SongDynastie

SongDynastie, also known as the Song Dynasty, was a Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 960 to 1279, comprising the Northern Song (960–1127) and Southern Song (1127–1279) periods. It followed the Tang and preceded the Yuan Dynasty. The capital began in Kaifeng in the north and later moved to Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou) after the Jin conquest forced a southern retreat.

Politically, the Song maintained a centralized bureaucracy built on merit through civil service examinations, with the emperor at the apex aided by scholar-officials. The military was substantial but often subordinate to civil governance, with emphasis on internal administration, economic regulation, and infrastructure. The dynasty faced military pressure from neighboring states such as the Liao, Jin, and Western Xia, and was eventually conquered by the Mongol-led Yuan in 1279.

Economically, the Song period saw significant commercial growth, urbanization, and monetary innovation. Markets expanded, maritime trade prospered, and the state issued paper money (jiaozi) alongside coins. Agricultural productivity improved through new rice varieties and irrigation. The era also fostered early forms of credit and a sophisticated market economy.

Culturally and technologically, the Song era produced notable achievements: movable-type printing by Bi Sheng, practical gunpowder weapons, and the use of a magnetic compass for navigation. Neo-Confucian thought, led by scholars such as Zhu Xi, shaped philosophy and education. Song painting, ceramics, and literature were influential in later East Asia.

The Song Dynasty's legacy lies in its administrative innovations, economic developments, and cultural contributions, which influenced subsequent Chinese states despite military defeats and territorial losses.