Unit 3b: Ancient China

UNIT 3B: ANCIENT CHINA

China

Class Activity:Before you move on, examine the map

& generate 3 conclusions about the

geography of China & its impact on the people of this region

China began along the Yellow (Huang He) & Yangtze Rivers in the North China Plain; Only 10% of China is suitable for farming

The Yellow River flooding was unpredictable & was called “China’s Sorrow” because its floods

often destroyed entire villages.

Legend of Yu – control flood sense of duty

Huang He= Yellow RiverLoess= yellow silt

China was protected & isolated from outsiders by the Gobi & Talimakan Deserts in the west &

the Himalayan Mountains and the Pacific Ocean to the east (Four natural barriers)

The Chinese referred to themselves as the

“Middle Kingdom” & rarely traded with outsiders. Why?

Chinese believed that they were the center of the earth because of their isolation from other civilizations. IsolationEthnocentric xenophobia

Lasting Contributions■ Advanced Cities:

–Like other river valley civilizations, cities in China had high walls for protection

–But, Chinese buildings were made of wood rather than brick or stone

Lasting Contributions Specialized Workers:

?Unlike other river

valley civilizations, the

Chinese held peasants higher than artisans or

merchants because they

produced food.

Lasting Contributions Government:

Like Egypt, China was ruled by families called dynasties

Ruler’s justified their power by claimingMandate ofHeaven (approval of the godsgave the right to rule)

Lasting Contributions Government:

Kings could lose the Mandate of Heaven & be overthrown by a new king, called the Dynastic Cycle

Lasting Contributions Government:

China was also controlled using the ethical system, Confucianism

Confucianism focused on filial piety (respect for elders)

Confucius taught social order through 5 key relationships:1) ruler-subject 2) father-son 3) husband-wife 4) brother- brother & 5) friend-friend

These ideas were written down in The Analects

Lasting Contributions Religion:

Chinese believed in ancestor worship. They practice the belief that spirits of family ancestors should be honored & consulted.

Chinese Religion

These were animal bones and shells. Priests wrote questions on them and when they touched them with something hot, they cracked. These cracks were interpreted to find their answers.

Chinese also asked for advice from the gods. They used oracle bones.

Lasting Contributions Writing:

Like hieroglyphics, Chinese characters stood for sounds but the 10,000 characters made it hard to learn to write

Lasting Contributions Technology:

Cast iron tools & weapons

Standardized coins

China’s Flourishing Civilization

China’s Oldest Dynasties!

Shang Dynasty2000- 1122 BC

Formation of Government Shang kings only controlled a small area Clans – a group of families who claim a common ancestor Noblewomen have rights in Shang period. Capital city at Anyang

Social Classes Develop Royalty, Nobility, and Warriors. Merchants and artisans are lower in society. Majority of people in Shang China were peasants When peasants were not in the fields, they were helping

in community projects.

Shang Dynasty2000- 1122 BC

Religious Beliefs Many gods and nature spirits – Polytheistic Shang Di- chief god Mother goddess King as a link to Shang Di

Veneration of ancestors Two forces in universe- Yin and Yang

Must be in delicate balance (harmony)Yin= earth, darkness, femaleYang= Heaven, light, male

Zhou Dynasty Map

Zhou Dynasty (1027BC-221BC) Divided their kingdom into

territoriesEach territory was governed by an

official appointed by the king The belief in the “Mandate

of Heaven” became an established practice during this dynasty.

Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven:

the belief that the gods give a certain family the right to rule

The Mandate of Heaven allowed rulers to remain in power as long as they were just and effective

Divine Right to Rule

The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall of dynasties.

The Dynastic Cycle in China

Feudalism in China

Establishing a Feudal State Feudalism- system of government in

which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other forms of support to the ruler.

Chinese Written Language… Zhou Dynasty Pictographs

Picture symbols or characters that represent an object

Ideographs Characters that combine two

or more pictographs to represent an idea

Calligraphy Writing turned into an elegant

art form First Books

Bound strips of wood or bamboo together

Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)

Achievements of the Zhou Dynasty: Spurring Economic Growth through

trade Bronze and iron helped produce more

food. Growth of new crops – soybeans Chinese began to use money Increase in population Expanded territories Discovering the Secret of Silk-Making

Producing silk from silkwormsKept the process of silk making a

secret

Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)

Achievements of the Zhou Dynasty: Astronomy – Calendar Book – I Ching – handbook for

predicting the future. Book – Book of Songs – poems, love

songs

Confucianism Confucius (Kongfuzi) lived from 551-

479BC – late Zhou Dynasty Emphasizes order and structure in society

Everyone knows their place and responsibility in society

Wanted people to live according to ethicsGood conduct and moral judgment

“Do not do unto others what you would not want done unto you.” (Golden Rule)

Confucianism Five Relationships1. Ruler and Subject2. Parent and Child

filial piety: children’s respect for adults3. Husband and wife4. Old and Young5. Friend and Friend

Each person has a duty to the other The person listed first is the one with more

power/respect Duty of the first person is to be kind/compassionate Duty of the second person is to be loyal/submissive Women – mothers of sons would be respected People are essentially good. Best ruler is a virtuous man who leads by example.

