East Asia

China and East Asia
Often considered to be the longest continuous civilization on earth, China has a remarkable history. Notable civilization around the Huang He began at around 2500 BC, and by 1700 BC well-established dynasties such as the Shang and later the Zhou, appeared. In 221 BC, the Qin conquered all other states and formed the first "Empire" in China. Over the next two millenia, the pattern of dynasties falling and rising continued, but civilization was never severely disrupted. Thus, many innovations and inventions came out of China (such as Confucianism, paper, gunpower, the compass, etc) and to other parts of the world through the silk road, and later, in the Indian Ocean trade routes. Neighboring regions such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam were highly influced by Chinese culture, and more or less incorporated it into their own civilization (architecture, buddhism, etc). In the good part of its history, China was one of the most advanced civilization in the world, but towards the late Imperial Ages, isolationist policies left the Qing Dynasty dangerously behind the west. This and more internal problems led to the collapse of dynastic rule in 1911.AD.

East Asia East Asia Forum Highlights East Asia: China 1. The Qin Dynasty 2. The Han Dynasty 3. The Ming Dynasty 4. The Tang Dynasty 5. The Song Dynasty 6. The Qing Empire Chinese Columbus: Fact or Fiction? Chinese letters in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam: Past, Present, and Future Science and Technology The Most Damaging Institutions in Chinese History: Eunuchs and Official Harem The Art of War by Sun Tzu The Thirty Six Strategies Zheng He and Ming China: The Lone Mariner and His Times Zheng He's Voyages were Unprofitable and Detrimental to Ming China, a Thesis Japan: Kamakura Era Wada Rebellion Japan: Edo Era First Victory of a Swordmaster Only Loss of a Swordmaster Japan: Meiji Era The Meiji Restoration: Nature and Impact