| - Rebellion and Revolution - |
The progress of any of the ancient civilizations has been based on war and revolution. This is not untrue for the Chinese either. Their entire history is wrought with the steady churn of conquest and internal unrest. The occasional rebellion would institute a new dynasty, for example, while another would bring down the imperial system.
War has also been the occasional visitor to China. The first world war was for China what it was for the rest of the world; a catalyst for change. The second world war had the same effect. At the junction of 1911 and 1912, the whole of China completely changed. It is not often acknowledged in historical texts the implication of the May 4th Movement. The last of the ancient civilizations came to an end. Were it the Roman or Egyptian empires that lasted until early 20th century, there would have been more written about their downfall due to the influence of both on Europe and the west.
Rebellion and Revolution examines incidents that have or have had domestic implications for China.
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Contents
In 1900, the Boxers set out to destroy everything they considered foreign
The Taiping Rebellion marked the birth of China as a country among others
A revolution, inspired by the White Lotus society, took shape in 1352 around Guangzhou
The Opium Wars began when the Chinese government tried to stop the illegal importation of opium by British merchants
China-wide demonstrations against the pro-Japanese Treaty of Versailles began with student demonstrations
Period where Kuomintang forces attempted to gain complete control over China
Communist soldiers and government leaders set out on a retreat of some 12,500 kilometers across China
Chinese citizens under control of the puppet state made every effort to rebel against Japan
The Kuomintang loses control of the mainland and flees to Taiwan
Enforce communism by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society
Student-led popular demonstrations in Beijing and 400 other cities around China in spring 1989
Social unrest in the last half of the 19th century
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