in Kaifeng and lasted for 167 years. The Southern Song was established in Hangzhou and lasted for 150 years. Additionally, after the fall of the Southern Song, some officials of the Southern Song enthroned two young emperors, Zhao Shi and Zhao Bing, and continued to resist the Yuan Dynasty for three years under the banner of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, the history of the Song Dynasty spans a total of 320 years. In terms of social economy, the Song Dynasty was a period of unprecedented prosperity in China's feudal society. In science and technology, among the four great inventions of ancient China that are a source of pride, movable-type printing was invented during this period. Gunpowder and the compass achieved significant technological breakthroughs in the Song Dynasty. Gunpowder was widely used in military applications, while the compass was applied to maritime activities. These three inventions had a profound impact on the course of world history. In fields such as mathematics, astronomy, and medical science, the Song Dynasty also held a leading position in the world. In terms of literature, art, and historiography, the Song Dynasty was also a brilliant and glorious period in Chinese history. The writing of this book aims to introduce the main aspects of the Song Dynasty history to readers in as accessible and easy-to-understand language as possible, enabling readers to gain a clearer and more accurate understanding of the history of the Song Dynasty.