The Xiongnu (Chinese: 匈奴; Hanyu Pinyin: Xiōngnú; Wade-Giles: Hsiung-nu) were a nomadic (and probably Hunnic/proto-Bulgar) people of Central Asia, generally based in present day Mongolia. From the 3rd century BC they controlled a vast steppe empire extending west as far as the Caucasus. They were active in the areas of southern Siberia, western Manchuria and the modern Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Xinjiang. Very anci ...

Including:

• Xiongnu - Origins and early history of the Xiongnu
• Xiongnu - Confederation under Maodun
• Xiongnu - Nature of the Xiongnu state
• Xiongnu - The marriage treaty system
• Xiongnu - War with Han China
• Xiongnu - Leadership struggle among the Xiongnu
• Xiongnu - Tributary relations with the Han
• Xiongnu - Northern and southern Xiongnu
• Xiongnu - The Xiongnu after the Han Dynasty
• Xiongnu - Did the Xiongnu become the Huns?
• Xiongnu - Footnotes

Read more here: » Xiongnu: Encyclopedia - Xiongnu

The Xiongnu's new power was met with a policy of appeasement by Emperor Guangwu. At the height of his power, Huduershi even compared himself to his illustrious ancestor, Modu. Due to growing regionalism among the Xiongnu, however, Huduershi was never able to establish unquestioned authority. When he designated his son as heir apparent (in contravention of the principle of fraternal succession established by Huhanye), Bi, the Rizhu king of the right, refused t ...

See also:

Xiongnu, Xiongnu - Origins and early history of the Xiongnu, Xiongnu - Confederation under Maodun, Xiongnu - Nature of the Xiongnu state, Xiongnu - The marriage treaty system, Xiongnu - War with Han China, Xiongnu - Leadership struggle among the Xiongnu, Xiongnu - Tributary relations with the Han, Xiongnu - Northern and southern Xiongnu, Xiongnu - The Xiongnu after the Han Dynasty, Xiongnu - Did the Xiongnu become the Huns?, Xiongnu - Footnotes

Read more here: » Xiongnu: Encyclopedia II - Xiongnu - Northern and southern Xiongnu

By the 280s, a huge number (approximately 400,000) of Xiongnu herdsmen resided in the Ordos Desert and the Bing province, a political division including modern-day areas of the whole Shanxi province, southwestern part of Inner Mongolia and eastern part of Shaanxi province, after Cao Cao moved them there and split them into "five departments" (五部, pinyin Wǔbù) These Xiongnu seemed to substantially chang ...

See also:

Han Zhao, Han Zhao - The Condition of the Xiongnu in Northern China and their uprising, Han Zhao - Rulers of the Han Zhao

Read more here: » Han Zhao: Encyclopedia II - Han Zhao - The Condition of the Xiongnu in Northern China and their uprising

When the Eastern Han Dynasty slowly brought the Northern Xiongnu into submission in the 1st century by military and diplomatic measures, hordes of herdsmen and the Southern Xiongnu, originally subdued by the Northern Xiongnu, began trading without having heavy tribute imposed on them. Horses and animal products were traded mainly for agricultural tools, such as the harrow and the plough, and clothing of which silk was the most popular. Those herdsmen helped the Han dynasty defend against any remaining Xiongnu in return. The more they ...

See also:

Wu Hu, Wu Hu - Past and Present Definitions, Wu Hu - Origins of the various definitions, Wu Hu - Wu Hu after the fall of Northern Xiongnu, Wu Hu - Xianbei confederacy of Tan Shi Huai, Wu Hu - Wu Hu in the period of Three Kingdoms, Wu Hu - Crisis of the Jin Dynasty, Wu Hu - Outbreak: Rebellion of the Eight Kings

Read more here: » Wu Hu: Encyclopedia II - Wu Hu - Wu Hu after the fall of Northern Xiongnu

China listen ▶ (help·info) (Traditional: 中國; Simplified: 中国; Hanyu Pinyin: Zhōngguó; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo) refers to a number of states and cultures that have existed and are viewed as having succeeded one another in continental East Asia, dating back nearly 5,000 years. Modern China has been described as both a single civilization and multiple civilizations, as a single state or multiple states, ...

