The document provides an overview of Chinese history from the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE to the Ming dynasty in 1644 CE. It summarizes some of the key developments during this period, including the establishment of China's first empire under Shi Huangdi of the Qin, the invention of paper and expansion of the Silk Road during the Han dynasty, the construction of the Grand Canal during the Sui, the golden age of foreign relations and development of printing during the Tang, the creation of an urban middle class and use of the magnetic compass at sea during the Song, Kublai Khan's rule and Marco Polo's travels during the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty, and the cultural revolution, treasure voyages of

3. Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, 221-
206 B.C.E.
 Established China’s first empire 
 Shi Huangdi (221-206 B.C.E)
 Legalist rule 
 Bureaucratic administration
 Centralized control
 Military expansion
 Book burnings  targeted
Confucianists
 Buried protestors alive!
 Built large section of the Great Wall

4. Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta
Army

5. Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta
Army

6. Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers
& Cavalrymen

7. Cavalry

8. Individual Soldiers

9. The Details of an Individual
Soldier

10. Individual “Tombs”

11. The Great Wall with Towers

12. The Eastern terminus of the Great
Wall, Shanhai Pass

14. Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-
220 C.E.
 “People of the Han”  original Chinese
 Paper invented [105 B.C.E.] 
 Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many
 Buddhism introduced into China
 Expanded into Central Asia

15. Han – Roman Empire
Connection

16. Chang’an
The Han Capital

17. Liu Sheng Tomb (d. 113
BCE)
His jade suit has 2498 pieces!

18. Emperor Wudi, 141-87
B.C.E.
 Started public schools.
 Colonized Manchuria,
Korea, & Vietnam.
 Civil service system 
 bureaucrats
 Confucian scholar-gentry
 Revival of Chinese
landscape painting.

19. Han Artifacts
ImperialImperial
SealSeal
Han CeramicHan Ceramic
HouseHouse

20. Ceramics, Later Han Period

21. Trade Routes of the Ancient World

22. Multi-Cultural Faces -- People
Along the Silk Road

23. Ruins of Jiaohe, Turphan depression.
Han dynasty outpost in Central Asia

25. Sui Dynasty, 581-618
C.E.
 “Land Equalization” System  land
redistribution.
 Unified coinage.
 Grand Canal constructed.
 Established an army of professional
soldiers.
 People were overworked and
overtaxed!

26. The Grand Canal

27. The Grand Canal Today

29. Tang Dynasty, 618-907
C.E.
 Imperial examination system perfected.
 Liberal attitude towards all religions.
 Spread of Buddhism in China
 Golden Age of foreign relations with
other countries. 
 Japan, Korea, Persia

30. Tang Government
Organization

31. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.
 New technologies:
 Printing  moveable print 
 Porcelain
 Gunpowder
 Mechanical clocks
 More cosmopolitan culture.
 Reestablished the safety of the
Silk Road.
 Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia. 

32. Empress Wu Zetian, 624-
705
 The only female Empress in China’s
history who ruled alone. 
 Searched for outstanding individuals
to attract to her court.
 Construction of new irrigation
systems.
 Buddhism was the favored state
religion.
 Financed the building of many
Buddhist temples.
 BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic
ministers to seek out her enemies.

33. Foot-Binding in Tang
China
Broken toes by 3 years of age.
Size 5 ½ shoe
on the right

34. Foot-Binding in Tang
China
Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

35. Foot-Binding in Tang
China
 For upper-class girls,
it became a new
custom.

36. The Results of Foot-Binding

38. Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-
1279 C.E.
 Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class.
 Increased emphasis on education & cheaper
availability of printed books.
 Magnetic compass
makes China a great
sea power! 

39. Song Peasant Family

40. Rice Cultivation Began Under the
Song

41. Song Rice Cultivation

43. Mongolian Steppes

44. Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher
[Mongol] “Yurt”

45. Mongol Invasions

46. Mongol Warriors

47. Mongol Archer

48. Gold Saddle Arch –
Mongols, 13c

49. Gold Saddle, Front View –
Mongols, 13c

50. The MONGOLS [“Golden
Horde”]
 Temujin --> Genghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”]
 1162 - 1227
 from the steppe [dry, grass-covered plains
of Central Asia]

51. The MONGOLS [“Golden
Horde”]
 Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:
 If you do not pay homage,
we will take your prosperity.
 If you do not have prosperity,
we will take your children.
 If you do not have children,
we will take your wife.
 If you do not have a wife,
we will take your head.
 Used cruelty as a weapon  some areas never
recovered from Mongol destruction!

