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The fall of the Han Dynasty created a time of instability for Chinese dynasties. The end of the Han Dynasty was marked by the flooding of the Yellow River and regional conflicts. For many years, China was unstable and unable to follow a dynasty peacefully. -
The Sui Dynasty reunited China after hundreds of years of instability. The Sui Dynasty restarted the Grand Canal, which greatly increased the amount of trade from the North to South. The Sui Dynasty also repaired and improved the Great Wall. -
The Grand Canal was constructed during the Sui Dynasty. Because all of the rivers in China flow east to west, the Grand Canal flowed north to south to allow access to more of China. It greatly increased the amount of trade and made merchants’ lives easier. -
The Sui Dynasty was short-lived, but very impactful. It collapsed largely due to economic challenges. The Sui Dynasty became too large and spent too much on military forces to allow it to function properly. -
The Tang Dynasty was defined by its rich culture and successful government style. After overthrowing the Sui Dynasty, they were able to create one of the most powerful Chinese Dynasties in post-classical China. The Tang Dynasty flourished for a long time. -
The end of the Tang Dynasty is similar to many other dynasties' ends. The central government, which was once strong, had feuding leaders and political scandals. The Tang Dynasty was fully broken up by 907 CE. -
After the fall of the Tang Dynasty, ten independent kingdoms arose. These kingdoms were all ruled separately from each other. No ruler could agree with another, so they had individual political systems. -
The Song Dynasty was a time of economic and cultural prosperity. Many inventions were created during this time, like paper money, which made merchant's lives easier. The Song Dynasty fostered the beliefs of Neo-Confucianism and allowed the time to be fairly peaceful. -
The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. The Mongols were a nomadic and uniquely adaptable group of people. The Mongols would go on to be the second largest empire in the history of our world. -
The Mongols attacked the thriving Song Dynasty. The Mongols, with their violent tactics and well-trained army made it all the way to Beijing by 1215. The Mongols were victorious. -
The Yuan Dynasty, while it was officially a Chinese dynasty, was under the rule of the Mongols. This dynasty led to the Mongols adopting many Chinese ways of culture and politics. It was also the first dynasty to be ruled by leaders who are foreigners to the country. -
While the Song Dynasty did survive the Mongols, they do eventually come to an end. A few causes include political corruption, invasions, and a weak military strength. The Song Dynasty collapsed, but left the world better in many ways. -
Over in North America, the city of Tenochtitlan grew the Aztec Empire. Tenochtitlan was located where modern-day Mexico City is. They had a complex social structure with a strictly followed social hierarchy. They followed a polytheistic religion with many gods and goddesses. -
After a long rule over China and many winning battles, the Mongols came to an end. Their peak being in 1259, they lasted over 100 years after it. The Mongols end is signified by their loss of control over the Yuan Dynasty. -
In China, after defeating the Mongols, the Ming Dynasty was set up well for a great culture and political system. The Ming Dynasty strengthened the Great Wall and experienced the population doubling in size. They ruled through traditional Confucianism and had an organized system. -
Under Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, Chinese explorer Zheng He begins voyages into the Indian Ocean. These voyages increased culture and trade knowledge for the Ming Dynasty. Their ships, called Junks, were the largest ships in the world. -
After the death of Emperor Yongle, the voyages of Zheng He concluded. The Ming Dynasty decided that their journeys had accomplished their goals. They focused less on voyages and more on agriculture. -
The Incan Empire was a highly centralized state with grand culture. They were located in South America. Incan people were not taxed; however, they completed public works projects through their "Mita" system as tax. They used Quipu, a collection of knotted strings, to communicate. -
The Aztec rule fell to the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés. The Aztecs were forced out of their land or killed by invaders. Despite their brutal ending, the Aztec's innovations and cultural practices greatly benefitted the future generations. -
In 1532, the decline of the Inca began with a battle between the Spanish and the Incas with the result of the Incan leader being killed. While the Incas were able to hold off the Spanish for longer, their culture and economy fell apart. Finally, the Spanish defeated and conquered the Inca.