Steve Balaski Kathy Boran Renee Crow Sendjaja Tjajadi The Dynasties of China Steve Balaski Kathy Boran Renee Crow Sendjaja Tjajadi

Overview Time span of the dynasties Over 30 different dynasties 21st century B.C. thru 1911 A.D. Almost 4000 years Over 30 different dynasties We will present 13 of the most important one.

Xia Dynasty (21st until 16th B.C.) First prehistoric dynasty Excavations made at Anyang, Henan in 1928 Evolutionary stage between: Late Neolithic culture Hunter gatherers Stone tools Chinese civilization Agricultural communities Silk and pottery

Shang Dynasty (17st until 11th B.C.) Cradle of Chinese civilization Based on agriculture Developed a writing system High level of civilization: bronze workmanship Ruled by kings Cities were centers of glittering court life Court rituals honoring ancestors Slaves buried alive in royal tombs

Zhou Dynasty 10th until 2nd century B.C. Capital at Hao (near Xi’an) in Wei Valley Ruled much of China north of Yangtze river Extended Shang culture Early rule: Feudal Decentralized; control based on family ties Later: City States Central control over local governments Impersonal political and economic institutions Culture: philosophy, poetry and prose

Qin (221 until 207 B.C.) Achievements: Leader: Shi Huangdi Standardized language & Writing Standardized currency Standardized measurements Public Works Great Wall Roads & Irrigation canals Leader: Shi Huangdi

Western Han (206 B.C.- 9 A.D.) Eastern Han (25-225 A.D.) Achievements: Silk Road Better Tools—Iron Agriculture Crop Rotation Education Paper and Porcelain

Xin (9 - 24 A.D.) Brief Interlude One Family Member had too much power Introduced Imperial Seal

Three Kingdoms Western & Eastern Jin Southern & Northern (220-280 A.D.) Western & Eastern Jin (265-315 A.D.) Southern & Northern (420-588 A.D.)

Sui Dynasty (581-617) Reunified China in 589 High Taxes and Compulsory Labor Completion of the Grand Canal (connect Yellow and Yangtze/ Beijing to Hangzhou) Campaign against Korea in the early 7th century A lot of revolts and assassinations

Tang Dynasty (618-907) High point of Chinese civilization (comparable to Han Dynasty) Golden age of literature and art India and Middle-East relations stimulated creativity Buddhism (from India) was widely promoted (Confucius era) Block printing was invented

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Cont’d Better government system Civil service examination and other competitive entrance procedures (why?) Independent from aristocracy and warlords (why? How?) “Scholar-officials” (who? duty and privileges?) Fragmentation of China (5 north dynasties, 10 south kingdoms) Economic, politic, societal reasons + Arab wars North invaders

Song Dynasty (960-1279) 2 Phases: Northern (960-1127) and Southern Song (1127-1279) Centralized bureaucracy (more power on emperor) (regional governors  centrally appointed officials) City developments (admin., trade, industry, maritime commerce) Mercantile class Printing and education spread Private trade grew Market network grew The Neo Confucius Philosophy (by Zhu Xi)  inhibited pre modern societal development

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) Mongolian Rule Kublai Khan Established the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 Moves Capital to Bejing Marco Polo visits Bejing Drama and novels are developed

Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644) Construction of the Forbidden City Completion of the Great Wall Ocean voyages as far as Africa by Zheng He

Expansion and unification Ch’ing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) Expansion and unification Opium Wars Boxer Rebellion Henry Pu Yi as a child (“The Last Emperor”)