Song China: Trade and Politics

Song China: Insiders vs Outsiders

• SE Asia became a crossroads of Afro-Eurasian trade during the Song period
• Trading hubs developed along the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, connecting SE Asia with China and India
• The Khmer Empire (889-1431) emerged as a powerful kingdom in the region
• The Khmer Empire acted as a buffer between China and India, contributing to political stability and economic prosperity in SE Asia

Economic and Political Developments

• Song emperors expanded the bureaucracy, employing scholar-officials selected through civil service exams
• This created a new ruling elite composed of highly educated scholars
• The scholar-official system was symbolic of high achievement and oaths of allegiance to the emperor

China's Neighbors: Nomads, Japan, SE Asia

• Nomadic societies in northern China adopted Chinese institutions while seeking to conquer
• They used advanced technology (e.g., steel-tipped arrows, catapults, incendiary bombs) against the Chinese
• This led to economic instability and military weakness for the Song Dynasty
• Japan's culture was influenced by China, particularly in Kyoto
• Samurai and wealthy landowners challenged the Japanese imperial court in areas outside of Kyoto

What was China?

• Chinese considered themselves superior to other cultures
• Chinese developed advanced printing and book publishing techniques
• Classical Chinese became a common language for educated people in East Asia
• The Song Dynasty was the wealthiest of the four major cultural spheres (Europe, Middle East, India, China)
• A strong agricultural base, manufacturing, and huge population fueled the prosperity of Song China

What was Christian Europe?

• Christianity became a significant faith in Europe, particularly in monasteries
• Parish churches became widespread across Europe during the 1200s
• Universities emerged as centers of learning
• Theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas argued that Christianity addressed all rational human concerns