Chinese history introduction

1. Introduction
to
Chinese History
Joanne Chen
2015

2. I. The Origins of Chinese Civilization: c. 2200-221 BC
a) Xia: c. 2200- c. 1750 BC
b) Shang 1750 – 1100 BC
c) Zhou (Chou) 1100 – 256 BC
II. The Early Empires 221 BC - 589 AD
a) Qin 221- 206 BC
b) Han 206 BC -220 AD
c) The Three kingdoms and the Dynasties of North and South
III. The Second Empire: 589 – 1644 AD
a) Sui 589-618
b) Tang 618-907
c) Song 960-1279
d) Yuan (Mongol) 1279- 1368
e) Ming 1368 - 1644
IV. The Birth of Modern China: 1644 - present
a) Qing (Manchu) 1644 – 1911
b) Republican China 1911 – 1949
c) The People’s Republic of China 1949 - present
Chinese History
Great Wall

3. https://www.tes.com/lessons/PXXfHYomDeh2Bg/discovering-china

4. The Origins of Chinese Civilization: c. 2200-221 BC
Xia: c. 2200- c. 1750 BC Shang 1750 – 1100 BC Zhou (Western and Eastern) 1100 – 256 BC
Yu the Great, is known for
controlling floods and he
established the Xia Dynasty. The
establishment of the Xia Dynasty
marks the end of the Primitive
Society and the beginning of the
Class Society.
The bronze wares reached
a high level of artistry that
signified the Shang's
advanced civilization.
Zhou political and social structure
Ding

5. Eastern Zhou (770 – 221 BC) Philosophers
The most influential minds in the Chinese intellectual tradition flourished under the Zhou Dynasty,
considered a time of intellectual and artistic awakening. Many of the ideas developed during this
time would shape the character of Chinese civilization up to the present day.
Mencius
370-290 BC
Confucius
551 – 479 BC Laozi Sunzi
Author of The Art of War
(Chinese: 孫子兵法;
pinyin: Sūnzĭ bīngfǎ) is an
ancient Chinese military
treatise.
Laozi is known as the
reputed author of the
Tao Te Ching and the
founder of
philosophical Taoism.
Mencius is most famous
for his theory of human
nature, according to which
all human beings share an
innate goodness that
either can be cultivated
through education and
self-discipline.
Confucius was an
influential Chinese
philosopher, teacher
and political figure
known for his
popular aphorisms
and for his models
of social interaction.

6. Qin Shih Huang
centralized all
power to himself
by placing only
giving power to
those loyal to
him. At his
command was a
powerful army.
Qin Dynasty ( 221- 206 BC) Han Dynasty (Western and Eastern Han) 206-22 AD
Great Wall
Standardized currency,
measurements, legal
rights, writing system.
Terracotta warriors
Silk Road was started as
trade road.
Qin Coin
Emperor Wudi made efforts
to expand the empire.
Paper was invented.
Wang zhou jun. Her
polical marriage connected
Xiongnu to Han.
Han tomb painting
Han clothing
HanQin

7. Three Kingdom 220-265 AD Jin 265-420 AD Southern and Northern Dynasties 420-589
Wei: Cao Cao
Shu: Liu Bei Wu: Sun Quan
Throughout the Three Kingdoms
Period, battles between the three
countries were countless
After a period of fighting, the process of
Han-Chinese assimilation with other minority
groups was greatly progressed.
Buddhism became more and more popular.
Yungang Grottoes
云冈石窟
Wang Xizhi (Eastern Jin), 兰亭集序
Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Manuscript,
dated 353 AD
Gilded Buddha Statue

8. Sui Dynasty 581-618 AD Tang Dynasty 618 – 907 AD
Grand Canal was built.
Emperor
Sui Wendi
Sui developed granaries to
Supply to the people
Development of Great Wall
Confucian Civil Service Exams became
Very important to enter the official ranks.
Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries
Strongly influenced the culture of Japan and Korea
Silk Road trade with
Middle East and Constantinople
Gun Powder
invention
tang

