Dynasties | Southern Song Dynasty 1127-1279

After the loss of Northern China the South held on for another 150 years before they succumbed to the invading Mongol army.

Advance continued in many areas notably in agriculture, trade and commerce. Knowledge of seafaring acquired from the Arabs was soon applied and improved. Paper money was in widespread usage. Architecture took a leap forward, books on medicine and herbs were compiled. The landscape paintings of this period are highly prized and show near photographic realism of birds and flowers.