Effects of Confucianism

Analects: book of all Confucius’s teachings, writings, and sayings

During Han dynasty, his teachings provided the basis for the civil service exam

His teaching shaped Chinese society until the early 1900’s.

Spreads to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam (1/3 of world’s population influenced by Confucian ideas)

Daoism Based on the teachings of Laozi in 500s BC The Way of the Dao: Book of Daoism’s teachings Rejected formal social structures and specific

roles in society (different from Confucianism) Viewed government as unnatural and caused

many problems “ The government that governs best, governs

least “ Stressed the individual living in harmony with

nature

Daoism

Dao: universal force that guides all things

Believe people should renounce worldly goods and turn to nature and the Dao

To be in harmony, yin and yang (two opposing forces present in all nature) must be in balance

The Fall of the Zhou Dynasty After 800 years, the Zhou dynasty

declines and falls Individual territories and officials

rebelled against the Zhou family

Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty (221 BC-206BC)

Shi Huangdi (1st Emperor) wiped out the Zhou and conquered northern China

Spent 20 years conquering warring nations and unified China

Created a strong, authoritarian central government under his control

Abolished feudal state Forced nobles to live at his capital/takes their lands and gives to the

peasants. Replaced feudal state with 36 military districts Created a single monetary system (standard weights and

measures) Built roads, bridges, and canals connecting the empire

together Built the Great Wall of China (to keep invaders out)

Constantly rebuilt and expanded. Created censorate:

Inspectors/spies sent to report on local officials (make sure they are doing what the emperor wants)

Jailed, tortured, and killed those who opposed his rule. Burned all books that went against what he wanted

How Did Shi Huangdi Unite China? How Did Shi Huangdi Unite China? 

Great Wall of China

Legalism under Shi Huangdi “The nature of man is evil. His goodness

is acquired.” Only way to achieve order was to pass

strict laws and punishments for crimes “The ruler alone possesses power.” He tortured, killed, and enslaved those

who opposed his rule (i.e. feudal nobles and Confucian scholars).

Official Policy of the Qin Dynasty

Fall of the Qin Dynasty

People were upset withCensorship of speechHarsh taxesForced labor projects

Emperor died in 210 BC and his dynasty fell four years later

Peasant leader emerges that starts a new dynasty.

Han DynastyLiu Bang defeated Xiang Yu and restored order and justice by lowering taxes, easing Legalist policies, and appointing Confucian scholars as advisors.

Emperor Wudi

Han Dynasty (207BC-220AD) Han Dynasty was

China’s Golden Age This time period was

called the Pax Sinica: a 400 year period of peace and prosperity

Former Han=1st 200 years.

Later Han= 2nd 200 years.

Wives of emperor would inherit throne after Liu Bang Empress Lu

The rule of Wudi considered peak of dynasty

Emperor Wudi Makes Improvements Emperor Wudi Makes Improvements Strengthened government and economy Set up imperial university of Xian

Textbooks on botany, zoology, and chemistry Soldiers, traders, and settlers slowly

spread Chinese influence across the area. Organizes government monopoly of iron

and salt. Expands China to great size.

Wudi’s Rule of the Han Dynasty Established a civil service

examination for public posts Civil servants – officials in government Had to pass a test in order to work for

the government Gain job based on ability (merit) rather

than birth Women could not take these exams;

excluded from government jobs

Silk Road

The Silk Road A series of trade routes linking China and Rome Connected the eastern world with the western

world The trade route is named after China’s most

famous trade item: silk Trade route stretched 4,000 miles long!!! 139 BC Wudi sent Zhang Quian on an

expedition 13 years later he came back telling tales

of the Roman Empire

Wudi’s Rule of the Han Dynasty 139 BC Wudi sent Zhang Quian on an expedition 13 years later he came back telling tales of the

Roman Empire Wudi then began a series of trade routes known as

the Silk Road

Cultural Diffusion and the Silk Road The Silk Road is an example of cultural

diffusion Cultural Diffusion: the exchange of goods,

ideas, and customs between different groups of people

Each group had something to offer that the other group wanted but didn’t have

What goods were being exchanged?China: silk, spices, tea, porcelainRome: wool, linen, glass, precious stones

Ideas such as Buddhism and Christianity were also exchanged along the Silk Road

The Han Golden Age Achievements

• Invented seismograph to measure earthquakes.• Also invented: paper, wheelbarrow, suspension bridges,

fishing reel and rudder• Chinese physicians diagnosed diseases, developed

anesthetics, and experimented with herbal medicines.• Acupuncture – doctor inserts needles into the skin at

specific points to relieve pain or treat various illnesses. • The wooden buildings of temples and palaces no longer exist.• Buddhism became popular due to cultural diffusion• Monasteries become important centers of learning and the

arts

After Wudi’s death, power declined War, corruption, and rebellions

brought about its collapse People fled villages due to heavy taxes

and debt After 400 years of unity, China broke apart Invaders set up their own states and

absorbed Chinese civilization Dynasty fell in 220AD

Han Dynasty