Preview

Dynasties In Ancient China

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1070 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Dynasties In Ancient China
The government in ancient China was established by Dynasties. Dynasties were mostly a sequence of rulers or emperors from the same family. As I said, a Dynasty was ruled by an emperor. This emperor had total control of the land and would make all the final decisions. Some of the most popular Dynasties in china were:
• Xia Dynasty About 1994 BCE - 1766 BCE
• Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE - 1027 BCE
• Zhou Dynasty 1122 BCE -256 BCE (skipped because Celeste did it)
• Qin Dynasty 221 BCE - 206 BCE (skipped because Celeste did it)
• Han Dynasty 25 AD - 220 AD
• Sui Dynasty 589 AD - 618 AD
Ming Dynasty 1368 AD - 1644 AD
Qing Dynasty 1644 AD - 1912 AD
The Xia Dynasty was the first dynasty in the history of China. There is no real
…show more content…
This dynasty is divided into two main times, the Western/Former Han (206 BC- 9AD) and the eastern/later Han (25-220 AD). The rules and the boundaries that the Qin dynasty put and then reinforced by the Han have shaped up Chinese culture. An example of this is the Western Han Capital, Chang’an, which in present day is called Shaanxi Province. It is a monumental urban center with places, residential wards, and two loud and big market areas. This Dynasty was where they established Confucianism. It was officially chosen over Legalism. After this Dynasty came the Sui dynasty. Under this Dynasty china was brought together again. This dynasty only lasted about 8 years, but there were a lot of things going on during this time. The Sui dynasty introduced china to new religions, such as Taoism and Buddhism. They weren’t official but people started to take notice in them. The one that people found most interesting was Buddhism, people valued it a lot. Another thing that happened, the Great Wall was repaired, and a canal system was built through china. The canal today is The Gran Canal. The Sui dynasty fell because of losses in the South Manchuria and Northern Korea. Once they were defeated rebels started taking …show more content…
The government was based on the Ming Dynasties government. Although it was based on the Ming, it was more centralized. There was a new institution called the Gran Council, it had both a Manchurian and a Chinese leader. The Grand Council would check and authorize political and military affairs that were lead by the emperor. Even after all this time the Ming had not given up yet and had kept fighting back but eventually; by the end of the 17 century the Manchurians finished them. The Manchurians became so powerful they controlled Manchuria, Mongolia, Xinxiang, and Tibet! Because of this other countries began to see China as a super power since it was controlled by Manchurians. During the population replaced/superseded the economic growth. Due to this the economy started to go down and decline. Because of this and because of foreign expansion the government funds were gone! They had used them all up. They had nothing left so they had to give into trading with the West. Their main trading partners were the French, the US, and the British. The British obviously wanted to gain a lot from trading with China so they started integrating Indian opium in their trades. This made Chinas silver reserves depleted. Apart from this there were still a few people who believed in the Han Dynasty who resented the Manchurians, which caused a rebellion. Apart from this Manchurians became a way of imperial

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Identify: a) Shilla: The Shilla dynasty ruled from 668 to 918, and was a time when…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Qin and Han dynasties unify China and establish a centralized empire, which continually uses and develops through 20th century. The imperial structure draws on elements of both Legalist and Confucian thought. The Chinese empire is founded when the state of Qin unites the other six Chinese states, Han(the state), Wei, Zhu, Qi, Yan, Ji, in 211 B.C. and establishes a centralized system of government. The Han dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE) follows the short-lived Qin and rules China for about 300 years. The Han greatly expands the Chinese empire. The Han dynasty retains the centralized bureaucracy and unified political system of the Qin but adopts and grafts upon this the Confucian view that government should be run by educated, ethical men.…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First of all, every major nation during period 1200BCE and 220CE, Zhou, Qin, Han, established centralized government. This is crucial for Chinese history in that it is hard to find nations that established centralized government before these nations. Throughout the world, there were some centralized nations such as the Roman Empire of Mediterranean region in this era. However, these nations differed in how they had established centralized government. Zhou was able to establish initial centralized government mainly by mandate of heaven, which is the concept of king having both power and responsibility for ruling the nation. Qin established strong centralized government based on powerful military and strict legalism. Han established the most concrete centralization among these countries because instead of vassals or aristocrats, government officials of Han were sent to rule the provinces. Moreover, unlike Qin, Han adopted Confucianism instead of strict legalism. These nations endeavored to establish centralized government because it had advantages to the decentralized government in that the politic was stabled and there was less possibility of rebellion. Although these nations differed in how they established centralized government, kings and emperors of these nations had strong power compared to former…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The taxes were too high so the poor were left with no money to provide for their own families. The leaders of China also kept taxes for themselves and didn’t pay for their own. These Dynasties were similar because both ignored the needs of the poor and they both had food shortages.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout China’s long history, the struggle for one central government and ruler led it through many short-living dynasties that did not extend across the entire China. After the Zhou dynasty fell apart in 256 BCE, the states of China fought over power again, and out of them, the Qin rose victorious. Their leader, King Cheng (or Zheng), unified the entire China for the first time in Chinese history and created the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE. Cheng renamed himself Qin Shi Huangdi, which means “The First Emperor”. It was through Qin Shi Huangdi’s leadership that make him one of the most influential figures in history.…

    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Han dynasty was the most influential dynasty in Chinese history and led to china becoming a country as we know it today. They extended Chinese rule from southern Mongolia to northern Vietnam and as far west as Nepal. One of the main reason for the prosperity and solidity of the Han dynasty was the relationship between the imperial family and the elite. Each group supported each other economically as well as socially, leading to a stable and prosperous empire.…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ancient history. The Xia dynasty was the first Chinese dynasty, from 2070 BC to 1600 BC. Many historians debate on whether the Xia dynasty really existed, or was just a legend, there has not been any conclusive evidence on if it really existed or not. The Xia dynasty was recorded in ancient Chinese writings, but no archaeological discoveries can confirm these writings. The Shang dynasty took over in 1600 BC and ended in 1054 BC.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sui Dynasty Achievements

