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Period: 2100 BCE to 1600 BCE
Xia (Hsia) Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Xia_Dynasty/
The Xia Dynasty was the first ancient dynasty founded by Huang-ti, The Yellow Emperor, who created Chinese culture. He is credited with developing medicine, agriculture, and production of silk.They tried to control the Yellow River's floods but they failed until, Yu constructed canals to lead water into the sea. Yu the Great became emperor and established a strong central government and organized the country into nine provinces. Later,the Xia dynasty declined and were overthrown. -
Period: 1600 BCE to 1050 BCE
Shang Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Shang_Dynasty/, http://www.ushistory.org/civ/9b.asp
The Shang dynasty was founded by Tang when he overthrew the Xia dynasty. Tang began govt-funded social programs to help the poor. The Shang used the rich soil made from the Yellow River for agriculture. They also developed ancestor worship. They used oracle bones for fortune telling. They built a social pyramid with classes such as nobility, merchants, and farmers.To build their cities, the Shang used the technique hangtu(stamped earth). Eventually, they declined and were overthrown by the Zhou. -
Period: 1046 BCE to 256 BCE
Zhou (Chou) Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Zhou_Dynasty/
The Zhou dynasty was founded when King Wu overthrew the Shang, who claimed the Mandate of Heaven. He moved the new capital to Luoyang. The Zhou decentralized central government, thus smaller states gained more power. From 772 to 476 BCE Thinkers from the Hundred Schools of Thought developed Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. Trading was their economic strength. The Zhou social system resembles feudalism in some ways. The decentralized govt weaken Zhou that eventually led to the Warring States. -
475 BCE
Period of Warring States begin, https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/warring-states-period.htm
The autonomous states of China during the Zhou Dynasty begin to war with one another. China falls into chaos. -
Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE
Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Qin_Dynasty/
The Qin dynasty was formed by Ying Zheng, who was the victor of the Warring States period. He then proclaimed himself Shihuangdi, "first emperor". The Qin's state policy was Legalism, where adherence to the law was paramount. Through this policy, social classes were changed, book-burnings occured, and a strong,centralized govt was formed. Shihuangdi also started projects such as the Great Wall and the terracotta army. Huangdi would eventually die, and uprisings would lead to the Han Dynasty. -
220 BCE
Great Wall begins construction, http://www.history.com/topics/great-wall-of-china
Shihuangdi begins the construction of the Great Wall of China, one of China's most recognizable achievements. -
Period: 206 BCE to 220
Han Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Han_Dynasty/
The founder of the Han dynasty was Emperor Gauzo who came to be the first to rule in this dynasty. During the reign of the dynasty, their territory expanded to Northern Vietnam, Inner Mongolia, Southern Manchuria, and Korea. Confucianism was the official state ideology and spred throughout China. Chinese calligraphy was later recognized as art. The Silk Road opening led to Emperor Wu's diplomaic missions to other rulers, discovery of new trade routes, & inc. in trade and cultural exchange. -
Period: 220 to 589
Period of Disunity (Six Dynasties), http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/period_of_disunion.php
Once the Han Dynasty fell, China fell into chaos with three different kingdoms called Wei(north), Shu(west), and Wu(South). Many warlords claimed the title of emperor and form a dynasty such as the Jin Dynasty formed by Sima Yan. Wars rocked this time period. The disunity finally ended when the Sui came to power. -
Period: 581 to 618
Sui Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Sui_Dynasty/
After three centuries of disunity, Yang Jian led the unification of China and founded the Sui Dynasty, becoming Emperor Wendi.
