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Ancient China

Ancient China. Geography of Ancient China. Civilization on the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers Rivers flow out of Tibetan Mountains Chinese saw their land as the center of the civilized world “Middle Kingdom”. Chinese Society was held together by strong bonds.

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China

  2. Geography of Ancient China • Civilization on the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers • Rivers flow out of Tibetan Mountains • Chinese saw their land as the center of the civilized world “Middle Kingdom”

  3. Chinese Society was held together by strong bonds. • The group was more important than the individual • The family central to society • Elderly had privileges and power • Oldest man in charge of the family’s possessions • Final approval on all marriages • Respect for parents most important virtue

  4. Women in China • Expected to obey fathers, husbands, and later, their sons • Marriage arranged between 13 and 16 • Moved into husband’s family’s house • Only improve status by bearing sons

  5. Family closely linked to religion • Spirits of the family’s ancestors thought to bring good fortune on the family • Family’s paid respect to the father’s ancestors • Not gods but helpful or hurtful neighbors • Only sons could carry on the traditional religious duties

  6. Government • Chief loyalty to the family • People obeyed the ruler like a “super-grandfather” who was responsible for the people • Royal authority came from heaven • Mandate of Heaven • Dynastic cycle pattern of strength and decline in the different dynasties

  7. The dynasties ruled for 2000 years • Shang • Chou • Longest in Chinese history • Ch’in • Shortest and cruelest • Han • Mightiest

  8. Shang Dynasty Civilization • First civilization along the Yellow River where loess is spread • Unpredictable flooding “China’s sorrow

  9. Cities • Appeared along the Yellow River in 2000B.C. • Anyang capital to the Shang dynasty • Houses built of wood

  10. Social Classes • Divided between nobles and peasants • Nobles • Owned land • Served in the army and government • Skilled fighters • Peasants • Tilled the soil

  11. Artisans were a special class. • Bronze work • Silk • Embroidery

  12. Writing System • Animal bones and shells with written symbols • Symbols similar to those used today • Each character stands for an idea • Same system throughout China

  13. Chou Dynasty • No dramatic changes in civilization • For first 300 years ruled a large kingdom • Gradually lost power • 771 B.C. barbarians invaded and murdered the Chou monarch • Family moved to Loyang and pretended to rule

  14. In truth, they were powerless • Noble families fought for control • “the time of warring states • Traditional values collapsed • led to Chinese love of order • Solutions?

  15. Confucius urged order • Society should be organized around five basic relationships • ruler and subject • father and son • husband and wife • older and younger brother • friend and friend

  16. Code of Proper Conduct within each relationship • Filial piety- children should respect parents and elders • If a ruler practiced kindness then all would go well

  17. Confucius wanted to change Chinese society • Prince of Lu made him Minister of Crime • People so impressed with his wisdom and courtesy that all crime vanished

  18. Taoists sought harmony with nature • Natural order important • Nothing in nature strives for power, fame, or even wisdom • Followers withdrew from society • Tao is the way

  19. Legalist urged harsh government • Highly efficient powerful government the key to order • Reward those who do well • Disobedience punished • Controlling ideas as well as actions

  20. Ch’in Dynasty • From small state of Ch’in in western China • 256 B.C. destroyed Chou king • 246 B.C. new Ch’in king • Age 13 • ruthless Legalist

  21. Ch’in Shih Huang-ti (the first emperor) • Stopped petty wars • Conquered barbarians to the south • Protected the North with the Great Wall • Formed a government that lasted 200 years • Responsible for the people

  22. Ch’in Dynasty concentrated on • Stamping out rival armies • Doubled the size of China • Attacked the barbarians in the North • Destroying resistance inside the realm • Commanded that all noble families live in capital city • Changed state boundaries • Built gigantic network of highways

  23. Uniform standards for law, money, weight, and measures • Built Great Wall

  24. Great Wall provided protection

  25. Great Wall

  26. Decline of the Ch’in Dynasty • Son less able • Han marched on the city

  27. Han Dynasty known for glory, unity, and peace • Hated laws of Ch’in • Barbarians rarely threatened • Confucious’s teachings won influence

  28. Most powerful Han emperor Wu-ti • 140-87 B.C. • Marshal Emperor • Drove Huns out of Northern border

  29. Renewal of Learning • Scholars read old Chinese classics • Confucianism official • Founded national university • Brought back news of the civilized people of Persia

  30. Search for culture led to trade • Great Silk Road • camel caravans • Tibet to Syria and Asia Minor

  31. After Wu-ti prosperity declined • Peasants suffered • Burden of taxes and debts • bad harvests • famine and plague • peasants became bandits • Twice overthrown • Early Han and Later Han

  32. Buddhism came from the Great Silk Road • Monks taught that Buddha was a merciful god

  33. Han Empire collapsed Buddhism spread

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