Download Change and Continuity Over Time Essay

Change and Continuity Over Time Essay
Topic: Political and Cultural Changes and Continuities in China 100 CE – 600 CE

Beginning
Strong central government

Middle
Weak central government

End
Rebuilding central government

Powerful aristocracy

Weak/irrelevant aristocracy with

Weak aristocracy split between

United North and South

Confucianism is the major

Separate North and South

Reuniting North and South
philosophy

Buddhism is the major philosophy

Buddhism is the major philosophy
Fighting between Eunuchs and State

External invaders take North China

External invasion threatens Sui
Officials

Peasant rebellions cause instability


External invasion and rebellion
infighting
in Southern China
factions
rulers

Peasants rebel against corrupt/harsh
government
Changes: The central government fell apart during the middle period but was rebuilt during the Sui dynasty; the aristocracy lost power after
the fall of the Han dynasty; the North and South split after the fall of the Han dynasty and were not reunited until the Sui dynasty; Buddhism
grew as a philosophy.
Continuities: Peasant rebellions threatened the government; external invasion influenced local politics and decisions; infighting and corruption
among the aristocracy continued.
THESIS: Although Chinese civilization changed in many ways between 100 and 600 CE, including the disintegration of the Han and Jin
central governments, the decline of the Chinese aristocracy, and the separation into Northern and Southern dynasties, several major traits of the
civilization remained the same. These were the threat of peasant uprisings, the presence of infighting among the aristocracy, and the threat of
external intrusion into Chinese lands.