Dynasty Period Characteristics Xia & Shang 2200 - 1100 BC Mythological period * Eulogized agricultural society with attendant mythology * Evidence of early divination techniques Zhou 1100 - 221 BC Birth of Chinese philosophy * Seven socially and politically developed states compete for supremacy. * Birth of Confucianism, Daoism and competing ideologies of the "hundred schools". Qin 221 - 207 BC War * Infamous & tyrannical Emperor Qinshihuang unites China for first time. * Weights, measures, roads & writing standardised. * Revolutionary books burned. * The first Great Wall built. Han 206 BC - 220 AD Consolidation of China as a unified state * Centralised rule & expanded state borders. * Diplomatic and commercial contact with Central Asian and neighbouring Far Eastern countries. Three Kingdoms, Jin, Southern & Northern Dynasties 220 - 581 Disintegration: Chaos & War * Fragmentation of successive regimes competing for power. * Buddhism introduced to China. * Famous war heroes become part of Chinese legend Sui 589 - 618 Re-establishment of a unified state * Re-adopt many of the Han institutions. * Restore many sections of Great Wall. * Establish Grand canal Tang 618 - 907 China becomes a superpower * Introduction of sophisticated judicial and administrative structures to govern the state. * Military strength assures Chinese control of the lucrative silk route. * Neighbouring Asian cultures, ideas and goods enter China. * Buddhism and the arts flourish. Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907 - 1125 China, once more, disintegrates * Anarchy, bandits and wars continue in some parts of China past the establishment of the Song dynasty. Song 960 - 1279 Fast-paced economic development * Warring factions unified. * Re-introduction of established government doctrine e.g. Confucianism, civil service. * Improvements in agricultural productivity and transport infrastructure. * Rise of merchant class in urban centres; introduction of paper money. * Growth in the arts. Yuan 1271 - 1368 Chinese are subjugated by the Mongols * The Mongol Horde sweeps through China annexing it to the world's largest, land-based empire. * The Chinese become third class citizens in their own harshly administered country. * The Mongol rulers gradually sinicised. * Despite heavy taxes, commerce grows unabated. Ming 1368 - 1644 Resumption of Chinese rule * Great Wall further fortified against barbarian invaders. * Eunuchs used extensively for government. * Flourishing of arts and culture. Qing 1644 - 1911 Chinese are subjugated for the second time * Chinese second-class citizens in their own country. * Manchu invaders initially expand the empire, reduce taxation and improve infrastructure. * As later Manchu rulers are sinicised, they become isolationist and conservative. * The European powers use gun-boat diplomacy to carve up China between them. * The Chinese become third-class citizens. Republic of China 1911 - 1949 Warlordism, civil war and chaos * Warlords only challenged by Chinese Communist Party and National People's Party. * Japan's 1931 invasion of China curtailed by the end of the second world war. * Chinese Communist Party wins civil war. National People's Party flees with all China's gold reserves and cultural relics to Taiwan. People's Republic of China 1949 - today China catching up * Communist Party, inheriting a devastated, bankrupt country, establishes the modern state. By applying the revolutionary ethic to economics, partial successes in industrialisation and agricultural productivity come at an enormous social cost. * Deng Xiao Ping, China's second leader starts to liberalise the economy in l978. This gradual process continues to this day.