9. Song Dynasty 960 – 1279Five Dynasties 907 – 960 AD
And Ten kingdoms
Landscape painting
Costume
清明上河圖 Qingming scroll painting
Invention: wood block printing
Song clothingCeramic bowl
Emperor Sengzong
Calligraphy
Transportation
& trading

10. The Tang and Song dynasty is often referred
to as China's "Golden Age“.
Poetry, calligraphy, landscape
painting, philosophy, political
thought, historical writing, scientific
advances in astronomy, chemistry,
and medicine, and the production of
fine silks, porcelain, and teas all
flourish, particularly in the period
from the 7th to the 12th centuries.
THE GOLDEN AGE: Tang (618-907) and Song 960-1279) dynasties
Tang painting: Horse RidingTang: Three colored- ware
Tang Calligraphy, poem and painting

11. Buddhism’s impact is felt
throughout China
Tang and Song Dynasties: From the 7th to the 12th centuries
Chinese culture spreads
throughout East Asia
Korea, Japan and Vietnam influenced by
Chinese culture greatly
Trade, business, and
innovation boom.
Growth in Chinese population
PrintingCompass
Tea leaf
Making silk The Trading Ship

12. Yuan dynasty (1279 – 1368) Ming dynasty 1368 - 1644
The Mongol empire spans Eurasia in
the 13th and 14th centuries and
facilitates trade and exchange across
the Eurasian land mass.
Army of Yuan
Kublai Khan
Marco Polo
Yuan Ceramic
Emperor Hong Wu
The Royal Ship
Beijing Forbidden City
Voyages of Zheng He
Zheng He
Completion of Great Wall

13. However, there was a contradiction
during the Ming:
As China became more integrated with
Yuan and Ming Dynasty: 1271 - 1644
The most significant achievement of the Yuan
Dynasty was the unification of the whole territory.
This enhanced the communication between different ethnic minorities.
Ming Dynasty’s achievement in oversea relationship:
Ming emperor Chengzu assigned a man named Zheng He (1371 - 1433)
to make numerous lengthily voyages to countries in Southeast Asia,
the Indian Ocean (the Red Sea area) and the east coast of Africa.
These voyages greatly increased the Ming's influence abroad and made
Zheng He the forerunning figure in seafaring history.

14. Qing Dynasty (Manchu leaders) (1644 – 1911)
Fall of the empire because
of a lack of modernization
1911 Qing Dynasty Collapsed. End of the
Chinese Dynastic System
The Qing Dynasty Ci-Xi
Dowager Empress1903
Increased interaction with Europe Opium Wars
Qing long Emperor
Taiping Rebellion
By the Qing dynasty, the Chinese empire saw themselves
as the Celestial Empire.(天朝)
In a letter to the King of England, Qian Long declared
that they had everything they need and had no use for
the manufactures of the West.

15. The Republic (1911-1949) People’s Republic of China (1949 – present)
Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Chiang Kai Shek
Mao Ze Dong
The Nationalist Party
The Communist Party
The Revolution of 1911 is of great
significance:
The monarchical system was discarded
with the founding of the provisional
government of Republic of China.
Since 1949, the founding of the People’s
Republic of China, China has entered a
new communist era.
Reform and Opening Up policies in 1978,
bringing in China’s phenomenal economic growth.
Deng Xiao Ping
China Civil War 1911 -1949

16. China Today
Shanghai Beijing Tian An Men
Factory workers
On street
Subway
Chinese food

17. Conclusion
The pattern of dynastic
rise and fall is the theme
of Chinese history. A
strong dynasty overtook
the weaker one.
There are many ethnic groups from ancient
times. Through continuing communication and
fusion, Chinese civilization keeps developing
and spreading.
China's four great inventions, namely, the compass,
gunpowder, movable type printing and papermaking,
not only changed the world but also accelerated the
evolution of world history.