Chinese Dynasties

1. Chinese Dynasties Han Dynasty (202BC – 220 AD): • Redistributed land for peasants • Unified learning under Confucian principles • Created civil service qualified by examinations • Developed road and messenger system • Began building the Great Wall • Ethnocentric (our culture is better than other cultures) exclusion of outside cultures

2. Tang and Sung Dynasties (618 – 1279 AD): In this period China became the world’s most advanced civilization. • Tang ruled a vast empire which included China, Korea and parts of Central Asia • Sung advanced technology and the arts • Combined achievements: Block printing, gunpowder, abacus, compass, porcelain, painting on silk paper, gardens

3. Ming Dynasty – Chinese flourished politically and culturally during the Ming Dynasty • Ming Dynasty overthrew Mongol rule in 1368 • China enjoyed 300 years of peace • Empire expanded to Korea, Burma, Vietnam • The Imperial City - “Forbidden City” built • Voyages of Zheng He – series of seven naval voyages of exploration went to the Indian Ocean between 1405 – 1433. In the first voyage 28,000 men and 62 ships set sail. They sailed as far as the Western coast of Africa. The voyages led to enormous profits which upset traditionalists who followed the Confucian view that trading activities were unworthy and being a merchant was an inferior occupation. As a result overseas exploration was halted • Chinese trade, art, urban life flourished

4. Qing (Manchu) Dynasty • Conquerors from Manchuria • Overthrew Ming in 1640s & established Qing Dynasty • The Manchu mainly adopted Chinese ways. • In late 1700s China’s technology fell behind Western Europe which allowed them to be controlled by European and American interests.