Dynasties of China introduces the succession of dynasties that ruled China for nearly two thousand years. Students learn about the Qin dynasty and the first emperor, Shihuangdi, who began construction of the Great Wall; about the Han dynasty, when trade in silk and spices flourished along the Silk Road; about the Tang and Song dynasties, which witnessed important inventions including the compass and gunpowder; about the Mongol invasion led by Chinggis Khan and the Yuan dynasty founded by Kublai Khan; and, about the Ming dynasty, which established the capital at Beijing and built the Forbidden City. Students also become familiar with Chinese art, including silk scrolls, calligraphy, and porcelain.