The Sui Dynasty would expand their territory. They made several changes to their govt such as improving administration, a new law code, and land reforms. The Equal Field System attempted to help farmers. Their main achievement would be the Grand Canal connecting Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, allowing for transport and trade. Rebellion would cause the Sui to fall. -
Period: 618 to 906
Tang (T'ang) Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Tang_Dynasty/ , https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tang-dynasty , http://totallyhistory.com/tang-dynasty-social-structure/
The Tang dynasty was founded by Li-Yuan who rebelled against the Sui dynasty and took control. He established the basic institutions of the Tang state,and a highly competent bureaucracy. During Xuanzong's reign he improved the economy using the Silk Road, maritime trading, and increased industry. Poetry was big during this time aswell as painting and pottery. The Tang dynasty had eight social classes, including the emperor, aristocracy, bureaucracy, eunuchs, clergy, artisans, traders and slaves. -
Period: 907 to 960
Five Dynasties Period(Ten Kingdoms), https://www.britannica.com/event/Five-Dynasties
After the Tang Dynasty fell, many leaders competed to form their own dynasties but no one dynasty succeeded. Five dynasties tried to reign but were each replaced by one another beginning with the first attempt in the Liang. At this time period, several kingdoms(10) ruled the southern part of China. Eventually the Song Dynasty would form and end this time period. -
Period: 960 to 1279
Song(Sung) Dynasty, https://www.ancient.eu/Song_Dynasty/
During China's period of chaos, a general named Zhao Kuangyin, called Taizu, formed the Song Dynasty. Confucianism would come back and influence Chinese politics. The economy of the Song was based on industry, agriculture, and silk road trade. Foot-binding would become a part of Chinese culture for women. The Song also focused on literature and they developed gunpowder. In 1125, the Song relocated to the Yangtze Valley due to attacks and in 1268, the Mongols invaded, causing the end of the Song. -
1205
Mongol invasions begin, https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/yuan.htm
The Mongols begin to invade China during the Song Dynasty. -
Period: 1279 to 1368
Yuan Dynasty, http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/yuan_dynasty.php
The Song were conquered by the Mongol Empire, and Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty. Their capital was Dadu(Beijing). The Yuan employed Chinese officials to run the govt but they were surveyed. They also instituted social classes based on race with the Mongols at top and Southern Song Chinese the lowest. During this time, technology, transportation, and the arts advanced. Paper money was first introduced in this time period. The Yuan would be overthrown by the Ming. -
Period: 1368 to
Ming Dynasty, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ming-dynasty-Chinese-history, https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/ming.htm, http://thegoldenageofchinamingdynasty.weebly.com/social-structure.html
After revolting, Zhu Yuanzhang, later called Hongwu, founded the Ming Dynasty. The Ming would perfect the civil service system and made it widespread. They would also strengthen the Great Wall to keep invaders out. Feudalism declined and capitalism grew. Porcelain became vital to the economy. Architecture and literature would be the Ming's main accomplishments. The Ming would continue using the 4 classes for social structure. Eventually the Ming declined, and the Manchu would take over. -
Period: to
Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Qing-dynasty
The Qing dynasty was founded by the Manchus when the capital at Beijing was captured and took this opportunity to take over. By doing this they were able to have half high-level officials who were Manchu and use the Manchu Banner system. After a treaty with Russia they extended their boundaries to the Argun River,and fourty years later include outer Mongolia, Tibet, Dzungaria, Turistan, and Nepal. Their financial system was commerce and handicaft. Scientific methods of philology were developed. -
Period: to
Qing (Ch'in) Dynasty, cont.
Roman Catholic missionaries were employed as astronomers and artist. As a result painting, printmaking, and porcelain productions increased. After floods and famine occured, the people were unhappy and this lead to rebellions. Lack of bureaucracy and corruption spread throughout China. -
First Opium War begins, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Opium-Wars
Britain goes to war with China after China attempts to suppress the illegal opium trading going on in its land. -
Second Opium War begins(Arrow War), https://www.britannica.com/topic/Opium-Wars
After tensions flare when the British ship, Arrow was boarded, Britain is joined by France in a renewed war against China. -
Period: to
Republic, http://totallyhistory.com/the-republic-of-china-1912-1949/, http://chinesehistorydigest.com/republicofchina.html, https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/history-republic.htm
When the last dynasty, the Qing fell, Sun Yat-sen would become the first president of the Republic of China. Chiang Kai-Shek would be well known for establishing the govt and beginning the Nanjing Decade, which brought development in economy and democracy. In this time, the New Culture Movement would drastically change Chinese culture and social structure by eliminating what was considered old and bringing in the new. Conflict with Japan and civil war would cause the Republic fall. -
Second Sino-Japanese War begins, https://www.britannica.com/event/Sino-Japanese-War-1937-1945
After China is invaded during World War 2, Chinese resistance forms to combat Japanese forces in a long and brutal war. -
Chinese Civil War begins, http://alphahistory.com/chineserevolution/chinese-civil-war/
The Nationalists and the Chinese Communist Party fight for control of China. -
Period: to
People's Republic of China, http://totallyhistory.com/peoples-republic-of-china-1949-to-present/ , http://www.beyondtheborder.org/teachers_guides/art_and_ideology.pdf , http://no2.mofcom.gov.cn/article/aboutchina/custom/200903/20090306117657.shtml
The People's Republic of China was established by Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party. During the early years there was mass starvations, malnutrition, and many diseases. There's four social classes made up of workers, peasants, petite bourgeoisie, and the national capitalist. Their source of finance is agriculture, nationalized banking, industry, and trade. It's art ranged from socialist realism to the cultual revolution, and their religion was buddism,taoism, islam, and christianity.
