The Dynasties of China

Overview

• Time span of the dynasties– 21st century B.C. thru1911 A.D.– Almost 4000 years

• Over 30 different dynasties• We have already discussed a few of these

dynasties. We will pick up after the Qin Dynasty

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Xian_museum.jpg

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

Three Kingdoms (190 to 589 A.D.)

The earlier, "unofficial" part of the period, was marked by chaotic infighting between warlords in various parts of China.

The middle part of the period, was marked by a more militarily stable arrangement between three rival states, Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu.

The later part of this period was marked by the collapse of the tripartite situation: 589 AD the Sui Dynasty would reunite China.

Sui Dynasty (581-617)

• Reunified China in 589Reunified China in 589

• High Taxes and High Taxes and Compulsory LaborCompulsory Labor

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

• Campaign against Korea Campaign against Korea in the early 7in the early 7thth century century

• A lot of revolts and A lot of revolts and assassinationsassassinations

The Grand Canal

• Longest in the world• 5 million workers• Built to supply the

standing army and the capitol with grain

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• Gunpowder inventedGunpowder invented

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poE_nNW9-yk

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Cont’dBetter government systemBetter government system• Civil service examination Civil service examination

and other competitive and other competitive entrance procedures (why?)entrance procedures (why?)

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

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

Fragmentation of China againFragmentation of China againWars and Invaders from the Wars and Invaders from the northnorth

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Centralized bureaucracy Centralized bureaucracy (powerful emperor)(powerful emperor)(regional governors (regional governors centrally centrally appointed officials) appointed officials)

Commerce developments (foreign Commerce developments (foreign trade by land and sea)trade by land and sea)

Mercantile classMercantile class• Movable type invented !!!!!!!!!!!!Movable type invented !!!!!!!!!!!!• Printing and education spreadPrinting and education spread• Private trade grewPrivate trade grew• Market network grewMarket network grew