Including:

• China - Terminology
• China - Zhongguo
• China - China
• China - History
• China - Chinese Pre-history
• China - Political history
• China - Territory
• China - Historical overview
• China - Historical political divisions
• China - Geography and climate
• China - Society
• China - Demographics
• China - Culture
• China - Religion
• China - Arts scholarship and literature
• China - Science and technology
• China - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » China: Encyclopedia - China

Zhang Qian (Chinese:張騫; died 113 BCE) was a Chinese explorer and imperial envoy in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Han Dynasty. He was the first official diplomat to bring back reliable information about Central Asia to the Chinese imperial court, then under Emperor Wu of Han, and played an important pioneering role in the Chinese colonisation and conquest of the region now known as Xinjiang. Zhang Qian's accounts of his explorations of Central Asia are detailed in the Early Han historical chronicles ("Shiji", or "Reco ...

Including:

• Zhang Qian - First embassy to the West
• Zhang Qian - Zhang Qian's report
• Zhang Qian - Dayuan Ferghana
• Zhang Qian - Yuezhi Tocharians?
• Zhang Qian - Daxia Bactria
• Zhang Qian - Shendu India
• Zhang Qian - Anxi Parthia
• Zhang Qian - Tiaozhi
• Zhang Qian - Kangju Sogdiana
• Zhang Qian - Yancai
• Zhang Qian - Return to China
• Zhang Qian - Development of East-West contacts
• Zhang Qian - Zhang Qian of today

Read more here: » Zhang Qian: Encyclopedia - Zhang Qian

China is one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with written records dating back 3,500 years. Turtle shells with markings reminiscent of ancient Chinese writing from the Shang Dynasty (商朝) have been carbon dated to around 1,500 BC. These records suggest that the origins of Chinese civilization started with city-states that may go back more than 5,000 years. Two thousand years ago is c ...

Including:

• History of China - Prehistoric times
• History of China - Ancient histories
• History of China - Xia Dynasty
• History of China - Shang Dynasty
• History of China - Zhou Dynasty
• History of China - Qin Dynasty: The first Chinese Empire
• History of China - Han Dynasty: A period of prosperity
• History of China - Jin the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern Dynasties
• History of China - Sui Dynasty: Reunification
• History of China - Tang Dynasty: Return to prosperity
• History of China - Song Dynasty and its northern neighbors the Liao and the Jin
• History of China - Mongols and the Yuan Dynasty
• History of China - Ming Dynasty: Revival of Chinese culture
• History of China - Qing Dynasty
• History of China - The Republic of China
• History of China - Post modern independence

Read more here: » History of China: Encyclopedia - History of China

Chen Sheng (Traditional Chinese: 陳勝) (d. 209 BC or 208 BC (around the new year)) was the leader of the first rebellion against Qin Dynasty during the reign of Qin Er Shi, following the death of Qin Shi Huang. Chen Sheng - Start of the rebellion. Chen Sheng was born in Yangcheng (陽城, in modern Dengfeng, Henan). In 209 BC, he was a military captain along with Wu Guang when the two of them were ordered to lead 900 soldiers to Yuyang (漁陽, in modern Beijing) to help defend the northern border ...

Including:

• Chen Sheng - Start of the rebellion
• Chen Sheng - Downfall and death

Read more here: » Chen Sheng: Encyclopedia - Chen Sheng

China proper refers to the historical heartlands of China in the context of that paradigm which contrasts these heartlands and frontier regions of Outer China (including sections of Inner Asia and other regions). Territories often considered to be outside "China proper" include Xinjiang, Tibet, Manchuria and Inner Mongolia. The conception implicit within the term is the historical development of the Chinese political entity from a distinct "Chinese" social entity and historically later additions of other territories no ...

Including:

• China proper - Extent of China and China proper
• China proper - The term in Chinese
• China proper - Taiwan

Read more here: » China proper: Encyclopedia - China proper

Yarkand (modern Chinese name 叶城, pinyin: Yèchéng, also Chokkuka, anciently Suoju 莎車, also written Shache and Suoche; 37°52′N 77°24′E alt. about 1,189 m. or 3,900 ft.; pop. about 72,000 in 1990), was an ancient Buddhist kingdom located between Pishan and Kashgar on the branch of the Silk Road that ran along the southern edge of the Taklamakan desert in the Tarim Basin. ...

