Ancient China

Ancient China gave rise to some of history's most powerful dynasties, such as the Tang Dynasty, the Han Dynasty and the Qin Dynasty, which began building the Great Wall of China.

Illustration by Eduardo Ramón Trejo. Photos from Getty Images.

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Cityscapes Of Beijing - The Great WallBEIJING - DECEMBER 03: A general view of the Great Wall on December 3, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing will be the host city for 2008 Summer Olympic Games. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C. and eventually spanned more than 13,000 miles across northern China.

Ritual bronze vessel from the Shang Dynasty.

7 Everyday Objects From the Shang Dynasty

People living in this Bronze Age civilization crafted unique objects that shed light on life in ancient China some 3,200 years ago.

HISTORY: Han Dynasty

10 Inventions From China’s Han Dynasty That Changed the World

The 400-year rule of the Han Dynasty generated a slew of innovations in everything from agriculture to metallurgy to seismology.

Xian Tombs of Qin Dynasty

The Xian Tombs of Qin Dynasty, a burial complex for 3rd century BCE Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang, are marked by an army of 8,000 terracotta soldiers.

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China

It took millennia to build, but today the Great Wall of China stands out as one of the world's most famous landmarks.

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3 Key Chinese Dynasties

HISTORY: Shang Dynasty

Shang Dynasty

The earliest recorded ruling dynasty of China, the Shang were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and military technology.

HISTORY: Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Tang China attracted an international reputation that spilled out of its cities and, through the practice of Buddhism, spread its culture across much of Asia.

Ming Dynasty Dingling MausoleumBEIJING, CHINA - MAY 6, 2018 - (FILE) Buildings of Dingling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty and funerary objects such as crowns, phoenixes, gold ware and ornaments are seen in Changping district of Beijing, capital of China, May 6, 2018. From May 1956 to July 1958, the Ming Dingling Mausoleum was excavated. It is the only mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty emperor that has been excavated so far. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty ruled China from A.D. 1368 to 1644, during which China’s population doubled. Known for its trade expansion to the outside world.

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Ancient China

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Ritual bronze vessel from the Shang Dynasty.

7 Everyday Objects From the Shang Dynasty

People living in this Bronze Age civilization crafted unique objects that shed light on life in ancient China some 3,200 years ago.

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Forbidden City WatchtowerBEIJING, CHINA - MAY 26: The of Forbidden City watchtower is seen on May 26, 2014 in Beijing, China. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. It is located in the center of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. (Photo by Xiao Lu Chu/Getty Images)

Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty, which lasted from 1644 to 1912, was the final imperial dynasty in China. It was an era noted for its initial prosperity and tumultuous finish.

Attila the Hun (406-453) burning townships during Invasion of Italy. Woodcut, undated.

Huns

The Huns were fierce warriors who terrorized much of Europe and the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D., until the death of their famed king Attila.

Ming Dynasty Dingling MausoleumBEIJING, CHINA - MAY 6, 2018 - (FILE) Buildings of Dingling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty and funerary objects such as crowns, phoenixes, gold ware and ornaments are seen in Changping district of Beijing, capital of China, May 6, 2018. From May 1956 to July 1958, the Ming Dingling Mausoleum was excavated. It is the only mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty emperor that has been excavated so far. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 to 1644 A.D., is remembered for establishing cultural ties with the West, its literature boom and its porcelain.

Qin Dynasty Terracotta Warriors

Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was the first royal dynasty during the age of Imperial China. Qin achievements had a profound cultural impact on the dynasties that followed.

HISTORY: Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty ruled China from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. and was the second imperial dynasty of China.

HISTORY: Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty, covering a period from the 7th to the 10th century A.D., marked a golden age of Chinese arts and culture and made an impact across Asia.

HISTORY: Shang Dynasty

Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty ruled China from 1600 to 1046 B.C. and left a record of advancements in the fields of math, astronomy, art and military technology.

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Chinese lute p'i-p'a, moon guitar yue-chin and table zither tchin; detail of a painting on silk of the Ming dynasty (1330-1644).', 1948. From Musical Instruments Through the Ages, by Dr. Alexander Buchner. [Spring Books, London, 1948]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images)

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Cityscapes Of Beijing - The Great WallBEIJING - DECEMBER 03: A general view of the Great Wall on December 3, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing will be the host city for 2008 Summer Olympic Games. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C. and eventually spanned more than 13,000 miles across northern China.

Sun Wu, style name Changqing, better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi, was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is believed to have authored 'The Art of War', an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society, and his work has continued to influence both Asian and Western culture and politics.

The Art of War

The Art of War is a meditation on military strategy commonly attributed to Chinese warrior Sun Tzu. Scholars remain divided as to who wrote the book and when.

Xian Tombs of Qin Dynasty

The Xian Tombs of Qin Dynasty, a burial complex for 3rd century BCE Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang, are marked by an army of 8,000 terracotta soldiers.