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Aristocrats received nearly all the jobs in the government bureaucracy despite the use of civil service examinations.  Under the Tang Dynasty, there was peace and a strong economy.  Many new inventions were produced.

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Song emperors reunified the country.  They built on the civil service system to reform how government officials were chosen.  Under Song emperors, the idea of scholar-officials reached its height.  The Song relied on civil service exams and opened them up to far more candidates.  In this way, they created a meritocracy.

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Under the Mongols, Chinese society was divided into four classes.  The Mongols were at the top.  Next came foreigners who were their friends.  The third class was made up of the northern Chinese, who were more accustomed to the Mongols than were the southerners.  The southern Chinese came last.  Kublai Khan ended the system of civil service exams.  To fill important positions, he chose other Mongols whom he felt he could trust. Some of these people were his relatives.

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Under Ming emperors, civil service exams were again used to fill government positions. This system lasted into the 20th century.  In many ways, the exam system served China well. It provided a well-organized government. The education of its scholar-officials emphasized moral behavior, justice, kindness, loyalty to the emperor, proper conduct, and the importance of family. These values helped to unify Chinese culture.  The civil service system gave poor men who were ambitious and hard-working the chance to be government officials. At the same time, it ensured that officials were trained and talented, not merely rich or related to the emperor.