CHINA OVERVIEW:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINESE

DYNASTIES
Based on Student Handouts, Inc.
DISCUSSION OF INTRODUCING CHINA, THE
VIDEO CLIP
 Site
http://www.csulb.edu/lats/itss/design/video/flash/aaas/xi
e/china.html

1. What are the basic facts about China?

2. List some dynasties in Chinese history and major
historical persons.
3. Describe some aspects of modern China, e.g. economy,
life, education, etc.
ANCIENT HISTORY
 By 4000 BC
Village settlements along Huang He River
Farming, stone tools, weapons (bow and
arrow), animal domestication, pottery

 About 1500 BC
Picture
writing (oldest writing in existence)
Now about 40,000 characters
WHAT ARE
DYNASTIES?
 A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family.
 Historically, royal rule was descended from father to son.

DYNASTIC CYCLE
1. Emperor comes to power and gains the Mandate of Heaven.

2. Upward rise (wealth and population increase) to peak.

3. Downward spiral (natural disasters, corruption, etc.).

4. Emperor loses the Mandate of Heaven.

5. Civil war until a new emperor, with the Mandate of Heaven,

comes to power.
MANDATE OF HEAVEN – Described by philosopher
Mencius
 Belief that the emperor was chosen by heaven to rule 天子 .
XIA (A.K.A. HSIA) DYNASTY
(2070-1600 BC)

China’s first dynasty

Founded by Yu 禹

Built roads and irrigation

projects 大禹治水
SHANG DYNASTY
(1600-1046 BC)

Writing began

Developed bronze,
glazed pottery, and
silk industries
ZHOU (A.K.A. CHOU) DYNASTY
(1045-256 BC)
Invaded China from the northwest
Set up a loose central government
Feudal power held by strong nobles

Philosophers

Confucius
Mencius (his follower)
QIN 秦 (A.K.A. CHIN) DYNASTY
(221-206 BCE)
 Military
dictatorship centralized China
 Emperor Shih Huang Ti （ Qin Shihuang
秦始皇） Destroyed nobles’ feudal power
System of taxation
Established weights and measures
Great Wall (1500 miles)
HAN DYNASTY
(206-220 AB)
 Conquerors
 Empire – central Asia to China Sea,
Indochina to Korea
 Trade

Chinese fruits, silks, and spices in Rome

(1st century )
Buddhism came from India
 Civil service system
 First paper made
TANG DYNASTY
(618-906 BC)
 400 years of warfare between Han and Tang
dynasties
 Tang reunited China

 T’ai Tsung ( 唐太宗 )

 Emperor in 627 BC
 Education and government reforms
 Extended boundaries
 Alliances and peace treaties with neighbors

 Industry and trade

 Jade porcelain, and silks to Arabia, India, Japan, and
Persia
SONG (A.K.A. SUNG) DYNASTY
(960-1279)
Disorder between Tang and Sung
dynasties

Culture superior to that of medieval

Europe

Powerful only in southern China

YUAN DYNASTY - MONGOL RULE
(1259-1368)
 CentralAsian nomads
 Genghis Khan 成吉思汗

Conquered Asia, including China

 Kublai Khan 忽必烈汗

Grandson of Genghis
Visited by Marco Polo ( 馬可波羅 Venetian)
 Ruled for about 100 years

Capital – Peking (Beijing)

 Trade with Europe begun
MING DYNASTY
(1368-1644)
 Overthrew Mongols
 Chinese natives

 Beautified Peking (Beijing)

 Encouraged trade with Europe

 Gave Europeans:
 Gunpowder
 Jade
 Playing cards
 Porcelain
 Silk
 Tea
QING DYNASTY (MANCHU RULE)
(1644-1912)
Manchurians conquered China,
Indochina, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet,
eastern Turkestan
China prospered
Western pressure brought about
Manchu overthrow in 1912
Ended with birth of Chinese Republic
REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA

 1911- Revolution 辛亥革命 （ Xinhai Revolution ）

1912 - Founding of the Republic of China (ROC) 中華
民國
 1949 – Founding of the People’s Republic of China
(PRC) 中華人民共和國
ASSIGNMENT FOR AUGUST 29, UNIT 1
HISTORY
a.      Read item 1 or 2 from the list below. Use 3 and 4 as supplementary materials. Prepare for
discussion in class.
1.     HCC Introduction pp 1-13, 20-27
2.     Condensed China: Chinese history for beginners http://condensedchina.com/
3.     Chinese Cultural Studies: A Brief Chinese
Chronology http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/chron.html
4.     History Timeline http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/time_line.html
 
b.     Class discussion questions:
1.     How long is China’s history? List some important Dynasties in Chinese history.
2.     Who was the first emperor who unified the country and what did he do?
3.     Which dynasties in Chinese history were very powerful?
4.     What important events happened since 1911? What is the significance of the events?
 
c.      Do Internet search and find some interesting recourses related to Chinese history. Share them in
class on 9/3.