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When the Han dynasty collapsed China fell into the Period of Disunion. the Han dynasty began in 206 BC.
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A time of disorder that followed the Han Dynasty.
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Ended in 845. Many people turned to Bhuddism in times of disorder. Bhuddism became very popular in China.
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A mixture of powders used in guns and explosives. It was originally used only in fireworks, but it was later used to make small bombs and rockets. It changed the way people fought in war.
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This instrument, uses the earth's magnetic field to show direction, The compass has been a key factor in some of the most important sailing voyages in history.
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One of the nomadic peoples who attacked the Chinese were the Mongols. They had lived as separate tribes north of China until a powerful leader, Genghis Khan, united them.
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By this time all of northern China was under Mongol control. Though the destruction the Mongols left behind was terrible
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Genghis Khan's grandsonKublai Khan became ruler of the Mongol Empire. He completed the conquest of China.
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Between 1271 and 1295 he traveled in and around China. Polo was highly respected by the Mongols and even served in Kublai Khan's court. When Polo returned to Europe, he wrote of his travels.
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A Mongol army sailed to Japan in 1274 and 1281, but their attacks proved to be disastrous. The Mongol army was destroyed by violent storms and fierce defenders.
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Kublai Khan declared himself emperor of China. This began the Yuan dynasty, a period that some people also call the Mongol Ascendancy.
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Ruled by foreiners and nomads.
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He took charge of a rebel army. He led this army in a final victory over the Mongols. China was once again ruled by the Chinese.
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The Ming Dynasty proved to be the most stable dynasty in China. The Chineese improved their sailing skills greatly during the Ming Dynasty.
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He led seven grand voyages to places around Asia. In the course of his voyages, he sailed his fleet throughout the Indian Ocean, as far west as the Persian Gulf, and the easternmost coast of Africa.
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The palace complex included hundreds of imperial residences, temples, and other government buildings. For centuries, this city within a city was a symbol of China's glory.
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When China entered a period of isolationism, a policy of avoiding contact with other countries, they suffered great consequences for China. The Ming dynasty was overthrown and China was too weak to stop the Westerners.
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Carved letters could be rearranged and reused to print many different messages. It made printing much faster.
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A new irrigation device that allowed one person to do the work of several. With this pump, a farmer could scoop up water and pour it into an irrigation canal.
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A thin, beautiful type of pottery that was a valuble trade item. It helped increase trade and helped China prosper.
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Farms also became more productive because of a new type of fast-ripening rice. Farmers learned to grow new crops, such as cotton, efficiently. Workers processed cotton fiber to make clothes.
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A form of printing where an entire page is carved into a block of wood. Then the printer brushes ink onto the block and presses paper against the block to create a printed page.
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Yang Jiang ended the Period of Disunion and begun the Sui Dynasty.
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The area included much of eastern Asia, as well as large parts of Central Asia. Historians call the Tang Dynsty the golden age of Chinese civilization.
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After the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (a time of disorder and chaos), China was reunified, by the Song dynasty. It was a time of improvements in agriculture, growing cities, trade, art, and inventions, and a time of major changes in Chinese government.
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After the Tang dynasty fell, China entered a brief period of chaos and disorder, with many separate kingdoms competing for power.
