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Period: 220 to
Warring States
China split up into separate states. While Buddhism spread throughout the country, centralized government fell apart. Nothing else noteworthy happened during this time. -
Period: Jan 1, 1279 to Dec 31, 1368
The Yuan Dynasty
The Mongolians conquered most of Asia, and China reached the largest size it has ever been by merging with Mongolia. Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, ruled from Cambulac, what is now known as Beijing. Most military and government jobs were reserved to Mongolians only, to keep themselves in power. At the same time, Marco Polo also began his expedition through the continent, and his writings about the culture and the people would become very influential to those back in his native Europe. -
Period: Jan 1, 1368 to
Ming Dynasty
The Mongols were overthrown by peasant leader Zhu Yuanzhang, who organized an army to push the Mongolians past the Great Wall. Under this new rule, the civil service system was restored, as well as the philosophy of Confucianism. The economy thrived, and there was a surplus of rice, as well as crops from Europe and N. America. Print books and porcelain become very prominent forms of technology. -
Period: Jan 1, 1392 to
Choson Dynasty
The last and longest Korean dynasty. Hangul, their alphabet, was developed, Confucianism impacted the peoples' way of thinking, including the way the government was created. While many ideas were based off of the Chinese, the Koreans did invent their own "turtle boats" to ward off Japanese invaders. -
Period: to
Qing / Manchu Dynasty
During this dynasty, China was conquered the Manchurians, who supported Confucians ideas, yet made restrictions on trade, although they did trade with N. America. The last Chinese emperor was forced into giving up the throne in 1912, thus ending the country's long line of dynasties. -
Period: to
Sui & Tang Dynasties
For a few decades, during the Sui Dynasty, China was unified, before being taken over by the Tang family. The capital became the very beginning of the Silk Road, and silk itself became a rare and expensive trade item, a luxury only the rich could afford. A hierarchy formed, with the emperor at the top of the social ladder, and merchants at the bottom, along with women. However, it was possible to move up in rank. Unfortunately, the Tang Dynasty came to an end after being destroyed by rebellion. -
Period: to Dec 31, 1185
The Heian Period
This was a very important time in Japan. During this time, Heian was the capital, and was the center for emperors and families of wealth. Beauty and ettiquette were especially valued during this time, and men studied Chinese, while women were forbidden from doing so. However, women wrote some important works of literature, including the first full-length novel, The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu. -
Period: to Dec 31, 1279
Song Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty split into 5 kingdoms, before being reunited by the Song family. During this Dynasty, the power shifted from the aristocrats to the gifted, intelligent people. Art and literature flourished under this society, as it did with the Tang Dynasty before it. Irrigation systems were improved to help peasants produce more rice, and magnetic compasses and gunpowder were also invented. The Song Dynasty came to an end after being conquered by Genghis Khan.