This document provides a historical overview of China from early dynasties to modern times. It discusses the development of Chinese philosophy and empires expanding through fighting neighbors. The Mongols eventually dominated before the Qing Dynasty rose to power in 1644. European powers interfered and forced trade, leading to the Opium Wars. Communism emerged in the 20th century under Mao Zedong, whose Great Leap Forward policy led to millions starving. Economic reforms since 1978 have spurred rapid growth, though corruption and environmental issues persist. Trade with the US has increased but political and military tensions remain over Taiwan and military spending.

1. China
Competitor

3. Yangzi River

4. Sunzi, The Art of War

5. The Duke of Zhou

6. Portrait of the First Emperor

7. Emperor Hungdai

8. Early History
• Several “dynasties”.
• 2000-214 BCE
• Confucianism,
Taoism, Legalism,
Mohism all
developed.

9. Painful Expansion
• Empires concentrate
power
• Fight
– Mongols
– Koreans
– Vietnamese
– Assimilate many
• Mongols eventually
dominate.

10. Mongol Empire

11. Market Economy
• Small scale industries grew up
– Paper
– Silk
– Cotton
– Porcelain
– Gunpowder
• Large Navy developed
• Canals built
• Army = 1 million

12. Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911)
• New Royal family uses
brutal tactics
• Social strife
• Population explodes
• Economy fails to keep up
• European powers
interfere in regional
politics.

13. Opium Wars
• British bought Chinese
products.
• Paid with silver, which
depleted their supply.
• Started selling opium to
Chinese.
• 1/3 adult population became
addicts.
• Empire forbid use of drug
and sale.
• British smuggled it illegally.
• When China attempted to
stop them, British military
intervened.

14. Qin Falls
• Internal wars erupt, encourage by Europe.
• Empire becomes suspicious of foreign tools,
customs, and technology.
• Russia supports Muslim provinces to revolt.
• Persecution of minority ethnic groups persist.
• Taiping revolt led by self-proclaimed second son
of Christian God.
• 20-50 million dead.

15. Communism Rises
• Boxer Rebellion
– Chinese capture or kill Western
immigrants and sympathizers.
– Western armies retaliate
• Qin dynasty agrees to Parliament
and eventually abdicates.
• Soviet Union backs a Communist
Party which eventually falls under
Mao Zedong.
• Brief alliance formed with
Nationalist under Chiang Kai-
shek

16. Power Seized.
• Shek turns on Communist.
• They proceed on long march.
• Parties reunited to defeat
Japanese during WWII.
• After WWII is over fighting
resumes.
• Communists win and
Nationalists flee to Taiwan.

17. Great Leap Forward
• 25,000 communes set up with 5,000
families each
• Iron and steel production were thought
essential.
• Entire economy devoted toward
industrialization.
• 25-60 million starved to death.
• Elimination of opponents and
establishment of Mao personality cult.

19. Reforms started in the late 1970s
• Phasing out of collectivized agriculture
• Liberalization of prices
• Fiscal decentralization
• Increased autonomy for state enterprises
• Foundation of a diversified banking
• Development of stock markets
• Rapid growth of the non-state sector
• Opening to foreign trade and investment.

20. Positive Results
• Ten-fold increase in GDP since 1978.
• Second-largest economy in the world after the
US
• Economic development has generally been
more rapid in coastal provinces.
• 100 million internet users at the end of 2005.
• Foreign investment remains strong
• Urban growth and prosperity is phenomenal.

24. Negative Results
• Tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned
enterprises
• Migrants
• New entrants to the work force
• Corruption and other economic crimes
• From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are
adrift between the villages and the cities, many
subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs.
• China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries
in the world.
• Deterioration in the environment
– notably air pollution
– soil erosion
– steady fall of the water table especially in the North.

28. Statistics
• GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.158 trillion (2005 est.)
• GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.833 trillion (2005 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate:
9.2% (official data) (2005 est.)
• GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.)
• GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.4%
industry and construction: 53.1%
services: 32.5% (2005 est.)
• Labor force:
791.4 million (2005 est.)
• Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 49%, industry 22%, services 29%

29. Conflict with USA
• Nixon introduced trade with China to encourage
alliance (and make USSR suspiciously jealous).
• Trade has increased prosperity, especially of
Communist Party.
• Democracy has not taken foot.
• Over 20% of our imports come from China.
• Only 8% of their imports come from the USA.
• Have developed missiles to reach West Coast.
• Still claims to own Taiwan, our ally.
• Continues to increase military budget.