Including:

• Yarkand - Neighbours
• Yarkand - History

Read more here: » Yarkand: Encyclopedia - Yarkand

Zhao (pinyin: zhao4, simplified Chinese: 赵, traditional Chinese: 趙) was a Chinese state during the Warring States Period. Its territory included areas in modern Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The state of Zhao bordered the Xiongnu (Huns), the states of Qin, Wei and Yan. Its capital was Handan (邯郸), suburb of modern-day Handan City in Hebei. At the beginning of the Warring States Period, the state of Zhao was one of the weakest states. Zhao gained strength during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao. Th ...

Including:

• Zhao state - List of Zhao rulers

Read more here: » Zhao state: Encyclopedia - Zhao state

The Greco-Bactrians were a dynasty of Greek kings who controlled Bactria and Sogdiana, an area comprising today's northern Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia, the easternmost area of the Hellenistic world, from 250 to 125 BCE. Their expansion into northern India established the Indo-Greek Kingdom, which was to last until around 10 CE. Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Independence from the Seleucid Empire 250 BCE. The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was founded by the Seleucid military governor of Bactria Diodotus around ...

Including:

• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Independence from the Seleucid Empire 250 BCE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - The Euthydemid dynasty 230 BCE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Conflict with the Seleucid empire and Parthia
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Greek culture in Bactria
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Geographic expansion
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Contacts with Eastern Central Asia and China
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Contacts with India 250–180
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Expansion into India after 180 BCE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Usurpation of Eucratides
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Defeat against Parthia
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Nomadic invasions
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - First Yueh-Chih expansion c. 162 BCE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Second Yueh-Chih expansion c. 120 BCE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Main Greco-Bactrian kings and territories
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - House of Diodotus
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - House of Euthydemus
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - House of Eucratides
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Bactrian Kingdom: Encyclopedia - Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

This article is in need of attention. You can help Wikipedia by editing it into a better article. Please also consider changing this notice to be more specific. Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Traditionally marriage in ethnic Chinese societies (婚姻, pinyin: hūn yīn) has been an arrangement between families. Originally Chinese culture allowed for romantic ...

Including:

• Chinese marriage - Introduction
• Chinese marriage - Marriage in a Confucian Context
• Chinese marriage - Prehistoric Chinese marriages
• Chinese marriage - Marriages in Early Societies
• Chinese marriage - Sibling marriages
• Chinese marriage - Inter-clan marriage and antithetic marriage
• Chinese marriage - Maternal marriage and Monogamy
• Chinese marriage - Traditional Marriage Rituals
• Chinese marriage - Reference

Read more here: » Chinese marriage: Encyclopedia - Chinese marriage

The Kushan Empire (c. 1st–3rd centuries) was a state that at its height, about 105–250, stretched from Tajikistan to the Caspian Sea to Afghanistan and down into the Ganges river valley in northern India. The empire was created by the Kushan tribe of the Yuezhi, a people from modern Xinjiang, China, possibly related to the Tocharians. They had diplomatic contacts with Rome, Sassanian Persia and China, and for several centuries were at the center of exchange between the East and the West. Kushan Empire - Origins. < ...

Including:

• Kushan Empire - Origins
• Kushan Empire - A multi-cultural Empire
• Kushan Empire - Heraios 1-30 CE
• Kushan Empire - Kujula Kadphises 30-80 CE
• Kushan Empire - Vima Taktu 80-105 CE
• Kushan Empire - Vima Kadphises 105-127 CE
• Kushan Empire - Kanishka I 127-147 CE
• Kushan Empire - The Kushans and Buddhism
• Kushan Empire - Depiction of Kushan devotees in the art of Gandhara
• Kushan Empire - Contacts with Rome
• Kushan Empire - Contacts with China
• Kushan Empire - Decline
• Kushan Empire - Main Kushan rulers

Read more here: » Kushan Empire: Encyclopedia - Kushan Empire

Ban Chao (班超, 32-102 CE) was a Chinese general and cavalry commander in charge of the administration of the "Western Regions" (Central Asia) during the Eastern Han dynasty. He repelled the Xiongnu and secured Chinese control on the Tarim Basin region, and led a military expedition to the doorstep of Europe, as far as Parthia and the Caspian Sea. He fought for 31 years. Ban Chao - Control of the Tarim Basin. Ban Chao is said to have been extremely effective at expelling the Xiongnu from the Tarim Basin, ...

