1. My Journey in China 

This  is my History blog regarding China and in it I am combining my own adventures and experiences living and working in China 

References: 

1. The Fall and Rise of China - Professor Richard Baum 
2. China 1839-1997 - Michael Lynch.
3. The xenohistorian.

Introduction

In my sojourn in China I have recently begun a program to learn the History of the region, it is vast epic and sweeping. 

Standing on a Rampart
Great Wall of Xian

The internet is resplendent with resources to study, and I could just go and study as many of these as I can, and then distil them into my own History of China in my own words on this blog.

But that is boring 

I need to start with a quick Overview

Focus on my own areas of interest as they fit into the overall timeline. As a resident of China for the last four years, I need to research China for my personal development and growth as a guest and resident of China. 

Also, since I consider myself a bit of a History buff, I have to admit that my knowledge of History is almost entirely if not exclusively Eurocentric and even then limited to Western Europe. 

So, it's time to broaden the platform. 

In my references, I began with a School textbook given to me by a Chinese friend who is also interested in developing his Knowledge of English. This is a great start as it offers a broad overview that is not too complex or too full of details. I also downloaded an audiobook (listed) to play while I go jogging. This is just a start to provide me with a birds-eye view.

English Education in China

The Chinese are generally very interested in learning to speak English, I could go as far as to say learning English is a bit of a national obsession in China. 

English Club in Hangzhou 

It seems to me the Chinese have an intriguing view of the West, It would appear to me their attitude is ambivalent, on the one hand, they are critical but on the other, it seems to me they have a deep respect, which explains, in part, the national obsession with learning the English language. If I were to attempt to explain this, I would say, Historically, the Chinese rise to economic prominence can be regarded as a relatively recent phenomenon taking place in one or two generations. 

My guess is, the high levels of education that the West offers as well as innovations in technology are still seen as somewhat in advance of Asia. Of course, the Chinese technological boom is advancing with tremendous rapidity and that particular gap has been closed or one could go as far as to say, surpassed.

It would appear that the vast population of China, probably more inland towards the Western section of China,  has not all caught up with the accelerated developments that have taken place in the great cities mostly along the Eastern coastline. There are large inland cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an which are comparable in size and technology to the eastern cities but a general rule would be the eastern section of China is the most advanced technologically as well as leading China in Education.

My Point of Entry 

Where to start - I have started a crash course on revising the History of China using my favourite History site the Xenohistorian a beautifully written and easy-to-navigate world History site. I also listen avidly to my Wonderful audiobooks.

I think the entry point I wish to start with is going to be concerned with the earliest communication between China and the West. And also a well-known and famous episode recorded in History about this time, by the explorer, Marco Polo.

Me play with a gigantic calligraphy brush at a famous artist in Inner Mongolia 

I would like to discuss the events taking place in Europe at the time and how the West began its long and complex relationship with the East. 

We have the Mongols to thank and not specifically the Chinese for the first interactions between East and West. Recently I had an opportunity to travel to Inner Mongolia where the descendants of Genghis Khan still proudly display monuments and various traditions to honour the memory of the famous Conquerer.

Me with Colleague at a flower farm in Inner Mongolia.

The Mongols were a group of tribes that were united into one nation by Genghis Khan in 1206. Once they had peace at home, the Mongols embarked on a series of wars to conquer the rest of the world. 

Since China is Mongolia's nearest neighbour, the new conqueror went after China first. Xixia was first hit by Mongol raids in 1209; Jin was invaded yearly from 1211 onwards. Yan fell in 1215 and the Jurchens fled to Kaifeng; the Mongols renamed Yan Khanbaligh, meaning "City of the Khans." (Marco Polo called it Cambaluc). Xixia was destroyed in 1227, the year Genghis Khan died. The last part of the Jurchen empire (Henan & Shandong provinces) was conquered in 1234.

Now it was the turn of the Song, but they got a reprieve while the Mongols wasted Korea, Russia and the Middle East. That ended in 1251, when Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis, began the invasion of the south. This took longer than the conquest of the north because the wet subtropical terrain was quite unsuitable for the cavalry that made up most of the Mongol army; the Song were also more numerous and more technologically advanced than anyone else the Mongols had met. In the end, it was probably the defection of the commanders of the Song fleets that ended the war, for without them control of the seaboard and the canals would have been impossible. 

But Kublai never seemed to doubt who would win; in 1271 he proclaimed himself the first emperor of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. 

