Essay on Li Shimin: Wise King or Tyrant?

Although China has a complex history, it was one of the most economically stable countries in the world. Chinese’s current complex form of government started with different principles for each city-state and was later unified by dynasties. However, even before the establishment of modern-day China, its success can be contributed to its geographic features, earliest historical record in the Oracle bones, as well as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. China’s several geographic features contribute to its isolation and success.

I think he was a good ruler. It seemed like he was one of the best emperors. He kept everything so together and organized. Mostly, everyone liked him even though he might have not been liked by his enemies. He may not have expected to become early at such a young age because, of the passing away of his father and brother. I think he was a good ruler because, he took care of everyone so well and protected all of the land/his people.

China was divided for almost four centuries. It became unified in 581 with the founding of the new dynasties, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties. During the time of these dynasties, many changes took place. There were changes in the political, social, and economic structures. The first changes took place during the Sui dynasty in 581. Additional changes took place during the Tang dynasty in 618, and the Song dynasty in 960.

As one rises, another falls. Civilizations undulated in historic times more frequently than waves in an ocean; however, most of them are forgotten to this day because of their insignificant impact. The Roman and Chinese Empires were established like any other civilization, but rose to power through proper governing of the people. They later became so successful that they emulated one another in different fields of culture. The Han Dynasty was one of many dynasties in ancient China and it was able to change the outlook on society because of its radical and novel ideology based on Confucianism. During the dynasty, the emperor Wudi pushed borders and trade like no other dynasty of its kind and conquered land past China's century long

Following the collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220, China declined into an elongated term of division. China was divided and in a time of war, with a lack of leadership. It was only in the Sui Dynasty (589-618) reunited North and South China as one. The Tang (618-906) and Song (960 - 1279) Dynasties that followed created the “Golden Ages of China”. Although the Tang and Song Dynasties existed in a similar time and had a similar economy, there are also many differences between the influential dynasties such as certain aspects of their society and politics.

The Qin dynasty united China after years of wars and their goal was for that unification to be permanent even though their dynasty ended after only a few years. Four hundred years later with the Tang dynasty in 618 China reached a highpoint in their history, but they were ruled by people that were not ethnically Chinese. The north and south were split after the sixth century under the dynasty of Sui and the outcome became two separate nations one rule by what Ebrey states as “Sino-foreign regimes” (109). The Tang dynasty did not inhabit all of China; they only controlled certain parts and were themselves from Northern China that was not considered ethnically Chinese. This foreignness from the Tang dynasty allowed them to commit policies that

Tracing back the history of China, Xia Dynasty of the second millennium BCE was the earliest dynasty in China, which was centered along the Yellow River. Before China was unified, it was the time during which most of China's cultural tradition arose. Chinese civilization ascended and developed in a vast area, one-third larger than the United States if such dependencies as Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and Tibet are included. For centuries China was almost completely isolated from the other centers of civilization by mountains, deserts, and seas. This isolation helps explain the great originality of China's culture. China has many mountain ranges and three river systems that rise close together on the high Tibetan plateau and flow eastward to

China has had many dynasties, but there are two which stand out; which, are the Qin and the Han. Ancient China has had one of the oldest and longest civilizations in the history of the world. Throughout China’s history, China was ruled by powerful families called dynasties. Because of Qin and Han significance and impact on China, both dynasties sites are influential to Chinese history, but the Han dynasty had a greater impact on the history of China due to their significant rise to power, impact, and their influence to Chinese history.

The Tang dynasty was by far the best dynasty. The time period of the Tang Dynasty was from 618-907 CE, and it is an ancient Chinese dynasty.

Early in his career Li Si showed an earnest desire to contribute to the ongoing moral government. Sima Qian wrote, “Zheng Gao, a man of Hann, came to cause dissension in Qin through the construction of drainage and irrigation channels” (25). It is well known that water control through engineering has always been a major concern and responsibility of the Chinese government. Irresponsible use of water could lead to crops flooding, mudslides that are capable of destroying villages, widespread hunger, which could possibly lead to a revolt and an overall collapse of the government. Therefore, it is both reasonable and wise for the King of Qin to invest in bringing in a specialist to lead the construction of such a crucial job. However, Qian included the opinions of both the bitter employees, who worked on the project, and the aristocrats who were angered by the choice of bringing in a foreigner to organize and oversee such a task (Dawson 147).