52. Mongol Nobleman, late
13c

53. Robe of a Mongol
Nobleman, early 14c

54. Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c

55. The Extent of the Mongol
Empire

56. Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty,
1279-1368 C.E.
 Kublai Khan [r. 1260-1294]
 Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”]
 Tolerated Chinese culture
but lived apart from them. 
 No Chinese in top govt. posts.
 Believed foreigner were more
trustworthy.
 Encouraged foreign trade &
foreign merchants to live and work
in China.
 Marco Polo

57. Marco Polo (1254-1324)
 A Venetian merchant.
 Traveled through Yuan
China: 1271-1295
 “Black Stones” [coal]
 Gunpowder.
 Noodles.

58. Marco Polo’s Travels

59. Yuan Porcelains & Ceramics

60. Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368
C.E.
 The Black Plague was spread by the
Mongols in the mid-14c.
 Sent fleets against Japan.
 1281  150,000 warriors
 Defeated by kamikazi [“winds of the gods”] 
 Kublai Khan experienced several
humiliating defeats in Southeast Asia
late in his life.

61. China’s last native imperial dynasty!

62. The Forbidden City: China’s
New Capital

63. Revived the Civil Service Exam

64. Ming Cultural Revolution
 Printing & Literacy
 Cheap, popular books:
 woodblock printing.
 cheap paper.
 Examination system.
 Leads to explosion in
literacy. 
 Leads to further
popularization of the
commercial market.
 Culture & Art
 Increased literacy
leads to increased
interest in cultural
expressions, ideas,
and things:
 Literature.
 Painting.
 Ceramics.
 Opera.

65. Ming Silver Market
 Spanish Silver Convoys
 Triangle route:
 Philippines to China to Japan.
 Silver floods Chinese Market:
 Causes devaluation of currency & recession
 Adds to reasons for Chinese immigration overseas.
 Reduces price of Chinese goods in Europe
 Increases interest in Chinese culture & ideas in
Europe.
 Helps fund conquest of New World 
 Encourages Europeans in conquest & trade.

66. Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644
C.E.
 Golden Age of Chinese Art
 Moderation
 Softness
 Gracefulness
 Three different schools of
painting developed.
 Hundreds of thousands of
workers constructed the
Forbidden City.

67. Ming Emperor Tai Zu (r.
1368-1398)

68. The Tribute System

69. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng
Ho)
 Ming “Treasure Fleet”
 Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide
1371-1435

70. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng
Ho)
 China’s “Columbus?” 

71. Admiral Zheng He’s
Voyages
 First Voyage: 1405-1407 [62 ships; 27,800 men].
 Second Voyage: 1407-1409 [Ho didn’t go on this trip].
 Third Voyage: 1409-1411 [48 ships; 30,000 men].
 Fourth Voyage: 1413-1415 [63 ships; 28,500 men].
 Fifth Voyage: 1417-1419
 Sixth Voyage: 1421-1422
 Emperor Zhu Gaozhi cancelled future trips and ordered ship
builders and sailors to stop work.
 Seventh Voyage: 1431-1433
 Emperor Zhu Zhanji resumed the voyages in 1430 to restore
peaceful relations with Malacca & Siam
 100 ships and 27,500 men; Cheng Ho died on the return
trip.

72.  1498 --> Da Gama reached Calcutta, China’s favorite port.

73. Ming Porcelain / Ceramics,
17c–18c

74. Ming Vases, 18c

75. Ming Carved Lacquer Dish
15c

76. Ming Scroll Painting
“Travellers in Autumn
Mountains”

77. Ming Painting – “Taoist
Scholar”

78. Ming Painting – “Birds and
Flowers”, 16c

79. Ming Painting and
Calligraphy, early 16c

80. Imperial China’s Impact on
History
 Removed religion from morality.
 Beginnings of political philosophy
through which a ruler must prove
he/she is legitimate.
 Mandate of Heaven
 Secular law.
 Valued history  The Dynastic Cycle