Sunday, March 24, 2024

Chinese History

China is one of the oldest civilizations on this earth. This is, after all, the country that gave us Peking Man, who lived three-quarters of a million years ago. More realistically, the Chinese figure their civilization dates back just 5,000 years.

The Chinese base their history through the ages on dynasties, and generally consider the Xia Dynasty (2000 – 1200 BC) to be the first dynasty. The last dynasty was the Qing Dynasty which ended in 1911 when the youngster Pu Yi abdicated as the last emperor of China.

In decades past, China was considered a Third World country. No more. In the 21st century, it is emerging as a Super Power. To understand how China got to the point it is today, it is important to understand its past.

The Humiliation of the 19th Century Chinese Qing Empire

The first British visitors to Shanghai in 1832, some East India Company officers, demanded the Chinese lift restrictions on Sino-European trade. In 1839, British gunboats...

Art and Literature of the Chinese Song Dynasty

The Sung, or Song Dynasty, was the ruling government in China between 960 and 1279. Brilliant strides in landscape and portrait painting graced this...

Mongol Warriors and the Composite Bow

Genghis Khan began the Mongol invasions but it was the powerful composite bow which carried their civilization out of the steppe. The Mongol tribes of...

Tang Dynasty History

The Tang Dynasty was golden age in China. Art, philosophy, literature and technology all flourished during this period. International trade grew along the Silk...

Yuan – The Mongol Dynasty, 1279-1368

The reign of the Mongols over China was disastrous for the Chinese people. They finally threw out their oppressors – how did this come...

The Impact of the Steppe Peoples

From the Cimmerians to the Manchus, the nomadic horse riders from the Asian Steppes have swooped down on the sedentary peoples of Europe and...

The Empress Wu Hou – China’s Only Female Ruler

Wu Hou, China’s only female ruler, is one of the most remarkable women ever to have lived. The daughter of an official, she entered...

Impact of the Russo-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War was a conflict that pitted the Russian Empire against the Japanese Empire between February 10, 1904 to September 5, 1905. The...

Muslims in Eastern China: Mosques a Sign of Islams Place

Chinese followers of Islam have a long history. The influence of early Muslims in south-eastern provinces is recalled at a number of historical sites. Within...

Chinese Yin Yang Philosophy: Confucius, Lao Tzu and Bruce Lee

“Happiness is to be found by misery's side. Misery lurks beneath happiness. Who knows what either will come to in the end?” said ancient...