|
Dynasty
|
Period
|
Characteristics
|
| Xia & Shang | 2200 – 1100 BC |
Mythological period * Eulogized agricultural society with attendant mythology * Evidence of early divination techniques |
| Zhou | 1100 – 221 BC |
Birth of Chinese philosophy * Seven socially and politically developed states compete for supremacy. * Birth of Confucianism, Daoism and competing ideologies of the "hundred schools". |
| Qin | 221 – 207 BC |
War * Infamous & tyrannical Emperor Qinshihuang unites China for first time. * Weights, measures, roads & writing standardised. * Revolutionary books burned. * The first Great Wall built. |
| Han | 206 BC – 220 AD |
Consolidation of China as a unified state * Centralised rule & expanded state borders. * Diplomatic and commercial contact with Central Asian and neighbouring Far Eastern countries. |
| Three Kingdoms, Jin, Southern & Northern Dynasties | 220 – 581 |
Disintegration: Chaos & War * Fragmentation of successive regimes competing for power. * Buddhism introduced to China. * Famous war heroes become part of Chinese legend |
| Sui | 589 – 618 |
Re-establishment of a unified state * Re-adopt many of the Han institutions. * Restore many sections of Great Wall. * Establish Grand canal |
| Tang | 618 – 907 |
China becomes a superpower * Introduction of sophisticated judicial and administrative structures to govern the state. * Military strength assures Chinese control of the lucrative silk route. * Neighbouring Asian cultures, ideas and goods enter China. * Buddhism and the arts flourish. |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms | 907 – 1125 |
China, once more, disintegrates * Anarchy, bandits and wars continue in some parts of China past the establishment of the Song dynasty. |
| Song | 960 – 1279 |
Fast-paced economic development * Warring factions unified. * Re-introduction of established government doctrine e.g. Confucianism, civil service. * Improvements in agricultural productivity and transport infrastructure. * Rise of merchant class in urban centres; introduction of paper money. * Growth in the arts. |
| Yuan | 1271 – 1368 |
Chinese are subjugated by the Mongols * The Mongol Horde sweeps through China annexing it to the world's largest, land-based empire. * The Chinese become third class citizens in their own harshly administered country. * The Mongol rulers gradually sinicised. * Despite heavy taxes, commerce grows unabated. |
| Ming | 1368 – 1644 |
Resumption of Chinese rule * Great Wall further fortified against barbarian invaders. * Eunuchs used extensively for government. * Flourishing of arts and culture. |
| Qing | 1644 – 1911 |
Chinese are subjugated for the second time * Chinese second-class citizens in their own country. * Manchu invaders initially expand the empire, reduce taxation and improve infrastructure. * As later Manchu rulers are sinicised, they become isolationist and conservative. * The European powers use gun-boat diplomacy to carve up China between them. * The Chinese become third-class citizens. |
| Republic of China | 1911 – 1949 |
Warlordism, civil war and chaos * Warlords only challenged by Chinese Communist Party and National People's Party. * Japan's 1931 invasion of China curtailed by the end of the second world war. * Chinese Communist Party wins civil war. National People's Party flees with all China's gold reserves and cultural relics to Taiwan. |
| People's Republic of China | 1949 – today |
China catching up * Communist Party, inheriting a devastated, bankrupt country, establishes the modern state. By applying the revolutionary ethic to economics, partial successes in industrialisation and agricultural productivity come at an enormous social cost. * Deng Xiao Ping, China's second leader starts to liberalise the economy in l978. This gradual process continues to this day. |
