Polity · 623 CE – 910 CE
Tang Dynasty
唐朝
- Peak recorded area
- 8,722,570 km²
- 661 CE
- Rulers on record
- 25
- from 618 CE
- Data series
- 38
- 627 CE–907 CE
Overview
The Tang dynasty, or the Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilisation, and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Tang territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, rivalled that of the Han dynasty.
Lead section from Wikipedia, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article.
Territory
32 dated territorial extents on record from Cliopatria. Areas are measured off the recorded polygons; the line steps because each extent holds until the next one is recorded — nothing is interpolated.
The record
The best-attested series in each category; where several projects publish the same quantity, the one with the most observations is shown. Each row is the most recent value the record holds at or before 910 CE, shown with the year that value belongs to. Some statistical series also publish forward projections — the year column is the honest guide. Nothing on this page is interpolated or estimated by us.
People
6 of 22 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Population7 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 70Mpersons900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| City Pop Chengdu4 obs · 800 CE–900 CE | 75Kpersons900 CE · Chandler/Modelski Historical Urban Population |
| City Pop Dali3 obs · 800 CE–900 CE | 90Kpersons900 CE · Chandler/Modelski Historical Urban Population |
| City Pop Suzhou3 obs · 800 CE–900 CE | 81Kpersons900 CE · Chandler/Modelski Historical Urban Population |
| City Pop Tsinkiang3 obs · 742 CE–800 CE | 30Kpersons800 CE · Chandler/Modelski Historical Urban Population |
| City Pop Xian3 obs · 800 CE–900 CE | 500Kpersons900 CE · Chandler/Modelski Historical Urban Population |
Economy
| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sophistication3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 0.9294score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Monetary Complexity3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 0.8333score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
Military
| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Military Sophistication3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 1score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Military Levels2 obs · 618 CE–763 CE | 5levels763 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
Territory & resources
| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Territory km²30 obs · 620 CE–907 CE | 800Ksq km907 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Polity Territory3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 6.61score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
Governance
| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Admin Levels2 obs · 618 CE–763 CE | 7levels763 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Religious Hierarchy2 obs · 618 CE–763 CE | 3levels763 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
Development
6 of 8 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Government Complexity3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 0.9909score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Hierarchy Levels3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 5.5score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Information Complexity3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 0.9615score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Infrastructure3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 0.9667score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Religious Levels3 obs · 700 CE–900 CE | 3score900 CE · Seshat Equinox 2020 |
| Known Ancient Places2 obs · 627 CE–639 CE | 7places639 CE · Pleiades Gazetteer |
Rulers
25 on record with dated reigns. Reign years follow the house convention: BCE years are negative.
- Emperor Gaozu of TangEmperor of China618 CE – 626 CE
- Emperor Taizong of TangEmperor of China626 CE – 649 CE
- Emperor Gaozong of TangEmperor of China649 CE – 683 CE
- Emperor Ruizong of TangEmperor of China684 CE – 690 CE
- Emperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor of China684 CE
- Wu ZetianEmperor of China690 CE – 705 CE
- Emperor Shang of TangEmperor of China710 CE
- Emperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor of China712 CE – 756 CE
- Emperor Suzong of TangEmperor of China756 CE – 762 CE
- Emperor Daizong of TangEmperor of China762 CE – 779 CE
- Emperor Dezong of TangEmperor of China779 CE – 805 CE
- Emperor Shunzong of TangEmperor of China805 CE
- Emperor Xianzong of TangEmperor of China805 CE – 820 CE
- Emperor Muzong of TangEmperor of China820 CE – 824 CE
- Emperor Jingzong of TangEmperor of China824 CE – 827 CE
- Emperor Wenzong of TangEmperor of China827 CE – 840 CE
- Emperor Wuzong of TangEmperor of China840 CE – 846 CE
- Emperor Xuánzong of TangEmperor of China846 CE – 859 CE
- Emperor Yizong of TangEmperor of China859 CE – 873 CE
- Emperor Xizong of TangEmperor of China873 CE – 888 CE
- Huang ChaoEmperor of China881 CE – 884 CE
- Emperor Zhaozong of TangEmperor of China888 CE – 900 CE
- Li YuEmperor of China900 CE – 901 CE
- Emperor Ai of TangEmperor of China904 CE – 907 CE
- Emperor Taizu of Later LiangEmperor of China907 CE – 912 CE
Language & currency
- Currency
- ancient Chinese coinage
Sources
Every figure above comes from one of these. Nothing on this page is estimated, interpolated or model-generated.
Chandler/Modelski Historical Urban PopulationChandler 1987 / Modelski 2003
Chandler, T. (1987). Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth; Modelski, G. (2003). World Cities: -3000 to 2000.
Compiled from published works (Chandler 1987; Modelski 2003)
Seshat Global History Databank. Cliopatria: a historical basemap of polity borders (cliopatria.geojson).
Pleiades Gazetteer2024 snapshot
Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.). Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places.
CC BY 3.0
Seshat Equinox 2020Equinox 2020
Turchin, P. et al. Seshat Global History Databank, Equinox 2020 release.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Wikipedia contributors. Article lead sections, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Tang Dynasty is one of the polities with a sourced record deep enough to publish.