It is the most recent dynasty, and therefore has the most influence on modern Chinese politics and diplomacy, forming the basis for the modern borders of china. it was an incredibly fascinating period of history that dealt prominently with race, religion, culture, imperialism, and national sovereignty. The Manchu origin of this dynasty lead adopting and negotiating symbols of power between emperor and subject, and crystalized the idea of Zhonghua Minzu which is the modern view of "Chinese" encompasses a civic identity applying equally to all imperial subjects, distinct from ethnicity, language, or origin. This was also the period during which Tibet and Xinjiang were brought under Chinese authority, both with unique circumstances that continue to be relevant in the modern contexts. This was also the century of humiliation, which saw the rapid swing of China from the most powerful and wealthy empire in the world, to the most stricken, and is one of the most important historical episodes in Chinese political consciousness. Apart from that, the increasing contact with the west is an endless source of interesting stories; McCartney Embassy, Western Mansions of Summer Palace, the New Army, Hanyang Arsenal, Russian criminals caught in central Asia being sent as punishment to Guangzhou to become banner soldiers, etc.

Honorable Mention: Xi Xia; very mysterious and artful western dynasty, patrons for the very beloved Mogao Caves, have a unique written language which looks bizarrely complex with an abundance of diagonal strokes. culture went extinct following the mongols, and their writing was utterly forgotten, such that no one even knew what language certain inscriptions on stone monuments in Beijing were, and it was only deciphered in modern times.