China is very old. Its written history goes back 3,500 years.
In 221 B.C., European kingdoms and states were still fighting each other. But one of China’s first great rulers was bringing rival states together. He started a great empire. It grew under the watchful eyes of more than a dozen ruling families, or dynasties. They ruled for over 2,000 years. Their power lasted from 221 B.C. to A.D. 1912. The empire ended in 1912 when the last emperor stepped down.
During the time of the empire, the people of China did a lot. They invented printing, gunpowder, and fireworks. They also invented the compass and kites. Chinese workers built the world’s longest wall and its longest canal. The Chinese studied the eating habits of tiny caterpillars. That’s how they learned to make silk. They made paper from a soggy blend of old rags, bark, and bamboo. The list of Chinese achievements is long.
Let’s find out more about these people and their empire.
