From its establishment in 618 to its downfall in 907, the Tang Dynasty is the most prosperous dynasty in Chinese history.

The Tang can be divided into two periods: the early period and the late period, with the eight-year An Lushan-Shi Siming Rebellion as its turning point. The early period was a golden age, while the latter was a period of decline.

Marked by strong and benevolent rule, successful diplomatic relationships, economic expansion, and a cultural efflorescence of cosmopolitan style, the Tang dynasty emerged as one of the greatest empires in the medieval world. Merchants, clerics, and envoys from India, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Korea, and Japan thronged the streets of Chang'An, the capital, and foreign tongues were a common part of daily life. China was the world leader in politics, economy and culture.

In the beginning decades of the Tang, especially under the leadership of Emperor Taizong, China subdued its nomadic neighbors from the north and northwest, securing peace and safety on overland trade routes reaching as far as Syria and Rome. The seventh century was a time of momentous social change; the official examination system enabled educated men without family connections to serve as government officials. This new social elite gradually replaced the old aristocracy, and the recruitment of gentlemen from the south contributed to the cultural amalgamation that had already begun in the sixth century.

The Tang period marked the beginnings of China's early technological advancement over other civilizations in the fields of shipbuilding and firearms development.

The eighth century heralded the second important epoch in Tang history, achieved largely during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, called minghuang—the Brilliant Monarch. It is rightfully ranked as the classical period of Chinese art and literature, as it set the high standard to which later poets, painters, and sculptors aspired. The expressions contained in the poetry and images reflect the flamboyant lives of the court and the conflicting sentiments generated by military campaigns. Tang poetry was the most remarkable in Chinese history.

The most serious problem of the last century of Tang was the rise of great landlords who were exempt from taxation. Unable to pay the exorbitant taxes collected twice a year after the An Lushan rebellion in the middle of the century, peasants would place themselves under the protection of a landlord or become bandits. Peasant uprisings left much of central China in ruins.

Although the An Lushan rebellion considerably weakened the power and authority of the court, marking its decline. The restored government ruled for another century and a half, providing stability for lasting cultural and artistic development but never fully recovered the central authority, prosperity, and peace of its first century.

Chinese Dynasties Timeline Prehistoric Times   1.7 million years - 21st century BC Xia Dynasty   About 2100-1600 BC Shang Dynasty   About 1600-1100 BC Zhou Dynasty Western Zhou Dynasty Eastern Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Warring States About 1100-771 BC 770-256 BC 770-476 BC 475-221 BC Qin Dynasty   221-207 BC Han Dynasty Western Han Eastern Han 206BC-AD 24 25-220 Three Kingdoms Wei Shu Han Wu 220-265 221-263 222-280 Western Jin Dynasty   265-316 Eastern Jin Dynasty   317-420 Northern & Southern Dynasties Southern Dynasty Song Qi Liang Chen 420-479 479-502 502-557 557-589 Northern Dynasty Northern Wei Eastern Wei Northern Qi Western Wei Northern Zhou 386-534 534-550 550-577 535-556 557-581 Sui Dynasty   581-618 Tang Dynasty   618-907 Five Dynasties Later Liang Later Tang Later Jin Later Han Later Zhou 907-923 923-936 936-946 947-950 951-960 Song Dynasty Northern Song Dynasty Southern Song Dynasty 960-1127 1127-1279 Liao Dynasty   916-1125 Jin Dynasty   1115-1234 Yuan Dynasty   1271-1368 Ming Dynasty   1368-1644 Qing Dynasty   1644-1911 Republic of China   1912-1949 People's Republic of China   1949-

Explore the Main Characters:

The Emperor Tang XuanZong	The Princess Yang GuiFei	The Prince Li Mao	The Barbarian An Lushan	The Servant Gao Lishi	The Chief Minister Yang Guozhong	The Poet Li Bai