Tang & Song Dynasty China
A timeline of China's golden ages from 618 to 1279 CE — Tang cosmopolitanism, Song innovation, and the technologies that changed the world.
Tang Dynasty Founded
Li Yuan establishes the Tang Dynasty after the collapse of the Sui. China enters its most celebrated golden age.
Chang'an Becomes the World's Largest City
The Tang capital reaches perhaps a million inhabitants, hosting communities of Persians, Arabs, Turks, and Indians along the Silk Road's eastern terminus.
Tang Poetry Flourishes
The works of Li Bai, Du Fu, and Wang Wei define the golden age of Chinese poetry — still considered the pinnacle of Chinese literary achievement.
Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution
Emperor Wuzong orders the destruction of Buddhist monasteries and the return of monks and nuns to secular life — a major blow to Chinese Buddhism.
Fall of the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty collapses after decades of rebellion and warlordism. China fractures into competing kingdoms during the Five Dynasties period.
Song Dynasty Founded
Zhao Kuangyin reunifies much of China and establishes the Song Dynasty, beginning an era of unprecedented technological and economic innovation.
Bi Sheng Invents Movable Type
The Song craftsman Bi Sheng creates movable type printing using ceramic characters — over 400 years before Gutenberg.
First Gunpowder Weapons Documented
The Wujing Zongyao military manual describes gunpowder weapons including fire arrows and incendiary bombs — the earliest known military applications.
Magnetic Compass for Navigation
Chinese navigators begin using the magnetic compass for maritime navigation, revolutionizing seafaring across the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Fall of the Song Dynasty
Kublai Khan's forces defeat the last Song holdout. China's most innovative dynasty ends, but its technological legacy will transform the world.