The Dynasties of China Steve Balaski Kathy Boran Renee Crow Sendjaja Tjajadi
Feb 07, 2016
The Dynasties of China
Steve BalaskiKathy BoranRenee Crow
Sendjaja Tjajadi
Overview
• Time span of the dynasties– 21st century B.C. thru– 1911 A.D.– Almost 4000 years
• Over 30 different dynasties• We will present 13 of the most important
one.
Xia Dynasty(21st until 16th B.C.)
• First prehistoric dynasty• Excavations made at Anyang, Henan in 1928• Evolutionary stage between:
– Late Neolithic culture • Hunter gatherers• Stone tools
– Chinese civilization• Agricultural communities• Silk and pottery
Shang Dynasty(17st until 11th B.C.)
• Cradle of Chinese civilization– Based on agriculture– Developed a writing system– High level of civilization: bronze
workmanship
• Ruled by kings– Cities were centers of glittering court life – Court rituals honoring ancestors– Slaves buried alive in royal tombs
Zhou Dynasty10th until 2nd century B.C.
• Capital at Hao (near Xi’an) in Wei Valley• Ruled much of China north of Yangtze river• Extended Shang culture• Early rule: Feudal
– Decentralized; control based on family ties• Later: City States
– Central control over local governments – Impersonal political and economic institutions– Culture: philosophy, poetry and prose
Qin (221 until 207 B.C.)
• Achievements:– Standardized language & Writing– Standardized currency– Standardized measurements– Public Works
• Great Wall• Roads & Irrigation canals
• Leader: Shi Huangdi
Western Han (206 B.C.- 9 A.D.)
Eastern Han (25-225 A.D.)
• Achievements:– Silk Road
• Better Tools—Iron– Agriculture
» Crop Rotation
– Education– Paper and Porcelain
Xin (9 - 24 A.D.)
• Brief Interlude
• One Family Member had too much power
• Introduced Imperial Seal
Three Kingdoms (220-280 A.D.)
Western & Eastern Jin (265-315 A.D.)
Southern & Northern
(420-588 A.D.)
Sui Dynasty (581-617)
Reunified China in 589Reunified China in 589
High Taxes and Compulsory LaborHigh Taxes and Compulsory Labor
Completion of the Grand Canal (connect Yellow Completion of the Grand Canal (connect Yellow and Yangtze/ Beijing to Hangzhou)and Yangtze/ Beijing to Hangzhou)
Campaign against Korea in the early 7Campaign against Korea in the early 7thth century century
A lot of revolts and assassinationsA lot of revolts and assassinations
Tang Dynasty (618-907)
High point of Chinese High point of Chinese civilization (comparable to civilization (comparable to Han Dynasty)Han Dynasty)
Golden age of literature and artGolden age of literature and art• India and Middle-East India and Middle-East
relations stimulated relations stimulated creativitycreativity
• Buddhism (from India) was Buddhism (from India) was widely promoted (Confucius widely promoted (Confucius era)era)
• Block printing was inventedBlock printing was invented
Tang Dynasty (618-907) Cont’d
Better government systemBetter government system• Civil service examination and Civil service examination and
other competitive entrance other competitive entrance procedures (why?)procedures (why?)
• Independent from aristocracy Independent from aristocracy and warlords (why? How?)and warlords (why? How?)
• ““Scholar-officials” (who? duty Scholar-officials” (who? duty and privileges?)and privileges?)
Fragmentation of China (5 north Fragmentation of China (5 north dynasties, 10 south kingdoms)dynasties, 10 south kingdoms)
• Economic, politic, societal Economic, politic, societal reasons + Arab warsreasons + Arab wars
• North invadersNorth invaders
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
2 Phases: Northern (960-1127) and 2 Phases: Northern (960-1127) and Southern Song (1127-1279) Southern Song (1127-1279) Centralized bureaucracy (more power on emperor)Centralized bureaucracy (more power on emperor)(regional governors (regional governors centrally appointed officials) centrally appointed officials) City developments (admin., trade, industry, maritime commerce)City developments (admin., trade, industry, maritime commerce)Mercantile classMercantile class• Printing and education spreadPrinting and education spread• Private trade grewPrivate trade grew• Market network grewMarket network grewThe Neo Confucius Philosophy (by Zhu Xi) The Neo Confucius Philosophy (by Zhu Xi) inhibited pre modern societal inhibited pre modern societal
development development
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)Mongolian Rule
• Kublai KhanKublai Khan• Established the Yuan Established the Yuan
dynasty (1279-1368dynasty (1279-1368• Moves Capital to BejingMoves Capital to Bejing• Marco Polo visits Marco Polo visits
BejingBejing• Drama and novels are
developed
Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644)
Construction of the Forbidden City
Completion of the Great WallCompletion of the Great Wall
Ocean voyages as far as Africa by Zheng HeOcean voyages as far as Africa by Zheng He
Ch’ing Dynasty (1644 – 1911)
Expansion and Expansion and unificationunification
Opium WarsOpium Wars
Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion