Historical Processes in Classical China and Medieval Europe
Text Version

Narrator: The different empires or dynasties of China went through a series of stages that explained their rise and fall from power.
(Visual description: the screen displays a map showing the states of the Western Zhou dynasty from 1046 to 771 BCE.)
Narrator: This process is known as the dynastic cycle.
(Visual description: the words “Dynastic cycle” appear above the map.)
Narrator: While some historians have criticized the accuracy of this pattern throughout the history of East Asia, all empires of ancient China experienced the steps in the dynastic cycle to some extent.
(Visual description: a different map appears on the screen, showing the warring states of China circa 260 BCE, including the states of Qin, Chu, Han, Wei, Zhao, Qi, and Yan.)
Narrator: Pay attention to the steps in the historical process of the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties.
(Visual description: another map replaces the map on the screen, this one showing the territory of the Han Dynasty in 87 BCE.)
Narrator: The first step in the dynastic cycle is the rise to power of the ruling emperor.
(Visual description: the screen shows a painting of Qin Shi Huang, also known as the first emperor of China.)
Narrator: This new ruler gains power by: uniting different groups or societies in and around China; getting people to pay tribute to the dynasty through taxes; and establishing the belief that he or she has been granted the mandate of heaven, the spiritual belief that the emperor's power was supported by heaven.
(Visual description: the painting of Qin Shi Huang moves to the left of the screen, while the title “The new ruler gains power by:” appears at the top of the screen. The following statements appear as bullet points below the title: Uniting different groups or societies in and around China; Getting people to pay tribute to the dynasty through taxes; and Establishing the belief that he or she has been granted the mandate of heaven, the spiritual belief that the emperor's power was supported by heaven.)
Narrator: Next, as a result, China enters a period of progress under the dynasty.
(Visual description: the screen shows a black and white drawing of a Chinese ship.)
Narrator: Evidence of progress often includes: growth in the economy and increase in wealth, and population increase.
(Visual description: the drawing of the ship moves to the left of the screen, while the title “Evidence of progress often includes:” appears at the top of the screen. The following statements appear as bullet points below the title: Growth in the economy and increase in wealth; and Population increase.)
Narrator: After some period of time, the dynasty begins to lose power.
(Visual description: the screen shows a painting of the Yellow River breaching its course.)
Narrator: Some factors that lead to the decline include: a natural disaster or climate changes that hurt the economy, corruption and other social problems that weaken the society, a large population that can no longer be supported by the economy and the government.
(Visual description: the painting of the Yellow River moves to the left of the screen, while the title “Some factors that lead to the decline:” appears at the top of the screen. The following statements appear as bullet points below the title: A natural disaster or climate changes that hurt the economy; Corruption and other social problems that weaken the society; and A large population that can no longer be supported by the economy and the government.)
Narrator: As a result, the ruling dynasty loses control over society and falls from power.
(Visual description: the screen shows a painting depicting the Battle of Zhuxian County inside the Summer Palace between the Jin and the Song dynasty.)
Narrator: This often leads to several outcomes: competing groups go to war with one another; the population decreases as a result of war and conflict; the emperor is believed to have lost the Mandate of Heaven.
(Visual description: the painting of the Battle of Zhuxian County moves to the left of the screen, while the title “This often leads to several outcomes:” appears at the top of the screen. The following statements appear as bullet points below the title: Competing groups go to war with one another; The population decreases as a result of war and conflict; and The emperor is believed to have lost the Mandate of Heaven.)
Narrator: Consequently, the entire process repeats itself in a "dynastic cycle," which involves the following phases: groups fight one another for control; a new dynasty wins control and power; the new dynasty is considered to have been granted the Mandate of Heaven.
(Visual description: the screen shows a painting of Emperor Yang of Sui of the Tang Dynasty. The painting then moves to the left of the screen, while the title “A ‘dynastic cycle’ involves the following phases:” appears at the top of the screen. The following statements appear as bullet points below the title: Groups fight one another for control; A new dynasty wins control and power; and The new dynasty is considered to have been granted the Mandate of Heaven.)
Narrator: The events within the rise and fall of dynasties were not identical throughout Chinese history.
(Visual description: the screen shows an image of the Forbidden City of China.)
Narrator: However, many Chinese dynasties did see the general rise to power, rule over people and land, and conflict that resulted in their downfall.
(Visual description: the screen shows a painting of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty.)
Narrator: This process of Chinese dynasties continued for over 2,000 years.