Chinese imperialism edit extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (using Wikipedia Reflection Script)

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History of China
ANCIENT
3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BCE
Zhou Dynasty 1122–256 BCE
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period
IMPERIAL
Qin Dynasty 221 BCE–206 BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE
Western Han
Xin Dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu & Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
Western Jin	16 Kingdoms 304–439
Eastern Jin
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
( Second Zhou 690–705 )
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960	Liao Dynasty 907–1125
Song Dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song		W. Xia
Southern Song	Jin
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
MODERN
Republic of China 1912–1949
People's Republic of China (Mainland China) 1949–present	Republic of China (Taiwan) 1945–present
Related Articles  Dynasties in Chinese History Economic history of China Historiography of China History of Chinese Art History of Education in China History of Science and Technology in China Legal history of China Linguistic history of China Military history of China Naval History of China Timeline of Chinese History Media history of China
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Historically, ancient China has been one of the world's oldest empires. In ancient Chinese political theory, relations between foreign states were governed by the tributary system. Since the Emperor of China held the Mandate of Heaven, his rule was universal and extended to All under heaven. Sometimes neighboring states were actual protectorates or vassal states over which China exerted large amounts of influence, while in other cases foreign states merely acknowledged China's nominal suzerainty in order to gain access to Chinese trade, which took place through the tributary system.

Qin Dynasty

See also: Qin Shi Huangdi#First Emperor: the unifier

The first dynasty to expand to most of China proper was the Qin Dynasty, which consolidated its power with efficient administration and a strong central bureaucracy, and expanded outwards, annexing the other six kingdoms of the Warring States Period as well as other territory populated by non-Chinese speaking peoples, such as the Yue. Throughout its history, Chinese territory would vary depending on the changing fortunes of successive dynasties, alternating between periods of Chinese expansion and foreign invasion or rule. Chinese civilization expanded outwards in all directions from the area around the Yellow River, but especially towards the south. Several historical migrations, driven by war, natural disasters, foreign invasions, and/or population pressures, led to Han Chinese migration and settlement of new territories to the south, assimilating or displacing local peoples. In contrast, the north was largely a frontier inhabited by militaristic steppe peoples, and protected by the Great Wall. Chinese states often engaged in military campaigns in the north, but rarely established lasting control.

Expansion under Manchu Rule

China's last major period of territorial expansion was under the militaristic Qing Dynasty, whose rulers were not ethnically Han Chinese but Manchu. Their martial skills, non-Han origin and technological advantages allowed them to expand their influence in Mongolia, Central Asia, Tibet, and Taiwan. However in the 19th and early 20th century the Qing would themselves succumb to the militarily superior European powers engaging in imperialism in Asia, leading to their final collapse in 1911. During this period, China lost parts of its empire including Hong Kong (to the United Kingdom), Macau (to Portugal), Taiwan and the Pescadores (to Japan), northwestern Xinjiang and Outer Manchuria (to Russia), as well as tributaries such as Indochina (to France), Burma (to Britain), Korea and the Ryukyu Islands (to Japan). Under the Republic of China which succeeded the Chinese empire in 1912, Tannu Uriankhai was lost to Russia, while Outer Mongolia became a Soviet satellite.