Before the Tang dynasty rose to power, China stood on the edge of collapse. The Sui rulers had reunited the country and built grand projects such as the vast Grand Canal linking north and south, but these achievements came at a heavy cost. Farmers were forced from their fields, taxes grew harsh, and families struggled to survive. Across the land, anger and hardship slowly turned into rebellion. Roads became unsafe, villages emptied, and the authority…

The Qin dynasty lasted only fifteen years, yet it transformed China forever. The story begins in the violent world of the Warring States period, when seven competing kingdoms battled for supremacy. At the center of the drama is Ying Zheng, the son of a hostage prince who became the king of Qin, defeated all rival states, and declared himself Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China. Through sweeping military campaigns, bold reforms, and strict…

The Yuan Dynasty: China Under Foreign Rule tells the dramatic story of China during the century when it was ruled by the Mongols. It is the 5th book in the Dynasties of Ancient China series of graded readers, written for English-speaking readers who are learning Chinese. Beginning with a divided China and the rise of the Mongols, the book describes the country’s conquest by Kublai Khan, the founding of the new dynasty, and the challenges…