Changes

The Sui dynasty established centralized rule in China in A.D. 589 for the first time since the Han dynasty in A.D. 220.  In other words, China went without a centralized government for over 300 years, from 220 to the establishment of the Sui Dynasty in 589.   

The Sui dynasty established centralized rule in China in A.D. 589 for the first time since the Han dynasty in A.D. 220.  In other words, China went without a centralized government for over 300 years, from 220 to the establishment of the Sui Dynasty in 589.   

The Sui dynasty ruled for only a very brief period of 29 years, until A.D. 618.  But in that brief period of time it accomplished something magnificent:  it built the Grand Canal to connect northern and southern China.  This tremendous engineering achievement consisted of a canal nearly 1240 miles long, with a road running alongside it on each side.  It enabled the transportation of agricultural products such as rice from the fertile Yangtze River valley to northern China.   

The Sui dynasty ruled for only a very brief period of 29 years, until A.D. 618.  But in that brief period of time it accomplished something magnificent:  it built the Grand Canal to connect northern and southern China.  This tremendous engineering achievement established a canal nearly 1240 miles long, with a road running alongside it on each side.  It enabled the transportation of agricultural products such as rice from the fertile Yangtze River valley to northern China.   

Other construction also occurred, such as repairing walls that defend China.  (The current “Great Wall of China” was based on walls built as early as 210 B.C., but its present form was not completed until the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1544)).   

Other construction also occurred, such as repairing walls that defend China.  (The current “Great Wall of China” was based on walls built as early as 210 B.C., but its present form was not completed until the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1544)).