AD 900-1280 Song Dynasty

At the beginning of the 10th century AD, China was fragmented. In the north-east, a semi-nomadic people, the Qidan, ruled as the Liao dynasty (AD 907-1125), with a capital at modern Beijing. The rest of the north was divided among five dynasties, and the south consisted of ten regional kingdoms. In 960, a northern general became the first Song emperor, reuniting most of the country.

The Northern Song (960-1126) built on the Tang administrative structure, and reformed education. Loss of access to Central Asia led to expanding sea trade. Great advances were made in shipbuilding and the development of navigational instruments and charts. The arts flourished, particularly under the emperor Huizong (reigned 1101-25). However, weakened by corruption, the dynasty was expelled from its capital, Kaifeng, in 1127 by northerners of the Jin dynasty.

The Southern Song (1127-1279) established a new capital at Lin’an, later Hangzhou. The dynasty prospered. It was also a time of change: advances in farming helped to feed a growing population and metals and salt were produced on an industrial scale. Exports of tea and pottery increased and paper money aided trade. Despite this success the Song state was unable to withstand Mongols invading from the north in 1279.