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Sui dynasty was the first dynasty, which began in 581 AD and lasted until 618 AD. The dynasty only lasted 37 years, and had the shortest time frame of the 3. Though they were the shortest, they still made many great accomplishments. Some of the accomplishments were inventing the Grand Canal, updating the Great Wall of China, building granaries, and stabilizing the economy. The Grand Canal connected the north and south provinces and it improved trade and communication. The Great Wall of China was built awhile before the Sui Dynasty, but they updated and strengthened the wall. The granaries were built around the capital cities (Daxing and Luoyang) and were built for the purpose of providing the citizens cheap, nutritional foods. One of the last accomplishments they did was stabilize the economy by creating coin denominations that were used all throughout China.…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    China flourished as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan societies under the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties. Officials governed effectively, economic development grew and farmers fed people, merchants and manufacturers prospered. Confucianism and Daoism was the government foundation, social structure and culture. Agriculture remained the foundation for the economy. Strong central government continued with powerful emperors and educated bureaucracy with the examination system. Landowners were at the top of the social class as well as the educated bureaucrats and military leaders. The merchants and artisans had a great deal of wealth but were…

    • 1467 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    China was unified in 221 B.C.E. for the first time in many centuries after decades of constant warfare (also called the “Warring States Period”) for the first time in centuries under the leadership of Qin (McKay, 178). The king of Qin did not feel that the title of king was grand enough and created the title “Emperor” (huangdi) and he called himself the First Emperor (Shihuangdi) in hopes of many successors (McKay, 178-179). The Qin state soon fell apart and led to the beginning of the Han Dynasty, which managed to take power and keep China unified until 220 C.E. The unification of China affected many parts of politics, culture, and social life during the Qin and Han Dynasties.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Restoration of China

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages

    I. The restoration of centralized imperial rule in China A. The Sui dynasty (589-618 C.E.) 1. After the Han dynasty, turmoil lasted for more than 350 years 2. Reunification by Yang Jian in 589 3. The rule of the Sui a. Construction of palaces and granaries; repairing the Great Wall b. Military expeditions in central Asia and Korea c. High taxes and compulsory labor services 4. The Grand Canal integrated economies of north and south 5. The fall of the Sui d. High taxes and forced labor generated hostility among the people e. Military reverses in Korea f. Rebellions broke out in north China beginning in 610 g. Sui Yangdi was assassinated in 618, the end of the dynasty B. The Tang dynasty (618-907 C.E.) 6. Tang Taizong (627-649) h. A rebel leader seized Chang'an and proclaimed a new dynasty, the Tang i. Tang Taizong, the second Tang emperor; ruthless but extremely competent j. era of unusual stability and prosperity 7. Extensive networks of transportation and communications 8. Equal-field system--land allotted according to needs 9. Bureaucracy of merit through civil service exams 10. Foreign relations k. Political theory: China was the Middle Kingdom, or the center of civilization l. Tributary system became diplomatic policy 11. Tang decline m. Casual and careless leadership led to dynastic crisis n. Rebellion of An Lushan in 755 weakened the dynasty o. The Uighurs became de facto rulers p. The equal-field system deteriorated q. A large-scale peasant rebellion led by Huang Chao lasted from 875 to 884 r. Regional military commanders gained power and were beyond control of the emperor s. The last Tang emperor abdicated his throne in 907 C.…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Han Dynasty Legacy

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Today, we will be speaking about the legacy of the Qin Dynasty first. Qin Shihuangdi, the king of Qin born a peasant; proclaimed himself the first emperor and what would rule for thousands of generations. Unfortunately, the Qin had a relatively short dynastic cycle, the cycle that every dynasty goes through where it comes to power, rules and the falls apart. The Qin dynasty established a sense of centralized Imperial rule that later set the the foundation for later Emperors to Emulate. Even in that short period of time, they are going to have more of a lasting and have a profound impact on Chinese culture. Legalism, the belief that individuals are born evil, therefore the only way to get them to corporate is to have laws that are so strict…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tang Dynasty Essay

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The ways in which Chinese society and government evolved and changed over the centuries as power shifted from each dynasty studied varies. First, the Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese civilization with women in power. Second, the Song Dynasty was when China was reunified. For infrastructure and technology, both dynasties come together. Such as, canals and waterways allowed for trade to grow in China and beyond. The mechanical clock developed during this time. Gunpowder was also developed in this time and provided a new weapon source. Also, block printing and moveable type were developed. Along with the infrastructure and technology going together with both dynasties, population growth and agricultural productivity did as well. So,…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism In China

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The “First recorded Chinese dynasty for which there is both documentary and archaeological evidence” is the Shang Dynasty (1766 - 1122 BC.) Based in An-yang, the Shang Dynasty, like most ancient cultures had a fixed social order beginning with king Tang, and ending with the farmers.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Shang dynasty is the second dynasty in Chinese history. The Shang Dynasty last from 1600 B.C. to 1046 B.C. and experienced three big stages. The Han dynasty can be divided into two historical period which are western Han dynasty (202 B.C. to 9 A.D.) and eastern Han dynasty (25A.D. to 220 A.D.) Both Shang dynasty and Han dynasty are important civilization in Chinese history. Also, both dynasties made big breakthrough in agriculture.…

    • 1968 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays