This book traces the history of China from 221 B.C. through 1911 A.D., describing the political and social challenges and contributions of each ruler. Spanning over 2,000 years, from the great 'First Emperor', buried with his terracotta army in the 3rd century BC, to the last emperor, enthroned in the Forbidden City in 1911, Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors details the fascinating lives and personalities of all 157 Chinese emperors. In addition to timelines detailing the major events of every reign, this book includes each emperor's name in Chinese calligraphic script, and a datafile for each emperor listing key information, such as name at birth and imperial wives and concubines.

Chinese collection. Donated by John M. McCaffrey.

Map of Imperial China -- The Early Empires 221 BC-AD 220. Qin Shihuangdi unifies feudal states thus creating the Chinese empire; the Qin dynasty collapses; the Han re-establish, expand and consolidate the imperial system; the decline and fall of the Han dynasty. -- The Great Wall -- The Terracotta Army of the first emperor of China -- Western Han tombs -- Stone sculpture -- The silk roads -- Tomb figurines. -- Confusion, Reunification, and the Golden Age AD 220-907. The Three Kingdoms and the start of the "Period of Disunion" in which China is divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties; Southern Dynasties at Nanjing fend off northern invaders; the reunification of north and south under the Sui and the Tang. -- Buddhism -- The northern dynasties -- The Grand Canal -- Horses -- Tang Mausolea -- Chang'an -- Buddhist art and architecture. -- Chaos, Diplomacy, and Invasion AD 907-1368. Half a century of instability during the Five Dynasties period; peace and intense intellectual and artistic activity under the Song; the Jin kingdom invades northern China forcing the Song south; Mongol Mongol incursions; Khubilai Khan becomes emperor of China. -- Northern Song imperial tombs -- Song painting -- The Mongols. -- Revival and Collapse AD 1368-1911. The Ming Dynasty restores the Chinese imperial tradition; imperial capital moved to Beijing, the Forbidden City built; Manchus invade Beijing after Ming dynasty collapses; Manchus establish the last imperial dynasty, the Qing; European contact, internal rebellion and the fall of imperial China. -- The Forbidden City in Beijing -- Maritime expeditions -- The Temple of Heaven -- The Ming tombs -- Jesuits in China -- Ming porcelain -- The Jesuits and the Summer Palace -- Commercial trade and expansion -- Macartney's embassy -- The Opium War --The Boxer Rebellion.