CHINA DYNASTIES

DYNASTY AND ITS PERIOD DESCRIPTION CONTRIBUTION  They construct large blockades to block the path of the water in the yellow river.  By stopping the flooding it leads to increase their production from farming.  They used a bronze smelter from around 2000 BC was unearthed.  Early markings from this period found on pottery and shells are thought to be ancestral to modern Chinese characters. Xia Dynasty (c. 2100 - EMPEROR: Zhuanxu  The Xia Dynasty of China c. 1600 BC) is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records such as Records of the Grand Historian and Bamboo Annals.  According to mythology, the dynasty ended around 1600 BC as a consequence of the Battle of Mingtiao. Shang Dynasty (c. 1700-1046 BC) EMPEROR: Shang Zhou  According to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty after XIA is the SHANG dynasty.  It is the first dynasty that left some historical records.  This dynasty settled along yellow river in eastern CHINA.  The existence of the Shang Dynasty, c. 1600-1046 BC, is divided into two sets. The first set, from the earlier Shang period comes from sources at Erligang, Zhengzhou and Shangcheng. The second set, from the later Shang or Yin ( ) period, consists of a large body of oracle bone writings. Anyang, in modern-day Henan, has been confirmed as the last of the Shang's nine capitals (c. 1300-1046 BC).  The Shang Dynasty featured 31 kings, from Tang of Shang to King Zhou of Shang.

 Oracle bones- form of inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals.  During this dynasty the workmanship on the bronzes attests to a high level of civilization.  Their army used a variety of stone and bronze weaponry, including mao spears, yue pole-axes, ge pole-based daegger-axes, composite bows, and bronze or leather helmets.

Zhou Dynasty (1046256 BC)

In this period, the Chinese worshipped many different gods - weather gods and sky gods - and also a supreme god, named Shangdi, who ruled over the other gods. EMPEROR: Di Ku, Wu of Zhou  They said that this dynasty was the lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese History.  They believe that the Zhou Dynasty began to emerge in the Yellow River valley, overrunning the territory of the Shang.  This dynasty appeared to have begun their rule under a semi-feudal system.

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)

EMPEROR: Qin Shi Huang  Considered as the first ruling dynasty on imperial CHINA.  Often refer to the period from Qin Dynasty to the end of Qing Dynasty as Imperial China.  The reign of this dynasty lasted only for12 years.

 They invoked the concept of the Mandate of Heaven or Son of heaven governed by divine right and that his dethronement would prove that he had lost the mandate.  In this dynasty the use of iron was introduced to China.  Centralization during this dynasty becomes more necessary as the states began to war among themselves and centralization encouraged more war.  The SHANG SYSTEM-it is a system wherein a universalized worship, away from the worship of SHANG DI and to that of TIAN OR HEAVEN.  In this dynasty where the trade and commerce expands.  They use the calligraphy which is one form of writing art.  They establish the Lao Tzu and Confucius philosophy.  They use the system of Legalism.  They standardized writing which LOGOGRAPHIC and language.  In this dynasty where the start of standardized money.  They standardized system of measurement.  They made an Irrigation projects.  They are the one who starts the Building of the Great Wall.  Terra cotta army.  They also expanded Network of Roads and Canals.  They made the Multiplication Table.
 Silk Road  They invented the Papermaking.  Iron technology (cast iron)

Han Dynasty (202 BCAD 220)

EMPEROR: Gaosu of Han  This is the first dynasty to embrace the philosophy of Confucianism, which became the ideological underpinning of all regimes until the end of imperial

plowshares;Moldboard plow (kuan)

 Glazed pottery  Wheelbarrow  Seismograph (Chang Heng)

China. In this dynasaty China made great advances in many areas of the arts and sciences. There empire is divided into areas directly controlled by the central government, knwon as commanderies and semiautonomous kingdoms.

    

 

Compass Ship's rudder Stirrups Drawloom weaving They make embroidery for decorating garments, Silk robes, Skirts, Socks, and Mittens, coats made of badger or fox fur, duck plumes, and slippers with inlaid leathers, pearls, and silk lining. Hot Air Balloon Chinese Examination System, acupuncture, and calisthenics as methods of maintaining ones health. One of their greatest contributions in mathematics is that they are the first to use the negative numbers. They are the one who accurately described the water cycle of the evaporation of water into clouds.

Sui Dynasty (AD 589 618)

EMPEROR: Wen of Sui  They said that in this dynasty the CHINA was reunited but this dynasty was just lived in a short life after the failure in the Goguryeo-Sui wars around 598-614..

 Porcelain  Block Printing  In this dynasty where the construction

of the Grand Canal happened.

 Coinage Standardization  They also initiated to reduce the rich-

poor social gap that resulted in enhanced agricultural productivity.  In this dynasty also where the Great Wall expands for its purpose in the defence against their enemies.
        

Tang Dynasty (AD 618907)

EMPEROR: Li Yuan  They referred this dynasty as the opening a new age of prosperity and innovations in arts and technology in CHINA.  Buddhism became their predominant religion and was adopted by the imperial family and many of the common people. This is an imperial dynasty of CHINA preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the five dynasty and ten kingdoms period. The dynasty was

Tea Po Chu-i (poet) Scroll painting Three Doctrines (Buddhism, Confuscianism, Taoism) Gunpowder Civil Service Exams Brandy and whiskey Flame-thrower Dance and Music

Song, Liao, Jin, and Western Xia Dynasties (AD 960 1234)

Yuan Dynasty (AD 12711368)

Ming Dynasty (AD 13681644)

interrupted briefly by the second ZHOU dynasty, when their empress is WU Zetian which is known for ruling in her own right and becoming the first and only Chinese EMPRESS REGNANT. EMPEROR: Taisu, Taizong, Zhenzong ,Renzong,Yingzong  The Song Dynasty gained power over most of China and established its capital in Kaifeng (later known as Bianjing), starting a period of economic prosperity.  This dynasty EMPEROR: Kublai Khan also called as GREAT KHAN  This was the first dynasty to rule the whole of China from Beijing as the capital.  The Yuan dynasty sometimes referred as The Empire of the Great Khan.  This dynasty was a Mongol Dynasty. EMPEROR: Hongwu-1368-1398; Chongzhen-1627-1644  The dynasty had a strong and complex central government that unified and controlled the empire.  This dynasty was considered as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history.  Their estimated population for the late-Ming population vary from 160200 million of people. EMPEROR: Hong taiji-16261643; Xuantong-1908-1912  The Qing Dynasty (1644 1911) was the last imperial dynasty in China and was the second non-Han dynasty founded by

        

Magnetic compass Rocket and multi-stage rockets Printing (movable type) Guns and Cannons Landscape painting Winemaking Chinese Opera Porcelain Chain Drive Mechanism

 Paper money  Magnetic Compass  Blue and white porcelain, printing techniques and playing cards.  Guns and Gunpowder  Landscape painting  They are the one who starts the Chinese Theater, Opera, and Music.  Decimal Numbers  They made a construction of a vast and a standing army of one million troops.  They restore the GRAND CANAL and THE GREAT WALL  They establish the Forbidden City in Beijing.  The three departments and six ministries system  They are the one who embroidered silks and wares in jade, ivory, and cloisonn.

Qing Dynasty (AD 16441911)

 Centralized government  CHINA becomes open to the world after years of isolation.

 

the Manchus. Also known as the Manchu dynasty. This dynasty was originally established as the Later Jin Dynasty and they became a highly integrated with Chinese Culture.