Download Chinese Dynasties

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Homework: Finish Chinese Culture Post-It by tomorrow
Chinese Dynasties
Nearly 3000 Years From the Qin to the Qing
The Legacy of the Chinese Dynasties
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Dynastic rule in China lasts for nearly 3000 years
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From about 1700BC to 1911AD
Many different dynasties (ruling families) control
China during this period
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Also 2 outside groups invade and control China, but adopt
Chinese names
**Several of these many dynasties are noteworthy for their
style of rule, achievements, and contribution to history
Qin – the First Empire
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221BC – 206BC
Chinese states and kingdoms first united under one ruler,
Shi Huangdi (“First Emperor”)
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The name “China” comes from the name of this dynasty
Qin – The Rule of
Shi Huangdi
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Legalist principles adopted to govern the empire
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General improvements
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Strict, harsh and uniform laws
Centralized power in his own hands
Standardized weights and measures
Improved transportation by building roads
Helped farmers by initiating irrigation projects
Banned/burned Confucian books and persecuted
Confucian scholars
The Great Wall – joined other, smaller walls together and
extended its reach
Qin – The Fall of Shi Huangdi
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Shi’s policies were mostly successful in uniting and
strengthening the empire
But the taxes required to accomplish many of these
tasks placed a burden on many
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Great Wall, public works projects also require peasant
labor
Nobles also resented his control of ideas and knowledge
After his death, revolts break out in China
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A peasant leader named Liu Bang overthrows the Qin
and begins a new dynasty – the Han
The Qin Dynasty
The Han
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206BC – 220AD; First ruler – Liu Bang
China extends its empire into central Asia
The Rule of the Han
• Lasts for around 400 years
• Chinese goods travel the Silk Road all the
way to the Middle East and beyond
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Chinese contribute
silk, jade and bronze
Chinese receive
products from India
and Asia, and learn
about other cultures
as well
The Rule of the Han
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Restored Confucian ideas in government
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Ideas/inventions developed during this time include:
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Government should be run by most intelligent and talented in
society
Paper, seismograph, measurement of the pulse, astronomy,
irrigation systems, foot stirrup
Chinese establish a rigorous exam system in order to
determine which individuals in society were worthy of
prestigious government jobs
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This civil service system exists until the early 1900’s
The Han
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Peasant rebellions, internal fighting and power
struggles mark the end of the Han period
Over the next 400 years, no major dynasty exists,
but several smaller rulers maintained power
The Tang Dynasty
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Lasts from 618AD –
907AD
Emerges after period of
frequent dynastic changes
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Sometimes coupled with a
prior dynasty, the Sui
Distinction of having the
only female empress in
Chinese history
The Tang Dynasty
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Canals built during and before this
dynasty help to unite the empire
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Increase trade, transportation and
communication
Growth of rice increases dramatically
due to new inventions
Policy of taxation by person, not by land,
indicates well-developed census system
Compiled the Tang code; earliest Chinese
system of laws that still exists
The Tang Dynasty
The Sang
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Lasts from 960AD –
1279AD
Under both the Tang and the
Sang, China enjoyed times of
peace
Achievements of The Sang
• The Sang constructed a navy to facilitate and protect their
trade interests
•Became a great sea power for a time
•Utilized inventions of rudder, gunpowder and the
magnetic compass
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Literature and the arts
flourished; poetry and painting
become popular
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Block printing and movable type
were also invented during this time
These advancements also
contributed to the increase in
literacy
The Sang Dynasty
The Mongol Invasions
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During the early 1200’s, Mongols emerge as a
strong threat to powers in Asia
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Genghis Khan captured a vast empire during by 1227
After his death, his empire was split among his sons
The Yuan (Mongol) dynasty
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Kublai Khan extends Mongol empire to include all of China by 1279
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Rule was difficult since Mongols and Chinese were very different
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Adopts the name Yuan as a ruling family
Tried to reduce the role of Confucian scholars and preserve Mongol culture in
China; Yuan allowed no Chinese officials in government
In the end, the Mongols made better warriors than governors, and the
Chinese were able to overthrow them in 1368
The Yuan (Mongol) dynasty
The Ming Dynasty
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Rules China from 1368AD – 1644AD
Peasant leader named Zhu Yuanzhang drives
Mongols out of China and claims the Mandate
of Heaven
The Ming Dynasty
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Ming attempt to return China to peace and prosperity that
had existed under Tang/Sang
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Revived use of Confucian ideas
Moved the capital to Beijing; the “Forbidden City”
Much of what we know of the Great Wall was built or rebuilt
during this period
Sent large expeditions overseas to re-establish trade and
their power at sea
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But at some point in history, the Ming begin to cut off their trade
and contact with the outside world
Exact reason is unknown; but this allows others to assume a more
powerful position on the world stage (i.e., Europe)
The Ming Dynasty
The Qing – China’s Last Dynasty
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Lasts from 1644AD – 1911AD
Invaders from Manchu region in northeast China
conquer the Ming
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Dynasty also known as the “Manchu” dynasty
The Qing – China’s Last Dynasty
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The Manchus did not attempt to assimilate into
Chinese culture
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Passed laws preventing intermixing of cultures
Required Chinese men to adopt Manchu
clothing; try to outlaw foot binding but are
unsuccessful
Created dual positions in government for
Chinese and Manchus
During this time, European influence became
very strong in China
The Qing – China’s Last Dynasty
Review
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From which dynasty does the name “China”
come from?
Name a major achievement, invention or
development that occurred during the dynastic
period in China
Which outside groups founded the Yuan and
the Qing dynasty?
During which dynasty was European influence
the strongest?