Including:

• Ban Chao - Control of the Tarim Basin
• Ban Chao - Expansion to the doorstep of Europe
• Ban Chao - A family of historians
• Ban Chao - Ban Chao's family:
• Ban Chao - Famous Quotes
• Ban Chao - Ban Chao in idioms
• Ban Chao - Ban Chao of today

Read more here: » Ban Chao: Encyclopedia - Ban Chao

Barbarian comes from the ancient Greek word βάρβαρος (barbaros) which meant a non-Greek, someone whose (first) language was not Greek. The word is imitative, the "bar-bar" representing the impression of random hubbub produced by hearing spoken a language that one cannot understand. Originally the term is empty of content beyond 'not Greek'. The Greeks encountered scores of different foreign cultures, including the Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians, Etruscans, Romans, Carthaginians, Kurdish, Basques, ...

Including:

• Barbarian - Greek origins of the term
• Barbarian - Hellenic stereotype
• Barbarian - Later developments other cultures
• Barbarian - A functional definition
• Barbarian - Romantic and post-Romantic barbarians
• Barbarian - Compare

Read more here: » Barbarian: Encyclopedia - Barbarian

Scythia was an area in Eurasia inhabited in ancient times by a group of Iranian people speaking Indo-Iranian languages, known as the Scythians. The location and extent of Scythia varied over time, from the Altai region where Mongolia, China, Russia, and Kazakhstan come together, across South of Ukraine to the lower Danube river area, Bulgaria and Georgia. The Saka were Asian Scythians and were known as Sai (Character: ...

Including:

• Scythia - Etymology
• Scythia - Scythian society
• Scythia - History
• Scythia - Overview
• Scythia - Scythians in Classical sources
• Scythia - Scythians in the Bible
• Scythia - Peoples claimed to be Scythian
• Scythia - Pazyryk culture
• Scythia - Scythian Gelonus Belsk
• Scythia - The Ryzhanovka kurgan
• Scythia - Scythian gold
• Scythia - Sakas
• Scythia - Indo-Scythians
• Scythia - Scythians and China
• Scythia - The genetic argument
• Scythia - The idea of Scythia

Read more here: » Scythia: Encyclopedia - Scythia

Attila the Hun (Old Norse: Atle, Atli; German: Etzel; ca. 406–453 AD) was the last and most powerful king of the Huns. He reigned over what was then Europe's largest empire, from 434 until his death. His empire stretched from Central Europe to the Black Sea and from the Danube River to the Baltic. During his rule he was among the direst enemies of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires: he invaded the Balkans twice and encircled Constantinople in the second invasion. He marched through France as far as Orleans before being turned back at Chalons; and he drove the western empero ...

Including:

• Attila the Hun - Background and beginnings
• Attila the Hun - Shared kingship
• Attila the Hun - Sole ruler
• Attila the Hun - Attila in the west
• Attila the Hun - Invasion of Italy and death
• Attila the Hun - Appearance character and name
• Attila the Hun - Notes

Read more here: » Attila the Hun: Encyclopedia - Attila the Hun

Song Qi Liang Chen Northern Wei Eastern Wei Western Wei Northern Qi Northern Zhou The Western Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556. After the Northern Wei emperor Yuan Xiu was killed by the Xiongnu general Yuwen Tai, Yuan Baoju was installed as emperor of Western Wei while Yuwen Tai would remain as the virtual ruler. The Western Wei, although smaller than the Eastern Wei in ...

Read more here: » Western Wei Dynasty: Encyclopedia - Western Wei Dynasty

As the Eastern Han Dynasty slowly disintegrated into an era of "warlords", battles for predominance eventually ushered in the Three Kingdoms. However years of war had generated a severe shortage of labor, a solution to which was the encouragement of immigration of Wu Hu herdsmen. Thus the Wei court, controlling Northern China at the time, reluctantly yielded areas already occupied to the Wu Hu and sometimes colonized war-uninhabited areas with some weaker tribes of herdsmen. Several large-scale forced relocations of Di to area of southwestern S ...

See also:

Wu Hu, Wu Hu - Past and Present Definitions, Wu Hu - Origins of the various definitions, Wu Hu - Wu Hu after the fall of Northern Xiongnu, Wu Hu - Xianbei confederacy of Tan Shi Huai, Wu Hu - Wu Hu in the period of Three Kingdoms, Wu Hu - Crisis of the Jin Dynasty, Wu Hu - Outbreak: Rebellion of the Eight Kings

Read more here: » Wu Hu: Encyclopedia II - Wu Hu - Wu Hu in the period of Three Kingdoms