The Achievements of the Tang and Song Dynasties

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November 23, 2009 Grey Global Semestered

The Achievements of the Tang and Song Dynasty

Today we can look around ourselves and see thousands of technical innovations that make life easier; But if we take a step back and ask ourselves “How?” we will soon realize that most often, these technological advancements did not just “poof” into existence, but are usually the outcome of building upon yesterday’s technology. If we follow this cycle back into time, we can attribute almost any modern day invention to an ancient civilization during its golden age. China was no exception. China’s Song and Tang dynasties fostered scientific advances comparable to Rome’s during its Pax Romana. The most significant and impacting of these were the development of primitive gunpowder and porcelain of the Tang and paper money, and the magnetic compass of the Song Dynasties. Although these may seem very far off, if you look hard enough, you can see traces of their impacts in society today because most of the advancements today we owe to them.

The Tang dynasty was an era of major technological advancement. This can be very clearly seen in their revolutionary explosive powder or gun powder, as well as their very expensive porcelain. The gunpowder is perhaps China’s most groundbreaking invention. Although it was invented for mere fireworks purposes, the military saw great potential in a highly explosive substance. This set off a chain reaction of events that some may think as detrimental to our society. From this powder, the first set of gun powder based guns, or muskets were developed. This triggered an arms race up until the early 1900s. As with any sort of mass engineering of guns, only death was left in its wake. Although the powder was pr...

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... gunpowder and porcelain of the Tang, and the compass and paper money of the Song, were perhaps ancient China’s most lasting and impactful inventions. Our whole lives could be different. A fireworks-less 4th of July, or maybe a world in which it costs 40lbs of copper for a loaf of bread. A world in which we live with porcelain-less toilet urinals. Oh the horror. On a more serious note, without the invention of gunpowder, this world will have seen less severe wars and longer reigns of peace, because wars without guns last much longer and cost a lot. This would prevent needless wars. So as to how beneficial gunpowder was to society, I think it did more harm than good. So remember, every time you’re at a urinal you can smile to yourself, because you know you’re urinating on what is essentially China.

Sources: World History, McDougal Littel. And my Brain.

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