| China has been ruled by dynasties for thousands of | | | | system was established in China by the Zhou. Large |
| years. A dynasty is a family in power that passes on | | | | walls were built around their cities for defense. The |
| control of the country from one generation to the next. | | | | nobles became more powerful, the Zhou dynasty |
| Studying the dynasties of ancient and early imperial | | | | ended, and China entered the Age of Warring States. |
| China is a great place to start to understand the | | | | QIN DYNASTY (221 to 206 B.C.) The Qin dynasty |
| history of this ancient civilization. | | | | unified China in 221 B.C. (under the leadership of Qin Shi |
| XIA DYNASTY (c. 2205 to 1766 B.C.) The Xia | | | | Huangdi). Under the Qin dynasty, the Legalists |
| dynasty was believed to have been a mythological | | | | strengthened power of the state with laws that were |
| dynasty for many years. Some historians still debate | | | | clearly explained and strictly enforced. Feudalism was |
| whether the dynasty did exist. In 1959, archaeologists | | | | abolished. Weights, measures, currency, and the legal |
| located a city thought to be the capital of the Xia | | | | system were standardized. |
| Dynasty. There is much to be learned about this early | | | | HAN DYNASTY (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) The Han |
| Chinese civilization. | | | | continued to unify and expand China. In the beginning, |
| SHANG DYNASTY (c. 1766 to 1122 B.C.) The Shang | | | | most of the laws and regulations established during the |
| united a large part of China under one king and left a | | | | Qin dynasty were kept but the principles of Confucius |
| written history. The twelve month calendar with thirty | | | | became the foundation of the government until 1911 |
| days in each month was developed by the Shang. | | | | (when the monarchy was overthrown). During the |
| ZHOU DYNASTY (1122 to 256 B.C.) The Zhou | | | | reign of Emperor Wu, the Chinese territory became |
| dynasty gained power from the Shang and ruled China | | | | larger than the Roman Empire. He also pioneered the |
| for almost a thousand years. They developed | | | | trade route known as the Silk Road from Xi'an, |
| powerful weapons by smelting iron from rocks and | | | | Shaanzi Province, through Central Asia and on to the |
| learning how to process it into a strong metal. A feudal | | | | east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. |