907 CE
The Tang dynasty, one of the greatest and most cosmopolitan empires in Chinese history, came to an end after nearly three centuries of rule, giving way to the fragmented Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Politics & Power
- The Tang dynasty formally ended when the last emperor, Ai Di, was deposed by the military governor Zhu Wen, who established the Later Liang dynasty. The fall of the Tang marked the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a half-century of political fragmentation in China.
- The Tang dynasty at its height had been one of the most powerful and culturally influential states in world history, with its capital Chang'an serving as the largest city in the world and a cosmopolitan hub connecting East Asia to Central Asia and beyond.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 276 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Population & Demographics
- World population is estimated to have been approximately 280 million.