China
Early History World’s oldest continuous civilization Ruled by dynasties A series of rulers from the same family The Qin Dynasty established an empire by uniting smaller states under a strong centralized government. The Chinese Empire, ruled by different dynasties, lasted for more than 2,000 years.
China Opens Up to the World For centuries China’s geography helped it remain isolated from the outside world 13th Century European travelers began to visit China Ex. Marco Polo In the 19th Century European powers took advantage of China and carved it into spheres of influence controlled by Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan
Boxer Rebellion of 1900- an uprising in China spurred by angry Chinese militants, or Boxers, over foreign control Killed Europeans and Chinese Christians A multinational force of about 20,000 soldiers defeated the Boxers
Revolution and Change After the Boxer Rebellion, the Qing Dynasty attempted to reform the Chinese government, but too many people wanted to form a republic. The Qing Dynasty was overthrown by revolutionaries ending the dynasties and the Chinese Empire
Nationalists defeat warlords and unite most of China in the 1920s Nationalist Party Promoted democracy This government was weak because of civil war in China and powerful warlords Nationalists defeat warlords and unite most of China in the 1920s Nationalists vs. Communism Two sides unite briefly to fight off the Japenese during WWII
After WWII Communist party gains increased peasant support and defeat Nationalist Party 1949 Mao Zedong, leader of the Communists, ruled mainland China After Mao died in 1976, Deng Xiaoping became leader through the 1980s 1993, Jiang Zemin became president and focused on developing China’s economy
Economy Since the 1980s China has had a market economy, which has lead to fast economic growth Rural Economy- China is a largely rural society Self-sufficient in agriculture 60% of workers work on farms Only 13% of land is farmable Industrial Economy In the northeast, abundant in manufacturing resources such as coal, iron ore and oil Shanghai center of manufacturing Heavy industries and Textiles
culture Influential contributions to cultures of Korea, Japan, etc. Chinese inventions Paper, printing, gunpowder, silk Religion or ethical traditions Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism
Population Most populous country in the world Majority live in the east on the river basins Two forms of health care Traditional medicines- herbal remedies and acupuncture Western medicine- drugs and surgery One-Child Policy 1979- one child per family