Although the French invented the word bureaucracy, the Chinese are credited with perfecting the practice. During the Song dynasty (AD 420–479), the emperor developed a centralized bureaucracy, staffed...

Although the French invented the word bureaucracy, the Chinese are credited with perfecting the practice. During the Song dynasty (AD 420–479), the emperor developed a centralized bureaucracy, staffed with civilian scholar-officials. This led to a much greater concentration of power than had ever been achieved before.