After inventing the printing press, the most popular type of booklet was Buddhist sayings and prayers.The Chinese have used chopsticks to eat with for over 4,000 years.The Last Emperor of China, Puyi, became ruler when he was only 3 years old.The Mongols did conquer China for a time, however, and established their own dynasty called the Yuan Dynasty. They even built a wall thousands of miles long to try and keep the Mongols from invading. The great enemy of the Chinese was the Mongols who lived to the north.
Art focused on "the three perfections" painting, poetry, and calligraphy. These ideas, called "the three ways" had a large impact on the way people lived as well as their art. There were three main religions or philosophies including Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Men had to pass exams to become officials.Īrt, culture, and religion were often tied together. In later years, the empire was run by civil service officials who ran the cities, collected taxes, and enforced the laws. In early times the lands were ruled by the feudal system where lords owned the lands and farmers tended the fields. Emperors would continue to rule over China for more than 2000 years. It began with the Qin dynasty and the first emperor Qin who united all of China under one rule in 221 BC. Located on the eastern part of the continent of Asia, today China is the most populous country in the world.Īncient China also boasts the longest lasting empire in history. The history of Ancient China can be traced back over 4,000 years. Ancient China was one of the oldest and longest lasting civilizations in the history of the world.