Hangzhou was captured in 1276, and by 1279 all of China was under Mongol rule.

My favourite jogging route along the Qiantang River in Hangzhou

The Qiantang River runs for 459 kilometres (285 mi) through Zhejiang, passing through the provincial capital Hangzhou before flowing into the East China Sea via Hangzhou Bay south of Shanghai. 

Its original name, the "Zhe River" or "Zhe Jiang", is the origin of the name of Zhejiang province. 

The river is also known, along with Hangzhou Bay, for having what is called by locals as the "Silver Dragon", the world's largest tidal bore, a phenomenon where the leading edge of the incoming tide form a wave (or waves) that can rise to a height of 9 metres (30 feet) and travels up the river or narrow bay at top speeds of 40 km/h (25 miles per hour) against the direction of the river or bay's current, and can be seen from miles away.

Fuxing Bridge over the Qiantang River

The Yuan Dynasty - 1279 to 1368

The reign of Kublai Khan was the high point of the Mongol Empire. Kublai ruled an enormous realm stretching across most of Eurasia, from Korea in the east to Iraq and Ukraine in the west. 

To the northeast, Kublai extended his authority beyond Mongolia into the nearest parts of Siberia, by establishing tribute-gathering forts near Lake Baikal, at the mouth of the Amur River, and even on Sakhalin Island. Improved roads and communication encouraged trade and missionary activity between East and West.

 The most famous foreigner to take advantage of these conditions was the Venetian trader Marco Polo, whose writings vividly portrayed the splendours of Asia. 

However, the empire had grown so large that it could no longer effectively be ruled from one place. This meant that while Kublai could claim to rule the whole empire, once he chose Beijing for his capital he only had control over the eastern third of it; his cousins ruled the other areas in his name and did whatever they pleased. 

    

Chinese food has so much to offer - Here we are in Hangzhou trying out some different kinds of Chinese food restaurants and me introducing my love of Red Wine to the group 

Marco Polo 

Were a Venetian merchant and explorer who is best known for his travels to Asia and his book "Il Milione" (The Million), also known as "The Travels of Marco Polo." In 1271, at the age of 17, Marco Polo embarked on a journey with his father and uncle from Venice to the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor of China. The journey took three and a half years, and they travelled overland along the Silk Road.

The Silk Road was a trade route network connecting the East and West. It got its name from the lucrative trade in silk that was carried out along the route. However, the Silk Road was not just about silk. It also facilitated the exchange of ideas, culture, religion, and technology between different regions and civilizations.

Marco Polo's journey along the Silk Road took him through many different countries, including Turkey, Armenia, Persia, and China. He wrote about his travels in "The Travels of Marco Polo," which became a bestseller and helped to spread knowledge about the Silk Road and the cultures it connected.

At the court of Kublai Khan, Marco Polo served as an emissary and travelled extensively throughout China and other parts of Asia. He was impressed by the wealth and power of the Mongol empire and the sophistication of Chinese civilization. He wrote in great detail about his experiences in China, describing the geography, customs, and culture of the people he encountered.

Marco Polo's book became an important source of information for Europeans about the East and shaped their perceptions of Asia. It also inspired other explorers, such as Christopher Columbus, to seek out new trade routes to Asia. The Silk Road continued to be an important trade route until the 15th century when sea routes became more important and the Silk Road fell into decline.

China 1839-1997 - Michael Lynch -Here is the list of contents which I was going to start with. 

However, I am finding out I need to go back in time and fill in some of the previous gaps. But we will get to these . . .Eventually haha. 

Chapter1: China 1939-60

1. The Nature of Manchu Rule
2. The Opium Wars
3. Rebellions and the Qing Response 

Chapter 2: The Opening of China to Foreigners1860-1901

1. Missionaries in China 
2. The Self-Strengthening Movement
3. The Sino-Japanese War.
4. The Boxer Uprising.
5. Chapter 3: Defeat and Revolution 1901-25

Chapter 3: Defeat and Revolution1901-25

1. The Downfall of the Manchu Dynasty
2. Key debate 55
3. The rule of Yuan Shikai 1912-16
4. Warlord China
5. The 4 May Movement 1919-27 
6. The Nationalists (GMD) under Sun Yatsen 1912-25 
7.  The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Chapter 4: 

1. The GMD-CCP United Front 1924-7
2. The Communists under Mao Zedong
3. The Guomindang under JiangJieshi (Chiang Kaishek)