History of China goes back to over three thousand years. China’s history is punctuated by the rule of many dynasties. With a rich history dating back to over 3500 years, China is one of the oldest civilizations of the world, which is still in existing. A highly evolved system of bureaucratic authority advanced by the changing dynasties and fundamental doctrines put this provincial civilization in a better place than its bordering gypsy.
China was invaded by the Mongols from Mongolia in 1200 and was ruled by Kablai Khan. This era was known as the Yuan Dynasty. Mongols were the first foreign invaders who ruled China for several years. By the mid-1300s, the Yuan dynasty gave way to the Ming dynasty. Then in the mid-1600s, Manchurian troops overthrew the Ming dynasty to establish the Qing dynasty.
That was long back. But only 100 years early, in the early 1900s, the country came out from the power of dynasty rule to create People’s Republic of China. In the 1930s, China came under control of a communist government.
Landmarks events in Chinese History
The First Opium War
The First Opium War broke out in 1840 when Britain persisted for the illegal opium trade in the territories of China whereas the China prohibited this narcotic drug. With China losing the war, Britain and other Western powers with the United States gained special commercial privileges over the country. Under the Treaty of Nanking, 1842, Hong Kong was handed to Britain and when the Opium Wars finally came to an end in 1898, Britain brought about a 99-year lease of the New Territories substantially enlarging the Hong Kong region.
Foundation of the People's Republic of China
On October 1, 1949 the founding of the ‘People's Republic of China’ was certified in Beijing. A new political and economic regime was instated, built on the pattern of Soviet society. During 1950s the government launch upon a tremendous economic and social indemnification. Steps were taken to restraint inflation, mending the economy and reconstructing the war-damaged industrial plants and regions. In the process the government acquired a tremendous support from its people.
Communism Society Started Shaking
In the early 1960s State President Liu Shaoqi and his party General Secretary Deng Xiaoping took over the reigns and adopted realistic economic policies, which clashed with Mao's vision. Dissatisfied with the new developments Mao launched a massive political attack on Liu, Deng and other pragmatists in 1966. The new movement, the ‘Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution’, was aimed at gathering opposition against ruling leaders.
The Development of the Economy in 1980’s
In 1980 the reformist Sichuan party chief Zhao Ziyang and as party General Secretary took over the charge. The reform policies brought great improvements in the standard of living especially for urban workers and for farmers. Literature and the arts blossomed and Chinese intellectuals established extensive links with scholars in other countries. At the same time however political dissent as well as social problems such as inflation urban migration and prostitution emerged.
Chinese Students Protest
In 1989 there were growing economic hardship caused by high inflation set the ground for a large-scale protest movement by students, intellectuals and other parts of a disaffected urban population. University students and other citizens in Beijing camped out at Tiananmen Square to protest against those who slowed reform. Protests also spread in many other cities including Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Martial law was declared on May 20 1989, military units were deployed in Beijing. Demonstrators were suppressed brutally, most observers believe that casualties numbered in the hundreds.
The entire world expressed horror at the brutal suppression of the demonstrators, the central government eliminated opposition, held in custody large numbers of protesters and urged for required political re-education not only for students but also for party cadre and government officials.
China in the 21st century
After the death of Deng in 1997, President Jiang Zemin and other members slowly took over control of the day-to-day functions of government. This ‘third generation’ leadership governed collectively with President Jiang at the center. In 2003, Hu Jintao replaced Jiang as the President.
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