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Lecture 7

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ew countries can boast that they have had approximately the same
culture, language, borders, and religions continuously for more than
2,000 years, but such is the case with China. During a roughly 150-
year period, from 260 to 110 B.C., a series of strong leaders and generals,
through military force, welded together a group of separate and highly
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the territory that would develop into the economically vital Silk Road.

Chaotic Times in Chinese History
x The entire later history of China was forged in the wars of the period
from 260 to 110 B.C., yet it was not a single battle that marked
these turning points; in each case, they were determined by longer
military campaigns or even a series of wars.

x The heartland of China is a rough square measuring about 2,000

miles a side. This land is divided into northern and southern halves,

each centered on one of the great basins of the Yangtze and Yellow

rivers and each with its own distinctive climate and terrain. By 1700

B.C., large, culturally sophisticated empires, such as the Shang

dynasty, had emerged along the Yellow River.

x During a tumultuous 500-year period from 722 to 221 B.C., the

core region of China fragmented into rival kingdoms that fought

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era is called the Spring and Autumn period, while the second half is

the Warring States period. The famous military text The Art of War,

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of warfare used in these chaotic times.