|
 The
history of China is vast, and here is the summary of the different
dynastic era since history can be recorded:
Xia:
2100BC to 1700BC
Yu the Great was the founder of the Xia Dynasty. The State rose and
prospered along the River Huanghe, where it was a wealthy prosperous
community based on agriculture.
Shang:
1700BC to 1100BC
Much was known about the Shang due to the amount of written livelihood
about themselves. Advance craftsmanship skills were already developed,
with using bronze and sophisticated skills of manufacturing silk.
Western
Zhou: 1100BC to 771BC/ Eastern Zhou: 770BC to 256BC
Under the Zhou rule, agriculture techniques improved immensely.
Prosperity also cause for constant innovations. Better agricultural
equipments was also made with the change from the use of bronze to the
use of iron. This allowed the economy to boom and encouraged the growing
population.
Warring
States Period: 403BC to 221BC
With the increase in agriculture and trade, money was invented and
evidence of minted coins can still be found.
Qin:
221BC to 206BC
Qin Shihuang was the first true ruler of the Chinese empire. His
brilliant and yet brute techniques ruled and united the country.
Han:
206BC to 220AD
These new rulers built an administrative system. It was the Emperor Wu
that had created a judicial system. Small kingdoms that were appointed
by the Dragon Throne then administrated this system.
The
Three Kingdoms: 220 to 280
The beginning of the era was chaotic with three prominent rulers; Wei,
Shu and Wu. But yet, within each area it was a romantic and exciting
time for innovations.
Sui:
581 to 618
The Sui was noted that the rulers of their dynasty had lavished
themselves in extreme luxury.
Tang:
618 to 907
Cities during the Tang Dynasty grew into well-planned centers of arts,
culture and commerce. This cultural pursuit flowered richly. Tang rulers
held onto and expanded their empires; they built a culture whose glory
even today reflects on China.
Song:
960 to 1279
Northern barbarians occupied large areas of China during the Song
dynasty. Eventually the Song abandoned the Yellow River and established
their capital at Hangzhou. They built cities of splendor.
Yuan:
1206 to 1368
The Mongols came to China and slaughtered everything in their paths.
Destroying for the sheer joy of conquest. Kublai Khan had knowledge he
owned all of China. He also expanded the boundaries significantly.
Ming:
1368 to 1644
A Chinese emperor returned to the Dragon Throne. The Ming, was brutal
and ruthless to remind new occupants of the past for the need of honest
and efficiency in government. Foreign trade boomed and the country
prospered.
Qing:
1644 to 1911
The Manchus adapted to the Chinese dresses, cuisines, language and
customs. There was always much internal opposition by Chinese to Manchu
rule, today subject of much romanticized novels.
Recent
times
China has a vast treasury, which they could plunder at will. Periods of
local uprising were times of de-monarchy and chaos reigned and cities
burned. Devastations due to countless wars, the Opium War, the Japanese
Invasions, and other conflicts resulted in much of the past being lost.
It is a wonder that so much of China’s past has survived. |
