Traditional China History - Final

The Relationship Between the Barbarian Nations and China

Introduction

One of the more notable periods in Chinese history was the establishment of the so-called Barbarian nations ' that happened between 309 to 439 B .C . These `Barbarian nations were also known as the Sixteen States ' or Sixteen Kingdoms ' though these were never part of nor considered to be dynasties among themselves . The Barbarian nations mainly comprised of : the Han Zhao and Latter Zhao (Houzhao Cheng Han , Former Liang (Qianliang , Latter Liang (Houliang , Northern Liang (Beiliang , Western (Xiliang ) and Southern Liang (Nanliang , Former

br Yian (Qianyan , Latter Yan (Houyan , Northern Yan (Beiyan ) and Southern Yan (Nanyan , Former Qin (Qianqin , Latter Qin (Houqin ) and Western Qin (Xiqin ) and finally the Xia nations ( Sixteen Kingdoms , 2006 . The sixteen barbarians nations are considered as such because most of the people who belong in these states are not Chinese , though some were assimilated and integrated into Chinese culture later on . These ethnic groups include Turks , Mongolians and Tibetans characterized by their nomadic in nature and small populations ( History of China , 2006 Also , although the leaders of the barbarian nations adapted Chinese customs and governance , most of them are not of Chinese descent . The barbarian leaders were largely considered as unscrupulous warmongers whose only ambition is to conquer China for themselves . All their political and military strategies were geared towards the short-run , and this proved to be the downfall of their small empires (Theobald , 2000

China 's relationship with the Barbarian Nations

The occupation of the various ethnic groups making up the Sixteen Barbarian nations were practically due to the various military uprisings that happened within the Jin Dynasty such as the so-called Rebellion of the Eight Princes (Theobald , 2000 . The leaders of the sixteen barbarian states then saw this as an opportunity to seize control of China . In actuality , the Jin dynasty only managed to control the southern part of the Yangtze River , leaving the rest of China vulnerable to occupation . This weakness lead to the occupation of Northern China by ethnic groups and by the turn of the fifth century almost all of the ethnic groups that managed to control certain territories have already established their own states . Collectively , the fifteen major states that were established in Northern China along with the Kingdom of Chenghan located in the Southwest eventually became the sixteen barbarian nations . These sixteen states were autonomous from each other and conflict never seems to cease in between them and of course with the Jin dynasty . These conflicts lead not only to numerous deaths but also to the deterioration of the economy in Northern China as well as inter-racial mixing due to prolonged contact between the ethnic groups .Having been driven out from their territory , the Jin dynasty leaders never ceased their plans to reoccupy Northern China . Among these warriors sent by the Jin dynasty was Zudi , a gentry-official who regained the entire Yellow River Valley even though it was for a brief period of time . The noble of the Jin dynasty were...