I was watching John Green's Crash Course World History episode on ancient China and I noticed that John mentioned that the communist revolution in 1911 was the end of a 3000 year dynastic history. He also mentions various other times of "political chaos" (such as the Warring States Period and the Three Kingdoms Period).
Why is the communist revolution on 1911 considered to be differnt, or the end of the dynastic cycle? During these other times of "political chaos', there was no dynasty that ruled, so why is the communist revolution the end of the dynastic cycle? In the other upheavals, a dynasty always regained power, so why do people like John Green say that the communist revolution is the end of the dynastic cycle?
Thank you in advance.
First of all, you're a little confused. China's communist revolution was in 1949. The 1911 revolution overthrew the last emperor and established the Republic of China, which was the government overthrown by the communists in 1949.
The 1911 revolution has ended of the dynastic cycle for over a century and it seems a reasonable enough prediction that China won't be ruled by an emperor again anytime soon. I suppose there's no way we can know the future for sure, but there's really no good reason to think China would get another dynasty. There's been a strong trend away from monarchy for the past two centuries or so and the political opponents of the current Chinese government overwhelmingly advocate for democracy rather than a return to dynastic rule.
Basically, China getting another dynasty seems about as likely as France bringing the House of Bourbon back.