Classical Chinese History

By xXx_blarny_xXx
  • Period: 221 BCE to 207 BCE

    Qin Dynasty

    The Qin Dynasty immediately followed the Warring States Period and ruled all of China. It was short-lived, but it used an effective method of centralization and standardization which became the model for later dynasties. Some of its achievements included economic integration by building roads and standardizing the Chinese script.
  • 210 BCE

    Death of First Emperor Qin Shihuangdi

    After the First Emperor's death, the millions of laborers that he recruited became antagonistic and violent, and the general population revolted and overthrew the state three years later.
  • Period: 206 BCE to 9

    Former Han Dynasty

    The Former Han Dynasty was founded by Liu Bang, a determined commander who restored order after the bloody fall of the Qin Dynasty. During this time, the empire underwent centralization and expansion, and the population boomed. Iron metallurgy was refined, sericulture was developed to produce fine silk garments, and paper was invented sometime before 100 C.E.
  • Period: 141 BCE to 87 BCE

    Reign of Han Wudi

    Han Wudi was an energetic and powerful emperor who pursued centralization and expansion of the empire. He built a huge bureaucracy, and to sustain it he created the first standardized Chinese educational system based on Confucianism. He also conquered the Xiongnu, a large federation of nomadic peoples that threatened China.
  • 124 BCE

    Establishment of the Confucian Educational System

    Han Wudi established his educational system to train people who worked in his massive bureaucracy. It was based on Confucianism, and ensured that Confucianism would remain influential in Chinese society.
  • Period: 9 to 23

    Xin Dynasty

    The short-lived Xin Dynasty was founded by Wang Mang, an ambitious Han minister who seized the throne after being regent to an infant Han emperor. Wang Mang instituted a set of policies meant to redistribute land to the poor and reduce the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor. However, his policies were met with outrage and confusion, and he was eventually killed in 23 C.E., allowing the Han Dynasty to regain control.
  • Period: 25 to 220

    Later Han Dynasty

    The Later Han Dynasty came into being after the short reign of the Xin Emperor Wang Mang. It was considerably weaker than the Former Han Dynasty, and was eventually brought down by rebellions caused by social tensions between the peasants and the nobles, and between the nobles themselves.