Ancient & Classical China

1. Ancient & Classical China AP World History

2. List of Chinese Dynasties to 600 C.E. • Prehistoric Times-1.7 million years - the 21st century BCE • Xia Dynasty- 21st - 16th century BCE • Shang Dynasty- 16th - 11th century BCE • Zhou Dynasty -Western Zhou (11th century - 771 BCE) • Eastern Zhou- Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BCE) • Warring States Period (476 - 221 BCE) • Qin Dynasty- (221 - 206 BCE) • Han Dynasty- Western Han (206 BCE - 24 CE) • Eastern Han (25 – 220CE) {Textbook: Age of Division} • Three Kingdoms Period- (220 – 280) • Jin Dynasty - Western Jin (265 - 316)Eastern Jin (317 - 420) • Northern and Southern Dynasties- • Northern Dynasties (386 - 581) • Southern Dynasties (420 - 589) • Sui Dynasty- (581 –618 CE)

4. Big Picture “Snap Shot” • Patterns in Early Chinese Civilization: • Early Civilizations… • Mythical Xia and First Dynasty of the Shang • Patterns in Classical China: • 3 dynastic cycles cover the many centuries of classical China: Zhou, Qin (impact), & Han • Political instability & frequent invasions caused the decline of the Zhou Dynasty and promoted debated over China’s Political ills. • Last centuries of Zhou some of China’s greatest thinkers tried different ways to restore order & social harmony • 3 Schools of Thought – Confucianism, Daoism, & Legalism • Shi Huanghi, the brutal founder of the Qin Dynasty, centralized power in China, and began construction of the Great Wall. • Wu Ti (Wu di, or Emperor Wu), most famous of the Han rulers, supported Confucianism , won wars, & promoted peace

5. (P) State Building , Expansion, & Conflict • “Political” Institutions (structures & governance) • Most of recorded history, the Chinese people have been the most tightly governed people in any large society in the World. • Political institutions became one of classical China’s hallmarks. • One of the most permanent aspects of Chinese culture was the belief in the unity & the desirability of a central government in the hands of an emperor assisted by an educated, professional bureaucracy.

6. (P) State Building , Expansion, & Conflict Continued… • Type of system- Monarchy/Absolute Rule • Empires- Dynasty Cycles • Nationalism- Most believe in unified China Revolts and revolutions- “Mandate of Heaven” • Regional, trans-regional, global structures & organizations- • Xenophobia (ic)-an intense fear or dislike of foreign people, their customs and culture, or foreign things • Foreign Connections- Tributary Systems- • Fighting with Xiongnu, (Barbarians) {gift sending} • Silk Road- Mostly indirect communication through many cultures, including Central Asia, India, Persia, Fertile Crescent, & Rome

7. (E) Creation, expansion, and interaction of “Economic” systems • Agricultural – China’s classical economy focused on agriculture. All Chinese philosophies extolled the virtues of peasants and their world. • Trade & Commerce- Extensive internal trade system, even while maintaining some ambivalence about merchants and commercial values • Silk Road- Only connection to the Roman Empire via trade. • Labor system- Sharp Class division between the 1) Gentry Scholars - Landowning Aristocrats & educated bureaucrats, 2) Peasant farmers- the laboring masses, 3) Artisans & Craftsman, 4) Merchants & Traders • Industrialization- Many technological advances, including ox-drawn plows, water-powered mills, and paper in ancient times.

8. (R) Development & Interaction of Cultures • “Religion and Culture” • Belief systems, Philosophies, & ideologies Chinese culture began coalescing during the last, calamitous centuries of Zhou rule. During this time, the 3 Schools of Thought (Philosophies) arose, each of which emphasized the role of education to achieve social ends. • Confucianism, an ethical system based on relationships and personal virtue, became the predominate philosophy • Legalism, countered Confucianism by favoring an authoritarian state and harsh rule. • Daoism, taught harmony with nature and humble living. Laozi was the most popular figure. • Buddhism, began to enter China later 100 C.E… • Tang Dynasty 618 C.E. (Golden Age of Buddhism)

9. (R) Development & Interaction of Cultures Continued… Material • Architecture/Buildings- • Great Wall of China (Started with Qin Dynasty) • Many Roads & Canals (Han Dynasty, esp. Wu Di 141-87) • Grand Canal – (Completed by Sui Dynasty • Art in classical China was mostly decorative, and appeared in many forms, including calligraphy, carved jade and ivory, and silk screens. • Science & key technologies- Mathematics emphasized the practical over the theoretical, and the ancient Chinese were particularly adept at astronomy. • Many innovations! (See Invention Worksheet) • Imperial University- (Han Dynasty) – • Civil Service Exams (3 levels) • Entry test for government jobs • Studied Chinese Classics, Confucius etc…

10. (R) Development & transformation of social structures “Culture” • Gender Roles and relations- • Patriarchal society- overall subordinate fathers & husbands (brothers) • Women’s roles- make a proper marriage that would strengthen the family’s alliances (Widowed were allowed to marry?) • Elite (Ban Zhao’s Example) Upper class women- tutored in writing, arts, & music • Family & kinship (Clans)- Tight family structure was valued • Gender relations- Filial Piety (5 Cardinal Relationships) • Racial & Ethic constructions – Xenophobia & Ethnocentricism • Social & Economics classes- Basically hierarchical, deferential & patriarchal • Labor system- Sharp Class division between the 1) Gentry Scholars - Landowning Aristocrats & educated bureaucrats, 2) Peasant farmers- the laboring masses, 3) Artisans & Craftsman, 4) Merchants & Traders • Communication: • Language-Early Ancient times: proto-Sino-Tibetan, • Zhou Dynasty: Archaic Chinese, Qin: attempt to return to “Old Chinese” Now about Later called “Middle Chinese” Now: 11 different dialects Mandarin and Cantonese • Writing system: logographic/Calligraphy(Similar since Shang and standard Qin)

11. (I) “Interactions” between Humans and environment • Population Change (Demography)- Major increase in Population during Han Dynasty 60 million listed on census • Diseases- Malaria, S.T.D.’s • Migrations- Xiongnu • Settlement patterns- Early Near Water • Technology (impact on environment) [See Change]

12. Overall Picture • China’s politics & culture meshed readily, especially around the emergence of Confucian bureaucracy. • Economic innovation did not disrupt the emphasis on order & stability, and family structures were closely linked to political & cultural goals. • Classical Chinese civilization evolved with very little outside contact. Thought internal disagreement existed, most Chinese saw the world as a large island of civilization (China) surrounded by barbarians with nothing to offer save periodic invasions

13. Continuity • Early Regional cultural hearth of Northern China • Irrigation based advanced settled urban culture • Conflict between settled & nomadic cultures • Chinese dynastic cycle

14. Change-over-Time • Increase in population • Decline in status of women • Increase in Patriarchy • Increase in trade routes (Silk Road, Canals [Grand]) • Migrations of the Huns (Xiongnu) • Diffusion of early religions and philosophies • Rise & Fall of Empires – Chinese Dynastic Cycle • Environmental: Deforestation, Irrigation, Wall/Building materials

15. Major Comparisons and Analysis • Han Empire vs. Roman Empire • 3 Schools of Thought v Buddhism • Nomads vs. Settled • 3 Schools of Thought vs. each other • Chinese Dynasties vs. each other