1700-1799, Italy, "Eighteenth-Century Italy"
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In the 17th century, the Venetian school of painting had sunk into near oblivion; however, a great revival took place in the 18th century.
Chola dynasty
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Chola Dynasty (c. 860-1279 CE), to which the Dallas Museum of Art Shiva Nataraja dates, dominated southern India for nearly four centuries and expanded as far as Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands. This period saw the production of exquisite portable bronzes depicting Hindu figures, as well as the flourishing of performance arts. Chola art and architecture were intended to communicate the power, wealth, and piety of the dynasty’s rulers.
Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The first emperor of the Ming occupied Nanjing in 1368 after the last Yuan emperor fled north. In less than a decade, he reestablished territories held during the Tang dynasty. Thailand and Burma were vassal states, and Chinese navies were active on the southern sea.
Neolithic China (c. 5000 B.C.E - c.1600 B.C.E.)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Neolithic period in China is marked by settled, agricultural societies and the building of villages. It is divided into pottery-based phases within which are related culture branches, all of which derive their names from excavation sites. Painted pottery traditions were the earliest art form. These early wares were soft pottery baked in low temperature firings.
Yuan (Yüan) dynasty (1279-1368)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In 1271, Kublai Khan, fifth Khan of the Mongol Empire, declared himself emperor of a new dynasty in China, the Da Yuan or Great Origin, and went on to defeat the Song dynasty over the course of the next several years. The last Song emperor died in 1279, and the Yuan dynasty reunited China after the division of the Song.
Zhou dynasty (c. 1050 BCE-256 BCE)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Zhou dynasty is divided into the Western Zhou (1050-771 BCE) and Eastern Zhou (771-256 BCE). The Eastern Zhou is further divided into the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BCE) and the Warring States period (403-221 BCE).
Shang (c. 1600 BCE - c. 1050 BCE)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Prior to the discovery of archaeological evidence of Shang culture in the 20th century, it was believed by many, especially in the West, to be a mythical rather than factual period of Chinese history. The Shang is divided into three stages: Erlitou (pre-1600 BCE), Erligang (c. 1600-1300 BCE), and Yinxu (c.
Six Dynasties (220-589 CE)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The three kingdoms of Wu, Wei, and Shu were eventually united into the Jin dynasty, one of the nearly thirty dynasties and small kingdoms that made up what is referred to as the "Six Dynasties" (220-589 CE). This was a period of upheaval and great change, and China would not be unified again until the Sui dynasty.
Mesopotamia
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Mesopotamia, located in modern day Iraq, is known by several names, including the "Cradle of Civilization" and "Land Between Two Rivers." This land is known for its innovative move to farming culture from hunting and gathering practices.
The Silk Road
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The term "Silk Road" was coined in the late 19th century by German geographer Ferdinand von Richtofen (1833-1905) to describe the ancient transcontinental trade route that operated from the end of the 2nd century BCE until the 15th century. The Silk Road was not a single path between Europe and Asia, but a network of land and sea routes that spanned anywhere from four to seven thousand miles.