Learn about ancient Chinese accomplishments and technological progress made beginning in the Neolithic Period. This covers Ancient China from roughly 12,000 B.C. through the 6th century A.D.
1. Neolithic
Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Neolithic (neo='new' lithic='stone') Period of Ancient China lasted from about 12,000 until about 2000 B.C.
Groups of Neolithic inhabitants (known by pottery style):
- Yang-shao
- Longshan
- Qinglian
- Dapenkeng
- Fu Xi (r. from 2850) may have been the first king.
- Shennong (the farmer king)
- Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor (r. 2696-2598)
- Yao (first of the Sage Kings)
- Shun (second of the Sage Kings)
Accomplishments of Interest:
- The silk worm was cultivated to produce silk.
- Decorative jade
- Copper and bronze tools
- India ink and
- Beginning of urban organization.
The neolithic people in ancient China may have had ancestor worship.
2. Bronze Age - Xia Dynasty
The Xia Dynasty ran from c. 2100 to c. 1800 B.C. Legend attributes the founding of the Xia dynasty to Yu, the third Sage King. There were said to be 17 rulers. Rule became hereditary.Technology:
- Pasturage and Agriculture
- Irrigation
- Pottery
- Ships
- Lacquer
- Silk
- Spinning/Weaving
- Carving
3. Bronze Age - Shang Dynasty (Yin Dynasty)
Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Shang Dynasty ran from c. 1800 - c.1100 B.C. Tang took control of the Xia kingdom.
There is evidence of human sacrifice. Oracle Bones give witness to writing and divination practices. See AnYang - Capital of the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty in Northern Henan province, China, Between 1554 and 1045 B.C., from Archaeology at About.com.
Accomplishments:
- Bronze vessels, weapons, and tools
- Carved jade and turtle shells for divination
- Glazed pottery
- Lacquerware
- Tombs
- Calendar
- Script
4. Zhou Dynasty (Chou Dynasty)
Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Zhou Dynasty ran from c. 1027 to about 221 B.C. It is divided into periods:
- Western Zhou 1027-771
- Eastern Zhou 770-221
- 770-476 - Spring and Autumn
- 475-221 - Warring States
Technological Accomplishments and Inventions:
- Lost wax
- Inlay
- Iron casting
- Iron weapons
- Chariots
- Dye
- Glass
- Astronomy
- Magnetism
- Arithmetic
- Fractions
- Geometry
- Plowing
- Pesticides
- Fertilizers
- Acupuncture
Human sacrifice appears to have disappeared.
See Doumenzhen - Archaeology at About.com.
5. Qin Dynasty
Public Domain, Courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Qin Dynasty ran from 221-206 B.C.
The first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, founded the Qin Dynasty.
He built the Great Wall to keep out northern invaders, and centralized the Chinese government.
His tomb contained 6000 terra cotta soldiers.
The Qin accomplishments:
- Standardized weights, measures, coinage -- the bronze round coin with a square hole in the center
- Standardized writing, and
- Standardized chariot axle widths
- Compass.
6. Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty, which was founded by Liu Bang (Han Gaozu), lasted for four centuries (206 B.C.- A.D. 8, 25-220). During this period, Confucianism became state doctrine. China had contact with the west via the Silk Road. Under Emperor Han Wudi, the empire expanded into Asia.Han Dynasty accomplishments:
- Seismograph invented to detect earthquakes.
- Iron ploughs led by oxen became common
- Censuses taken
- Paper invented
- Probably gunpowder
- State Academy.
7. Three Kingdoms
After the Han Dynasty of ancient China there was a period of constant civil war during which the three leading economic centers of the Han Dynasty tried to unify the land:- The Cao-Wei Empire (220-265) from northern China
- The Shu-Han Empire (221-263) from the west, and
- The Wu Empire (222-280) from the east.
- Sugar
- Pagodas
- Private parks and gardens
- Glazed earthenware
- Porcelain
- Parallax
- Pi
Of Interest:
- During this period, tea was discovered.
8. Chin Dynasty (Jin Dynasty)
Lasting from A.D. 265-420, the Chin Dynasty was started by Ssu-ma Yen (Sima Yan), who ruled as Emperor Wu Ti from A.D. 265-289. Ssu-ma Yen reunified China in 280 by conquering the Wu kingdom. After reuniting, he ordered the disbanding of the armies, but this order was not uniformly obeyed.Accomplishments: See #7 Three Kingdoms.
9. Northern Dynasty
Another period of disunity, the period of the Northern and Southern dynasties lasted from 317-589. The Northern Dynasties were:- The Northern Wei (386-533)
- The Eastern Wei (534-540)
- The Western Wei (535-557)
- The Northern Qi (550-577)
- The Northern Zhou (557-588)
- The Song (420-478)
- The Qi (479-501)
- The Liang (502-556)
- The Chen (557-588)
Accomplishments: See #7 Three Kingdoms.
