Blog Post #13 - Chapter 8

1. The chapter begins by writing about China becoming united again in the Sui Dynasty. Which was overthrown after a plan to conquer Korea drained resources. From there the state remained unified and began the golden age of China under the Tang and Song Dynasty. China's golden age was filled with many advancements. Such as the invention of gun powder. Also China was wealth due to it's use of cheap transportation using canals for goods. China also had the first printed books. In this golden age population also grew greatly. China's cities were busy with many restaurants and what were known as "Luxuriant inns". Women in the Tang dynasty had much more freedom than before. There are painting depicting women riding horses and female priests worshipping a Daoist deity. But in the Song dynasty Confucianism was becoming more popular again which shifted gender roles for women again. Shoe binding become a popular practice which also help in keeping women in the house. But at the same time women had more control over property and education for women was encouraged. Outside on China were nomadic people who lived  very different lives. They did however have a taste for China' s fine goods such silk and wine. The China also relied on them for horses and the fact that they controlled a lot of the silk road. China had established a trading in which goods  from the other civilization must be presented to the emperor in order to be grant permission to trade with China.