History of China Lecture Notes

Overview

• The history of China spans several millennia, with periods of unity, fracture, prosperity, and strife.
• Chinese civilization emerged in the Yellow River valley and Yangtze basin.
• The dynastic cycle is a traditional lens for viewing Chinese history, marking the rise and fall of imperial dynasties.
• China is one of the cradles of civilization.

Prehistory

Paleolithic (1.7 Ma - 12 ka)

• Homo erectus remains found in China, e.g., Yuanmou Man and Peking Man.
• Modern humans dated to 120,000-80,000 BP in China.

Neolithic

• Began about 10,000 years ago.
• Agriculture developed with rice cultivation near the Yangtze River and millet in the Yellow River valley.

Bronze Age

• Bronze artifacts found at Majiayao culture site.
• Sanxingdui site represents an advanced Bronze Age culture.

Ancient China

Xia Dynasty (c. 2070 - c. 1600 BC)

• Considered mythical by Western scholars; associated with the Erlitou site.

Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 - c. 1046 BC)

• Confirmed by archaeological evidence like oracle bones.

Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 256 BC)

• Introduced the Mandate of Heaven.

Spring and Autumn Period (722-476 BC)

• Period of political fragmentation and intellectual blossoming.

Warring States Period (476-221 BC)

• States battled for dominance; Qin state eventually unified China.

Imperial Era

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)

• First imperial state under Qin Shi Huang.
• Legalism was a major state ideology.

Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220)

Western Han

• Expansion and consolidation of power.

Eastern Han

• Revival after Wang Mang's brief rule.

Six Dynasties

Three Kingdoms (AD 220-280)

• Division into Wei, Shu, and Wu.

Jin Dynasty (AD 266-420)

• Reunification followed by fragmentation.

Northern and Southern Dynasties (AD 420-589)

• Parallel regimes in the north and south.

Mid-Imperial China

Sui Dynasty (581-618)

• Reunified China and initiated significant reforms.

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

• Golden age of culture and expansion.

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

• Economic and cultural advancements.

Late Imperial China

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

• Mongol rule over China.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

• Expansion, trade, and cultural flourishing.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)

• Manchu rule; territorial expansion.

Modern China

Republic of China (since 1912)

• Established after the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
• Faced political fragmentation and warlordism.

People's Republic of China (since 1949)

• Established by the Communist Party under Mao Zedong.
• Economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping.
• Recent developments include significant economic growth but also human rights concerns.

Key Themes

• Dynastic cycles and political struggles.
• Cultural and intellectual advancements.
• Economic development and reforms.
• Social upheaval and modernization efforts.