This is coolbert: An anonymous author wrote that, "it is a good thing that the Chinese are such a peaceful people, otherwise, they would conquer the world". Napoleon is quoted as saying about the Chinese that, "when China awakens, the entire world will take notice and tremble". Well, these comments are directed to the thought that China, throughout history, has not the reputation as being a predacious, war like power. Rather, China has the reputation of influencing surrounding societies through strength of cultural. And this is mostly true.

There have been certain periods however, in the long history of China, where China was expansionist and did conduct military rule and conquest over neighbors.

During the Han Dynasty, [2000 years ago, the height of which was about at the same time as the rule of the Caesars in Rome] China did embark on military expansionism. And was successful in doing so. This expansionism had a two fold purpose. To counter "barbarian" tribes that were constantly conducting raids against the settled and more civilized Chinese, and to secure trade routes to central Asia and establish contact with and trade with Rome! A number of military expeditions established Chinese dominion over the areas west of the Han heartland [what we now call China], and extended rule as far west as Lake Balkash in central Asia. Forts and such were established and garrisons put in place to facilitate rule and safeguard trade routes to the Persians and even further along the entire Silk Road. Read further about the expansion of the Han by clicking here and here.

Further Chinese expansion and "overseas" military adventures were resumed under the Tang Dynasty [circa 700 A.D.]. At this time, Chinese military expeditions to the central Asia became even more pronounced and the expansion of Chinese dominion over the area was even greater than it was under the Han. Tang rule extended westward to again the area around Lake Balkash and southward into Afghanistan. The ultimate would have been for the Chinese to have reached the Indian Ocean and established their rule that far. This did not happen. Two expanding powers came into conflict and one prevailed over the other. The one power was of course the Chinese Tang dynasty. The other power was militant expanding Islam under various Arabic rulers. The armies of these two powers came into conflict at the Battle of Talas. One of the most important and significant battles in history. This battle was a victory for the Muslim side and had significant ramifications in the long run. Ended the expansion of the Tang in central Asia. Left the Arabic Muslim culture as the inheritor to the vanquished Chinese, allowing Muslim culture to become dominant in central Asia, as it is to this day. Captured Chinese prisoners who knew the secret of making paper taught this skill to their Arabic captors. Having paper available allowed Arabic and Islamic scholars to flourish in the centuries to follow. Read more about Tang expansion and Talus by clicking here and here.

Now, we should not think that this military expansionism of the Chinese in the 1st and 8th century does not have relevance today. This expansionism does have relevance in the today's world. Chinese history as taught today in Chinese schools and as illustrated in Chinese history textbooks, shows territory normally not thought to be Chinese as being included in the land that China claims as it's own. And one can make a case in China that this is true. China at one time did have military and cultural dominion over what is much of central Asia. A dominion that some Chinese feel will be inevitably return as time goes on and China becomes THE world power in this century. Central Asia, watch out.

coolbert.