China under the Song Dynasty

Commentary

China under the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty emerged in southern China in 960 as its first emperor took over the throne from the later Zhou dynasty. The Song empire lasted until 1279, when China fell to the Mongols. During the Song dynasty, parts of what is now modern China were governed by the Liao and the Western Jia dynasties. The map above records the greatest extent of the Song dynasty in 1111.