History of the Xheng Dynasty

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The First Civilization

The Arch-Imperium has one of the oldest histories in the worl

The Xia 4100 BCE - 3800 BCE

Around 4100 BCE, The first civilization of Han Culture. In truth, the term "Han culture" is chronologically inacurate, since Han civilization itself did not exist until the Han dynasty. However, it was during this time period that the ancient Han people formed the first dynasty of rulers, under the Xia. The Xia Rulers ruled a small kingdom in the center of what would become the Arch-Imperium itself. Due to its location near rivers and forested regions, along with grasslands, the Xia culture thrived for five centuries. It first developed the pictogram system of writing that would be one of the strongest influence on the Han written language. The Xia also were the first to develope the use of bronze and iron usage. Unlike most civilizations, the Xia Civilization entered the iron and bronze age at relatively the same time as archaeological evidence shows that the Xia openly supported metalurgy development. It was during this time that the city of Chongqing was founded. Its name means "Central Capital". The Xia were also the first to develope the concept of the Mandate of Heaven and ancestral worship. The use of ancestral worship and the Mandate of Heaven made the culture unique compared to other nations and cultures.

The Shang 3800 BCE - 3600 BCE

The Shang Dynasty lasted 200 years. Though it survived not even half the era of its previous successor dynasties, the Shang were the first to develope the pictogram system even further to a cohesive form of writing with grammar and text. The Shang themselves created more than 40,000 pictograms based on symbols that represented ideas and concepts as opposed to sounds. The Shang script itself was also greatly diversified. Officials and Royal Representatives would use one form while the common folk used another. Even merchant classes started developing more common systems for easier writing. The Shang also successfully created the first metal casting methods, nearly three millenia before it was developed elsewhere. The ancient Shang rulers also created the first bureaucratic system.

The Warring States Period 3600-3200 BCE

The Shang dynasty collapsed after external preasures. The rise of two other states, the previous dynasty of the Xia, and the rising power of the Qin. The Shang were caught in the middle of this power struggle. Through expansion, the Qin and the Xia also expanded into two powerful kingdoms, competing with the Shang Kingdom. This period lead to stangnant development, as entire resources were sent to the creation of war. Through war the Shang developed systems of rank and soldiery. With their use of Iron weapons the battles were more fierce than conventional arms made of bronze.

The Qin 3200 BCE - 3100 BCE

The Qin Dynasty succeeded in conquering not only the Shang, but their Xia predessors as well. Uniting the entire culture, the Qin formed the first Empire. However it was no coinsidence that the Han people are named after another dynasty and not the Qin. The Qin Emperors united the entire civilization and the people of all lands. Thus the Qin was an empire, not just a kingdom and their Emperors were not mear kings. Surrounding the Qin Empire were smaller kingdoms of the Choson and the Nipponese. However in the face of their numerical superiority the Qin Empire also conquered them as well. It was a brutal conquest as the Qin did not hesitate to conquer by means of terror and absolute fear. Thus the Qin Empire eventually collapsed when a peasant rebellion, allied with the Choson and Nipponese nations the Qin Empire fell.

The Han - The First Golden Age - 3100 BCE - 2200 BCE

For more than 900 years, the Han Dynasty would leave a legacy of great success. It became the largest of the empires, up to that time. The Han Emperors were actually from a peasantry background. Thus they were well versed in the creation of a nation-wide irrigation system. The first canals were also constructed under this Empire. Poetry, literature, art, culture and writing reached new heights not only for the Han people but for their allies the Choson and the Nipponese. From this time, the three peoples would live together but share distinctive cultural identities. Under the leadership of the Han Emperors, the dynasty would thrive for more than 900 years, becoming the longest reigning dynasty until the Xheng themselves. From this golden age the Han people took their name. The measurement system, language, written and spoken, and transportation were all unified and standarized. The Han also were the first to extend their land to the small village of Xi'an. From there they built their first empire and Xi'an was its capital. During this time, Silk and paper were invented.

