Compare and contrast the Chinese government bureaucracy under the Tang and Song dynasties. How was it similar? How did it differ?
(can you summarize this in three to five sentences?)
1 answer
Both the Tang and Song dynasties had bureaucratic systems based on meritocracy, with exams to select officials based on their knowledge of Confucian classics. However, the Tang dynasty had a more centralized and hierarchical bureaucracy, with the emperor holding more power over decision-making. In contrast, the Song dynasty had a more decentralized system with greater emphasis on local governance and civil service exams. Overall, both dynasties were characterized by a highly organized and efficient bureaucratic system that played a crucial role in governing the vast Chinese empire.