Tang, and Song dynasties ruled China.
During that time the Chinese made
advances in science, literature, and the
arts. China also expanded its territory to
include parts of Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia,
and Tibet.
Foreign Invasions
The Mongols of Central Asia conquered
all of China in 1279. It was the first
time in history that foreign invaders had
controlled the Chinese empire. The
Ming Dynasty overthrew the Mongols
in 1368. Another group, the Manchus,
took over as the Qing Dynasty in 1644.
The Qing Dynasty continued until
1912. It was China’s last dynasty.
Meanwhile, conflict with theWest
began with the first OpiumWar (1839–
42). The British ran a profitable opium
(a type of drug) trade in China. Many
Chinese citizens became addicted to
opium, and China wished to halt the
trade. However, the British won the war
as well as other battles. In the late 1800s
1700s BC 221 BC AD 1279 1368 1912 1949 1966
The Shang
Dynasty takes
power over
part of China.
The Qin
Dynasty unites
China.
The Mongols
conquer China.
The native
Ming Dynasty
defeats the
Mongols.
The
Nationalists
make China a
republic.
The
Communists
form the
People’s
Republic of
China.
Mao Zedong
begins the
Cultural
Revolution.
T I M E L I N E
Lanterns and flags decorate the old city wall
of Xi’an, China.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA China 103
China also had disputes with France,
Russia, and Japan.
Many in China disliked the growing
foreign involvement. Many were also
angry about poverty in the countryside.
People around the country began to
rebel. In the Boxer Rebellion of 1900,
bands of Chinese attacked and killed at
least 250 foreigners. After European,
Russian, U.S., and Japanese forces put
down the rebellion, those foreign powers
gained even more control over China.
Chinese Revolution
Several Chinese groups continued to
fight for change in the Qing Dynasty’s
weak government. They finally succeeded
with a revolution that began in
1911. The last Qing emperor stepped
down in 1912. Sun Yat-sen and his Kuomintang
(Nationalist Party) declared
China a republic. For several years, however,
different leaders fought for control
of China.
Communism
In 1928 the Nationalists, a group led by
Chiang Kai-shek, took control of China.
During invasions by Japan in the 1930s
andWorldWar II (1939–45), however,
the Chinese Communist Party grew
strong. Civil war broke out between the
Nationalists and the Communists, led
by Mao Zedong. In 1949 the Communists
defeated the Nationalists.
The Communists renamed the country
the People’s Republic of China. They set
up a Communist government with Mao
Zedong as its leader. In 1958 Mao
started a program, called the Great Leap
Forward, to modernize China’s
economy. The plan failed, however, and
many people died of starvation. In 1966
Mao began the Cultural Revolution. Its
goal was to strengthen people’s belief in
Communism. Instead it led to disorder
and violence. Mao closed China’s
schools and encouraged young people to
attack those who disagreed with him.
Recent Events
After Mao died in 1976, the Communist
government began to relax its tight
hold on Chinese society. Later leaders
allowed private businesses and some
freedom of speech. China also tried to
improve relations with other countries.
One sign of the country’s success came
in 2001. In that year the International
Olympic Committee chose Beijing to
host the 2008 Summer Olympic games.
#More to explore
Beijing • Chiang Kai-shek
• Communism • GreatWall of China
• Huang He • Mao Zedong
The Forbidden City in China’s capital city of
Beijing contains the palaces of several
former emperors. It is now a museum that is
open to the public.
Archaeologists
have found
decorated pottery
that was
created in
China about
12,000 years
ago.
104 China BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Chinese New
Year
Chinese New Year is a major holiday in
China and Chinese communities
throughout the world. Unlike inWestern
nations, the starting date of the Chinese
New Year is not the same each year.
It begins in late January or early February.
The 15-day celebration begins with
the new moon and lasts until the full
moon.
Firecrackers are often shot off on New
Year’s Eve. Fireworks celebrate the end
of the old year and the beginning of the
new year. Chinese New Year is a time to
feast and to visit family members. Many
traditions of the season honor relatives
who have died.
The last event of the 15-day celebration
is the Lantern Festival. People often
hang glowing lanterns in temples or
carry them during a nighttime parade.
The dragon dance highlights festival
celebrations in many areas. A long, colorful
dragon is carried through streets by
numerous dancers.
Chinese years are named after 12 animals:
rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake,
horse, sheep, monkey, fowl, dog, and
pig. Chinese New Year marks the start of
the next animal’s year—for example, the
Year of the Pig. After 12 years, the cycle
of animals repeats itself.
Chipewyan
The Chipewyan are a tribe of Native
Americans who once survived by hunting
caribou in Canada. They ranged
through the southern parts of what are
now Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Their range also included the
northern parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan,
