Dynastic Cycle

Ruling Dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven

New Dynasty claims the Mandate of Heaven

Generations go by, New Dynasty becomes the Old Dynasty

Dynastic CycleNew Dynasty•Claims the Mandate of Heaven•Defeat of old ruling family•Brings peace and prosperity•Population increases•Mandate of Heaven creates loyalty•(Re)builds public works•Gives land to the peasants•Protects the people

Generations go by, New Dynasty becomes the Old Dynasty

Old Dynasty•Less able rulers come to power•Officials and bureaucrats become corrupt•Taxes people too much•Not enough taxes to defend kingdom and repair/build public works•Public works neglected and decay•Stop protecting people•Treat people unfairly

Old Dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven

•Natural events: floods, famine, earthquakes, etc.•Bandits raid the countryside•Invaders attack the empire•Tax collections grow smaller•Nobles begin to seize power•Peasants revolt as dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven

Dynastic Cycle

Ruling Dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven•Civil war as nobles rebel against royal family

•Rebellion helped by the army and the peasants

•Defeat of royal family

Dynastic Cycle

Generations go by, New Dynasty becomes the Old Dynasty

New Dynasty

•Brings peace and prosperity

•Population increases

•Mandate of Heaven creates loyalty

•(Re)builds public works

•Gives land to the peasants

•Protects the people

Dynastic Cycle

•Less able rulers come to power•Officials and bureaucrats become corrupt•Taxes people too much•Not enough taxes to defend kingdom and repair/build public works•Public works neglected and decay•Stop protecting people•Treat people unfairly

Dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven

Dynastic Cycle

Old Dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven:•Natural events: floods, famine, earthquakes, etc.•Bandits raid the countryside•Invaders attack the empire•Tax collections grow smaller•Nobles begin to seize power•Peasants revolt as dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven

New Dynasty claims the Mandate of Heaven

Dynastic Cycle