The Wong - 2200 BCE - 1700 BCE

The Han Dynasty spent a huge amount of their treasure on the internal improvements of their nation that they drove the tax rate too high. Even a dynasty as long living as the Han could not survive the increasing national debt and the nation itself was at burden. The Wong Dynasty came into power, but it was much smaller than the Han dynasty itself. The other factions splintered off into other dynastic kingdoms again, named the Xia, Shang, Qin and Han. The Wong dynasty was the richest and the most powerful but in itself, it could not defeat the other four kingdoms. The splintering of the Kingdoms also resulted in fragmentation of the former Han Empire. The Wong Empire became the Wong Kingdom as the entire nation was fracturing fast. For 500 years the Wong dynasty attempted to unify the other states by warfare but this didn't succeed. Eventually a small kingdom, the Tang rose up in power and succeeded in unification.

The Tang - The Second Golden Age - 1700 BCE - 500 BCE

1200 years of reign would follow with the Tang Dynasty. In this Dynasty, the Tang would expand the borders of the Arch-Imperium to its near current size. The Tang were the first to experiment with the black powder, potassium nitrate and sulphur which was eventually made to form gunpowder. Before civilizations elsewhere were able even to cast iron, Han alchemists were perfecting the first use of explosives. The Tang also successfully reunited the entire former empire of the Han Dynasty, and expand to the huge Zhou-Li marshlands. It was there that the first cultivation of rice occured. This domestication of the natural rice, was able to produce huge stocks. The humidity and marsh weather was perfect for the cultivation of rice. Therefore the Tang were able to feed their entire population with rice. The Tang also were the first to use lacquer which was from tree sap that proved extremely effective against erosion. With silk and gunpowder, rice and lacquer the Tang were able to develope highly sophisticalted and beautiful architecture. This architecture was characterized by tall curved roofs and pillar construction. Buildings were almost always made of wood but with the introduction of Khan Buddhism also became pivotal. This religion had huge impact on the culture and the artistic licence of Tang. The Tang were known for their use of jade in their art which lead to the greatest works of carvings that the world has ever seen.

The Tang dynasty thrived for more than 1200 years, because of their ability to adapt. The other nationalities within the Arch-Imperium were permitted great autonomy and their Tang rulers were very modern in their thinking. Because the influx of more peoples and more cultures, the Tang opened thier gates to foreigners. This policy categorized the Tang Empire as a cosmopolitan society. The first Mosques and Buddhist Pagodas were constructed in Xi'an. The great hall of ancestral worship was also built within the proximity of the new Imperial Palace. The first manufactured bricks were also used in these construction projects. Bricks were far more easier to create and mass produce than quarrying stone.

The Ming 500 BCE - 200 CE

The Tang dynasty was one of the few that fell peacefully. The Tang Rulers simply ran their lineage out. The last emperor had no heir, and so the next most powerful family, the Ming took control. A bloodless coup resulted in the Ming establishment. The Ming dynasty took over peacefully and began monumental construction thanks to the excellent administration by the Tang. Brickwork was used to create Great Ming Defenses that stretched across and throughout the nation. The Ming were able to maintain control well enough until another dynasty, the Xheng rose in power.

The Xheng- The Modern Age - 200 CE - 2005+ CE

The Xheng dynasty itself would be the current and longest of all the dynasties. It was extremely isolationist in foreign policies often ignoring foreign delegates. The Xheng would also advance the metalurgy of the nation to produce steel by use of coal and first mass industrial infrastucture. The Xheng also created the first merit based bureaucratic system that used civil service examinations to allow commoners to enter the government for jobs and opportunities. This Examination system would become standard for every government posting and many private businesses also took this model for their own. The Xheng were also supporters of capitalism. They spread Xheng goods all over the region from porcelain, a new and valuable resources, silk, lacquer, jade and knowledge to other kingdoms and nations. The Arch-Imperium was formed in the wake of the 20th century. The Emperor established an assembly of appointed representatives from the people to allow them to have a say in how to run the nation. For the first time, Emperors were not absolute rulers.

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