History of China

From Ancient to modern times

Ancient China

• As early as 5,000 BC Chinese people lived in the fertile river valley of the Huang He (Yellow River) & the Yangtze River • In 1700 BC the Shang invaded and established the first organized civilization • For many years after, China was ruled by dynasties, or families of rulers

Dynasties of China

• • • • • • • • • • Shang Zhou Qin Han Sui Tang Song Yuan Ming Qing Dynasty • • • • • • • • • • Dates 1700’s – 1122 B.C.

1122 – 221 B.C.

221 – 206 B.C.

206 B.C. – 220 A.D.

581 – 618 A.D.

618 – 907 A.D.

960 – 1279 A.D.

1279 – 1368 A.D.

1368 – 1644 A.D.

1644 – 1911 A.D.

Territories occupied by different dynasties

Significant Dynasties

• Mongol Rule – In 1200 AD the Mongols invaded China, led by Genghis Khan. They established the Yuan Dynasty.

• Ming Dynasty – From 1368 to 1644, responsible for the building of China’s capital Beijing – Built a large portion of the “Great Wall of China” miles) (Wall totals Approximately 5,500 – Builders of China’s “ Forbidden City ” • Qing Dynasty – The last dynasty in China, ruled through 1911 Genghis Kahn Mongol Warlord

China’s Forbidden City

Located in Beijing

Achievements

Ancient China has given the world many great innovations & inventions: • Paper • Gunpowder • Kites • Steel • Compass • Silk • Mechanical Clocks • Paper Money • Restaurants • Porcelain • Cross-Bow • Printing • …..etc.

The Great Wall of China

Chinese Nationalist Party

• By the early 1900’s , many western educated Chinese were tired of the dynasties rule & wanted China to become a democracy, the Chinese Nationalist Party was created to accomplish this • In 1911 the nationalist party toppled the Qing dynasty . The emperor stepped down and China became a Republic .

• Over the next 16 years , China was in turmoil with different groups fighting over power • China continued to face many struggles leading up to WWI, and a small Communist Party opposition to the Nationalist party formed in

Communism in China

Mao Zedong 1893-1976 • After WWII, China’s two parties again turned on each other and in 1949 the communist defeated the nationalist, forcing the nationalists to Taiwan • In 1949, China became a communist country and was officially renamed People’s Republic of China ( A.K.A. Communist China or Red China ) • Mao Zedong became the 1 st Chairman of Communist China

Communism in China

Mao Zedong The man who made China Communist • Born a peasant, Mao was attracted to Communist ideals at an early age • He witnessed the inequalities around him – hardworking farmers living in poverty, while powerful landowners amassed great wealth • Mao’s dream for China was said to be based on his belief that everyone should work together for the good of all people • People in China to this day repeat his slogans and study his writings

Reform and Revolution The new communist government instituted many reforms:

• They

seized land

from the wealthy and gave it to the peasants • They

nationalized industries

in China • As in the Soviet Union, they

created collective farms

where peasants combined their land and worked together to grow food

The Great Leap Forward

• In 1958, Mao Zedong launched a program, called the Great Leap Forward , to speed up economic development • Collective farms became huge communes of 25,000 people • These communes grew crops, ran small industries and provided health care & education for their members • In less than one year, 900 million Chinese peasants were moved into these communes • Unfortunately, things did not go as planned Chinese propaganda showing the ideal commune

The Great Leap Forward

In the beginning, commune members were able to eat for free at the commune canteens. This changed when food production slowed to a halt.

People in the countryside working at night to produce steel.

The Great Leap Forward

Propaganda poster displaying the production of grains skyrocketing.

Chinese propaganda poster showing larger-than-human melon

The Great Leap Forward

Chinese Propaganda of the “Great Leap Forward” Era • In one year, the Great Leap Forward shattered China’s economy • Poor agricultural production, droughts and floods caused one of the worst famines in history • From 1958 to 1960, as many as 20 million people starved, while millions more died of disease • Needless to say, some in China’s communist government began to question Mao’s leadership

The Cultural Revolution

• After the Great Leap Forward, many people in government began to call for reform (change) • Mao feared that these people wanted to turn China into a capitalist country • In 1966, Mao launched a movement called the Cultural Revolution , which aimed to remove any and all opposition to the Communist Party • Mao’s new supporters, the “Red Guards” were given complete power to root out any threats to Chinese culture • The people were encouraged to betray each other to authorities for having anti-communist ideas • They sought out to punish those who criticized the government • They punished people who had contact with western people or that had western ideas (capitalism) • Millions of people were violently persecuted and thousands were murdered until 1971 • China fell into chaos once again, the economy weakened and the government was unable to carry out many of its duties

The Cultural Revolution Propaganda “ The peoples liberation army is a great school for Mao Zedong thought”

China’s government reForms

• After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, many wanted to restore order and economic growth • China’s new leaders instituted a “ second revolution ”, which, over time, improved life dramatically • Changes made to China’s economy introduced elements of Free Enterprise (Capitalism) • The government established diplomatic relationships with the United States, increased trade with other countries and allowed farmers to own land

