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Calligraphy by Cai Xiang
An example of the calligraphy of Cai Xiang, an 11th century CE Chinese calligrapher. (National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan)
Definition
Ancient Chinese Calligraphy
Calligraphy established itself as the most important ancient Chinese art form alongside painting, first coming to the fore during the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). All educated men and some court women were expected to be proficient at...
Article
Daily Life in Ancient China
Daily life in ancient China changed through the centuries but reflected the values of the presence of gods and one's ancestors in almost every time period. Villages like Banpo show evidence of a matriarchal society, where there was a priestly...
Article
Paper in Ancient China
The widespread use of paper and printing were features of ancient China which distinguished it from other ancient cultures. Traditionally, paper was invented in the early 2nd century CE, but there is evidence it was much earlier. As a cheaper...
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Paper-making Process
An image of a Ming dynasty woodcut showing the main steps in the ancient Chinese papermaking process as outlined by Cai Lun in 105 CE.
Video
A Day in the Life of a Cossack Warrior
Join the Cossack soldier Stepan as he tries to keep order in the battalion and help his people regain their independence. — The year is 1676, and a treaty has officially ended hostilities between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
Article
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha
A small carved figurine sits high on a grand multi-tiered pedestal in a magnificent wat (temple) in Bangkok, Thailand. It has been sitting there since 1784 CE and was originally thought to be made of emerald. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims...
Definition
Illuminated Manuscripts
Illuminated manuscripts were hand-made books, usually on Christian scripture or practice, produced in Western Europe between c. 500-c. 1600. They are so called because of the use of gold and silver which illuminates the text and accompanying...
Article
Achievements of the Han Dynasty
The achievements of the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), often regarded by scholars and the ancient Chinese themselves as the golden era of Chinese culture, would have lasting effects on all who followed, particularly in the areas of government...
Video
The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire - Leonora Neville
Check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/teded View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-byzantine-empire-leonora-neville Most history books will tell you that the Roman Empire fell in the fifth...