Under Tang rule, (8th – 19th cent: A.D) China’s society and culture attained a climax. Having extended their over lordship in Central Asia, they gave a fillip to the overland trade.
China exported silk, porcelain, and jade to West Asia, Europe, and India across the Silk Road. China welcomed foreign traders. Arabs, Persians, and Indians settled down in South China (Canton).
By the middle of the 10th cent. Tang dynasty Was Replaced by Sung Its growing weakness led to the Mongol invasion in the 13th cent. The Mongol rulers unified North and South China.
Mongols by bringing the Tonkin (North Vietnam), Anna in (South Vietnam), Korea, and China under their control Estd one of the largest empires in East Asia.
South-east Asia
Southeast Asian States remained independent. The two most powerful kingdoms which flourished in the region during the period were the Shailendra and Kambuja empire.
SAILENDRA DYNASTY
Arose in the 7th century. AD and constituted the Sri Vijaya empire. It flourished till the 10th cent. The empire included Sumatra, Java, the Malaya peninsula, parts of Siam (Thailand), and the Philippines.
It was a large empire. It had a powerful navy and dominated the sea trade with China. The Srivijaya Empire was replaced by Majapahit Empire in the 11th century which further extended the empire.
Note: The Sea trade with the countries of Southeast Asia and China was so important that in the 10th century. A Chola ruler sent a series of naval expeditions to Sumatra and Malaya to keep the sea lanes of communications open.
KAMBUJA EMPIRE
It extended over Cambodia and Annam (South Vietnam). It replaced the hindered kingdom of Furan. It flourished till the 15th Century.
Group of temples near Angkor Thom in Cambodia. India had close commercial and cultural contact with the West, Southeast Asia, China is also Madagascar, and countries on the east coast of Africa.
Various kingdoms in south-east Asia acted as a kind of bridge for commercial and cultural contact between India and China, and the outside world. Though these south-east Asian nations were deeply influenced by Indian civilization and culture. They attained a distinctive culture of their own of a very high order.