East and Southeast Asia CHINA

The history of China is an awe-inspiring tall tale jam-packed with high drama: warring dynasties, palace intrigue and a never-ending struggle, in the context of the grand philosophical/spiritual/religious movements that have taken root in China (Buddhism, Confucianism Taoism...Maoism..?), to enlighten the human soul. Since the first Chinese dynasty took root more than three thousand years ago the huge nation has experienced long eras of political unity and eras just as long of devastating unrest. The ethnic Han have dominated most often, and while other Asian peoples have also ruled, most of them in turn assimilated into mainstream Chinese society. China's continuing strength relies on this practice of enveloping cultures and philosophies into what we consider "Chinese," whether it's the assimilation of the Tuoba Xianbei people into Han Chinese culture by the end of the 5th century, or the much more recent fusion of Western Capitalism (though not yet Western-style multi-party democracy) into Chinese One-Party Communism.