Friday, March 22, 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 Panthay Rebellion

The Muslim Hui people of Yunnan suffered from years of abuse and then were subject to a massacre. They launched a revolt which created...

The Revolt of An Lushan

History sometimes seems to be an inevitable process - but it was not. There were many occasions when a major change could have happened...

Women’s Status in Medieval China

What was the status of women in Medieval China? Is it possible that footbinding was considered a desirable form of status by women themselves? The...

The 1930s Depression in China

The economic depression of the 1930s had a terrible impact on the western world - but did it also have the same impact in...

China: Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty

The Tang and Song Dynasties of China provide a glimpse into ancient Chinese splendor and reveal Chinese advances in all aspects of human life. The...

The Ming Dynasty and Empire

A century before Columbus began the period of colonial empire, in Ming Dynasty China, a fleet under Admiral Zheng He visited Indonesia, India and...

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 Dynasty History

Non-Chinese Mongols ruled China and ushered in many changes and reforms during their short-lived Yuan Dynasty. The Yuan Dynasty was one of China’s shortest-lived dynasties....

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...

The Sung Dynasty and Neo-Confucianism

After the collapse of the Tang Empire China came under the control of the Sung dynasty which is characterized by Confucian revival, often referred...