Question

Why did the Tang Dynasty face difficulties toward the end of its reign?

The economy struggled as China became unable to protect its long-distance trade routes.
The government suffered as friends were placed in official positions instead of skilled workers.
The economy struggled as peasants became unable to pay their increasingly higher taxes.
The government suffered as the line of succession became unclear after Gaozong’s death.

Answer 1

Correct answers: the first three are reasons; the fourth is not.

- Yes — trade routes: After mid‑Tang crises (especially the An Lushan Rebellion) the court lost control of frontier regions and security on the Silk Road declined, hurting long‑distance trade and revenue.
- Yes — nepotism/corruption: Factionalism, eunuch power, and appointments based on personal ties rather than merit weakened administration.
- Yes — peasant tax burden: Land concentration, tax exemptions for powerful interests, and higher/uneven tax demands impoverished peasants and provoked large rebellions (e.g., Huang Chao), further collapsing the economy and state revenue.
- No — succession after Gaozong: While succession struggles and Empress Wu’s usurpation were important in the 7th–8th centuries, an “unclear line of succession after Gaozong” is not a primary explanation for the Tang’s late‑period collapse centuries later.