Chinese Dynasties: 1. Shang: Also called Yin, dynasty that was China's earliest historically verifiable state 1766 B.C. to 1122 B.C. A. Reason's for Rise: Unlike the early accounts of history by the Chinese, there is archaeological evidence of the Shang, who built their cities in northern China around the eastern parts of the Yellow River. For this reason they are called the Yellow River civilization. They were a bronze age people; bronze-working seems to have entered China around 2000 BC (about one thousand years after its invention in Mesopotamia). B. Territorial Location & size at height of power (map): The Shang ruled the area from the North China Plain northward into present-day Shantung Province and westward to the tip of Honan

The Qin and the Han are two equally important dynasties that greatly expanded in their reign, although both the Qin and the Han had its own ideas on expansion. In fifteen years, the Qin Dynasty united the seven warring states. Emperor Qin’s rule resulted in the isolation of China from foreigners and brought upon strict rules and the removal of freedom. Under Emperor Qin’s rule, any action people took which angered the ruler could result in harsh punishment. Consequently, people were unhappy and often suffered from poverty. On the other hand, The Han dynasty lasted 426 years and managed to conquer more land, which gradually expanded and formed what China now is today. While isolation from the outside world was still present

The following are the Chinese dynasties in order from oldest to most recent: Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. The legendary dynasty is the Xia, which is believed to be around 2000 BC. The Shang (1700-1000BC) developed the first written Chinese language. The Zhou (1028-221BC) built the first roads, expanded trade contacts and trade routes, and also developed plows and irrigation systems. Trade at this time was expanding in China. The Qin Dynasty (221-207BC) built the famous Great Wall of China as a defense mechanism and also united all of China under one central government. Next is the Han Dynasty (207BC-AD220), which did a lot for China in terms of trading. They developed the Great Silk Road, a trading route that stretched from China all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. The Sui Dynasty (589-618) united almost all of China. Followed in suit by the Tang Dynasty (618-917) discovered one of Chinas' leading exports, porcelain. During the Tang Dynasty, the first block-style printing press was invented. The Song Dynasty (960-1279) came next, which took over all of China and later took the southern rule after being conquered by the Jin. The Song Dynasty is responsible for developing Chinese cuisine as we know it today. During this time period the compass and gunpowder were also discovered. The Jin Dynasty (1127-1234) took rule over Northern China from the Song. The Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) brought a long period of peace to

The Six Dynasty period in Chinese historiography is often classified with moments of conflict, revolt, strife, famine, disunity, and not innovation. Historians and academics categorize the period as a placeholder between the more significant Han China—206 BCE to 220 CE—and the Tang dynasty—618 to 907 CE. Understandably, Han China’s military, infrastructure, and civil capabilities were rivalled only by that of the Roman Empire, and even then, the Han dynasties administrative capabilities were rivalled by none. The Tang period is widely considered to be the high point of Chinese culture and civilization, where cosmopolitan China emerged with force vastly shaping China for centuries to come. The significance of the Han and Tang dynasties is not in question, it is the lack of importance that historians confer on the Six Dynasties period. Admittedly the Six Dynasty period in Chinese history can be categorized as a warring period, in which China did not develop unilaterally, but separately along fractured lines (split both north-south, and east-west). Much like the European medieval period, there are few accessible sources from early-medieval china, and because of this, China’s six dynasty period is brushed over as a period of little advancement and innovation. The “Dark Ages” in Europe use to receive the same scholarly interpretation as a period of stagnation.

Next, looking at the Han Dynasty, it lasted from 202 B.C.E. to 220 C.E. This time period was said to be the most prosperous; population growth of approximately 50 million, expansion to Korea, Vietnam, and Pakistan, and the establishment of the famous Silk Road. It was not until about 184 C.E that this dynasty was to break internally through political and economical reasons