Establishment and early reign
The Li family had ethnic Han origins, and it belonged to the northwest military aristocracy prevalent during the Sui dynasty. According to official Tang records, they were See more

Through use of the land trade along the Silk Road and maritime trade by sail at sea, the Tang were able to acquire and gain many new technologies, cultural practices, rare luxury, and … See more

Art
Both the Sui and Tang Dynasties had turned away from the more feudal culture of the preceding … See more

The first classic work about the Tang is the Old Book of Tang by Liu Xu (887–946) et al. of the Later Jin, who redacted it during the last years of his life. This was edited into another history (labeled the New Book of Tang) in order to distinguish it, which was a work by the … See more

Initial reforms
Taizong set out to solve internal problems within the government which had constantly plagued … See more

Protectorates and tributaries
The 7th and first half of the 8th century are generally considered to be the era in which the Tang reached the zenith of its power. In this period, Tang control extended further west than any previous dynasty, stretching … See more

Engineering
Technology during the Tang period was built also upon the precedents of the past. Previous advancements in clockworks and timekeeping … See more