China’s government today

• Since 1949, The Chinese Communist Party has been the only political party to hold real power in China’s government • The Peoples Republic of China is regarded by many political scientists; along with Cuba, North Korea, Laos and Vietnam, as one of the last five “Communist” nations on Earth • Although an exact definition is not possible, described as a “One-Party Dictatorship” China is best • This government has had a history of repressing criticism of it’s policies • Such actions often lead to the violation of human rights • For example, in 1989, the Chinese military denied citizens the freedom of speech and assembly when it attacked protesters calling for democracy in Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square

• For weeks, protesters non violently occupied this 100 acre square in Beijing • These protesters were calling for more “democratic” reforms in their government • The military killed hundreds and wounded thousands in their attempt to end the protests • People around the world spoke up against the Chinese government • Since then, efforts have been made to help the people of China in their struggle for human rights • Despite all of this, human rights are still an issue in China

Tiananmen Square

Human Rights in China

• China is NOT a Democracy, citizens do not have the right to elect national leaders • Although officially a part of the constitution, Chinese citizens do not have the freedom of speech or the freedom of the press. All media is heavily censored by the government and it is illegal to criticize the government • Some foreign web sites such as “YouTube” & “Face Book” have been banned by the government. The word “democracy” has been banned from internet chat rooms • Movement within & out of the country is strictly controlled by the government • Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the government of China of torturing it’s prisoners • In China, a total of 68 crimes are punishable by death, including non violent crimes such as tax fraud and embezzlement • China executes more people each year than the rest of the world combined • Basically, Chinese citizens lack a lot of the basic freedoms that we enjoy

One – Child Policy

• China's birth control policy, known widely as the “one-child” policy , was implemented in 1979 by the Chinese government to alleviate the overpopulation problem • Having more than one child is illegal and punishable by fines • In 2002, the laws related to the one-child policy were amended to allow ethnic minorities and Chinese living in rural areas to have more than one child • The policy has been relaxed in urban areas to allow people who were single children to have two children

China’s eConomy

• Since market based reforms in the late 70’s, China has developed the worlds fastest growing economy • In recent years, China has shifted Command Economy to a “ from a pure Mixed Economy” (Command & Market) • They are the world’s largest exporter and 2 nd importer of goods largest • China’s economy is currently based heavily on industry; as well as agriculture • They have seen massive growth several industries such as: machine building, metal production, making of chemical fertilizers and clothing • Due to low labor costs, many companies around the world have their products manufactured in China

China: Potential Super Power

• Based on GDP, currently the

2

nd

economy in the world largest

• With a population of over 1.3 Billion, China has the

worlds largest army

• China is a recognized “

Nuclear Weapons Country”

• Many experts characterize China as a potential “

Super Power

” that appears to be growing stronger as time marches on

QUIZ

Quiz

1.

What about China’s geography led to its settlement? a. Fertile Rivers b. Geographic Separated from Asia c. Communist Ideals d. People looking for Religious Freedom

2. What is a dynasty?

A. Rule by a few B. Family Rulers C. A form of democracy D. Ruled by a King or Queen

Quiz

Quiz

3. China has a mix of Confucianism, Taoism and what other religion?

A. Hinduism B. Buddhism C. Islam D. Christianity

List two achievements/contributions of Ancient China #4.

#5.

Quiz

Quiz

6. China became communist in 1949. Which of the following would you most likely find in a communist country?

A. People vote for their leaders B. A constitution protects citizens rights C. Censorship of media D. Privatized businesses

Quiz

7. Which of the following best describes the economy of modern China?

A) Command B) Free Enterprise C) Mixed D) Traditional

8. Buddhism is one of the three major religions in China, who founded Buddhism?

A. Indira Gandhi B. Mao Zedong C. Confucius D. Siddhartha Gautama

Quiz

Quiz

9. Flooding led to poor agriculture production during the famine. Which of the following may have caused flooding?

A.Drought

B.Monsoons

C.Building dams

10. Who was the first chairman of the People’s Republic of China?

a. Mahatma Gandhi b. Lao Tzu c. The Mongols d. Mao Zedong

Quiz

Get Ready to Grade Quiz

Quiz

1.

What about China’s geography led to its settlement? a. Fertile Rivers

2. What is a dynasty?

B. Family Rulers

Quiz

Quiz

3. China is a mix of Confucianism, Taoism and what other religion?

B. Buddhism

Quiz

. 4 & 5 List two achievements/contributions of Ancient China.

* Silk * Gunpowder * Compass * Porcelain

*

Paper * Block Printing * Writing using characters * Great Wall of China

Quiz

6. China became communist in 1949. Which of the following would you most likely find in a communist country?

C. Censorship of media

Quiz

7. What led to famine in China in the late 1950s? D. Droughts, flooding, and other natural causes led to poor agriculture production

8. Buddhism is one of the three major religions in China, who founded Buddhism?

Quiz

D. Siddhartha Gautama

Quiz

9. Flooding led to poor agriculture production during the famine. Which of the following may have caused flooding?

B. Monsoons

10. Who was the first chairman of the People’s Republic of China?

D. Mao Zedong

Quiz