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 589

High Taxes and Compulsory Labor

Completion of the Grand Canal (connect Yellow and Yangtze/ Beijing to Hangzhou)

Campaign against Korea in the early 7th century

A lot of revolts and assassinations

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

High point of Chinese civilization (comparable to Han Dynasty)

Golden age of literature and art• India and Middle-East

relations stimulated creativity

• Buddhism (from India) was widely promoted (Confucius era)

• Block printing was invented

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Cont’d

Better government system• Civil service examination and

other competitive entrance procedures (why?)

• Independent from aristocracy and warlords (why? How?)

• “Scholar-officials” (who? duty and privileges?)

Fragmentation of China (5 north dynasties, 10 south kingdoms)

• Economic, politic, societal reasons + Arab wars

• North invaders

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

2 Phases: Northern (960-1127) and Southern Song (1127-1279) Centralized bureaucracy (more power on emperor)(regional governors centrally appointed officials) City developments (admin., trade, industry,

maritime commerce)Mercantile class• Printing and education spread• Private trade grew• Market network grewThe Neo Confucius Philosophy (by Zhu Xi)

inhibited pre modern societal development

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)Mongolian Rule

• Kublai Khan• Established the Yuan

dynasty (1279-1368• Moves Capital to Bejing• Marco Polo visits

Bejing• Drama and novels are

developed

Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644)

Construction of the Forbidden City

Completion of the Great Wall

Ocean voyages as far as Africa by Zheng He

Ch’ing Dynasty (1644 – 1911)

Expansion and unification

Opium Wars

Boxer Rebellion