Key Events in Chinese Dynastic History

Lesson 1: Chinese Dynasties and the Mandate of Heaven

Mandate of Heaven

• Gave emperors the right to rule.
• It was *not* a physical object.
• If the ruler was fair, they kept the Mandate.
• Natural disasters signaled they had lost it.

Dynastic Cycle:

1. A new ruler takes over.
2. The dynasty becomes strong and prosperous.
3. The ruler becomes greedy or lazy.
4. Disasters and rebellions occur.
5. A new dynasty takes over.

Major Dynasties (Since 600 AD)

• Tang (618–907)
• Five Dynasties (907–960)
• Song (960–1279)
  • Northern Song (960–1127)
  • Southern Song (1127–1279)
• Yuan (1271–1368)
• Ming (1368–1644)
• Qing (1644–1911)

Lesson 2: The Opium Wars

Opium Wars (1800s)

• Britain sold opium to China to correct trade imbalances.
• Opium proved highly addictive.

First Opium War (1839–1842)

• Lin Zexu destroyed British opium stores.
• Britain ultimately won the conflict.

Treaty of Nanking

• China ceded Hong Kong to Britain.
• Opened several ports to British trade.
• British citizens gained special legal rights in China.

Second Opium War (1856–1860)

• Britain and France fought China again.
• China was forced to open more ports to foreign access.

Results of the Wars

• China lost significant territory and sovereignty.
• Widespread addiction and poverty increased.
• Anti-foreign sentiment grew intensely among the populace.

Lesson 4: Rebellions and Upheaval

Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864)

• Leader: Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be Jesus’ younger brother.
• Goal: To establish a new, equitable society.

Causes:

• Widespread poverty, famine, and government corruption.
• Influence of new religious ideologies.

Key Events:

• 1853: Rebels successfully captured Nanjing.
• 1864: Qing forces retook Nanjing with Western assistance.

Boxer Rebellion: Background

• China suffered from poverty and increasing foreign influence.
• Unfair treaties opened China to external powers.

Boxer Rebellion (1899–1900)

• The Boxers fiercely opposed foreigners and Christian missionaries.
• Many adherents believed they possessed magical powers.

Events:

• 1900: Boxers besieged and attacked foreign embassies in Beijing.

Response:

• An Eight-Nation Alliance invaded and suppressed the rebellion.

Lesson 6: The End of the Qing Dynasty

Fall of the Qing Dynasty

• The Boxer Rebellion intensified public discontent.
• The Xinhai Revolution occurred in 1911.
• In 1912, Emperor Puyi was compelled to abdicate the throne.
• The Republic of China was subsequently established.

Puyi – The Last Emperor (1906–1967)

• Ascended the throne at age 2 in 1908.
• Forced to step down at age 6 in 1912.
• Remained in the Forbidden City until 1924.

Later Life:

• 1932: Japan installed him as the puppet emperor of Manchukuo.
• He held no real authority and was closely monitored by the Japanese.
• He mistakenly believed Japan would win WWII until 1944.
• Captured by the Soviets, then imprisoned and 're-educated' in China.
• He struggled with basic daily tasks during his re-education.

Life as a Citizen:

• Released from prison in the 1950s.
• Worked as a street sweeper and gardener.
• Once became lost and famously told people, "I’m Puyi, the last Emperor."
• He later visited the Forbidden City as a regular tourist.
• Died in Beijing in 1967.