What were the ups and downs in Southern and Northern Dynasties?
In the south, there were four consecutive dynasties -the Song, the Qi, the Liang and the Chen. Since all the southern regimes established their capital in present Nanjing City, they got a general term the Southern Dynasties.

, Shanxi Province, marking the beginning of the Northern Dynasties.

In 471, the Emperor Xiaowen of the Wei relocated his capital in Luoyang and vigorously promoted the learning of the Han culture. He ordered his men to dress up like the Han people, speak their language and adopt the surname of Han's. He also encouraged the intermarriage between the Xianbei people and the Han and employed many Han officials in the court. Moreover, in economy, Emperor Xiaowen promulgated a decree to implement the land equalization system. All this contributed to the development of the society and the amalgamation of the Chinese nationalities.
During this time, hereditary big families underwent their downfall after long-time social prominence ever since the Western Jin Dynasty (265 - 316). Although they still held the noble status, they could no longer meddle in the state affairs. Meanwhile the normal scholars enjoyed the most favorable opportunity and were trusted important assignments by the ruling class. The emperors retrieved the real power over the country.
However, the reform encountered strong objection from the conservative force among the Xianbei aristocrats. After the Emperor Xiaowen died, his reform was revoked, which intensified the conflicts inside the ruling class between the Xianbei and the Han aristocrats. Before long, the Wei Empire was broken up into the Eastern Wei and the Northern Wei, which later were supplanted respectively by the Northern Qi (550-557) and the Northern Zhou (557-581). Historically, the Northern Dynasties referred to the regimes of the Northern Wei, the Eastern Wei, the Western Wei, the Northern Zhou and the Northern Qi.
Although the confrontation during this time held back the development of the social productivity, the amalgamation of different ethnic groups reached its unprecedented stage. And thanks to the southern regimes, though short-lived, otherwise Chinese civilization would be vandalized if the whole country were under the control of the ethnic group.

Science and Technology

During this period of near-constant political and military strife, achievements on agriculture, chronometer and mechanical manufacture found a farther way.

"Notes on Water Classic" written by Li Daoyuan was important geographic work. This comprehensive geographic work recorded the hydrology of the Yangtze River area including detailed records of the source, vegetation, relief and networks of 1252 rivers and watercourses with ample illustrations and maps. Ancient watermarks in the form of 14-scaled fish and inscriptions have been found in White Crane Ridge in today's Chongqing. Those records of the hydrology of the Yangtze River accord with the narration in this book.

Thoughts and Religions
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Northern Wei rulers were ardent supporters of Buddhism, a foreign religion utilized as a theocratic power for ideological and social control of the predominantly Chinese population. So Buddhism grew rapidly as a nationwide religion despite the demolition incidents. Buddhism found a receptive audience in China, while the influence of Confucianism waned.

Buddhist monastic establishment grew rapidly at that time. By 477 there were reportedly 6,478 Buddhist temples and 77,258 monks and nuns in the north. The south was said to have 2,846 temples and 82,700 clerics some decades later. Emperor Wu of Liang had even contributed himself to experience as a Buddhist disciple in a temple for three times. In Jiankang (today’s Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province), Buddhist temples added up to 500 with 10000 monks.
In the north, large amounts of Buddhist caves and temples were built. Mogao Grottoes in today's Dunhuang, Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang were famous as “the Four Great Grottoes”. They were all flourishing centers of Buddhist culture in its glory.

Metaphysics

Due to instability and turbulence in this period, people felt pessimistic about their life and fate, therefore escapism and pessimism became a prevailed ideology. Metaphysics, a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, substance and attribute, fact and value further brought out a further deteriorated result. Literati rejected moral creeds and social rules, and practiced idle talk by immersion. It accelerated the decline of this era.

Literature and Art

Up to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, poets became increasingly interested in more lyric verses in which poetries sang their feeling and emotion by narrations of natural landscapes. Xie Lingyun was a typical one.
Another form of poet was Yuefu Poem - a more populace one generated from the common people. It took a more rustic way rather than stylish and the contents mainly concern labors and people's daily life. With prevail of literature, some literature critiques appeared and among them “Wen Xi Diao Long” written by Liuxie of the Northern Qi is remarkable.