Ancient China

1. Ancient China

2. Geography - On Map • Bodies of water • Rivers - Huang He (Yellow), Chang Jiang • East China Sea, Yellow Sea, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean • Mountains - Himalayas, Kunlun Shun, Tian Shan • Gobi Desert, Plateau of Tibet,

4. Shang Dynasty • Dynasty - line of rulers who belong to the same family • Built the first cities • Settled in Northern China (Huang He river valley) • Aristocrats - nobles whose wealth came from the land they owned • Most people were farmers • worked the Aristocrats land • grew millet, wheat and rice • Known for their work with bronze for cooking and religious ceremonies

6. Spirits and Ancestors • The Shang worshipped spirits and made offerings of foods to keep them happy • Also honored their dead family members • made offerings to bring good luck and fortune

7. Chinese Language • Used pictographs - characters that stand for objects and ideographs - combining 2 or more pictographs • Most characters still represent whole words

9. China Writing How different do you think life would be if English used pictographs instead of an alphabet? How would that impact our daily lives?

10. Dynasty Journal 1 Shang Dynasty Journal - Be Creative • Imagine that you are a citizen of China under the Shang Dynasty. • Write a diary entry for a typical day you experience living in the Shang Dynasty. Be sure to add as many details as possible, so we can imagine what you are doing. Answer • Where are you located? • What did you do today? • Who/What did you interact with? • What did you see, hear, taste, smell or touch?

11. Zhou Dynasty • Wu Wang led a rebellion against the Shang in 1045 BC - began Zhou Dynasty • Ruled the longest (800 Years) • Divided the kingdom into smaller territories • Mandate of Heaven - idea that heaven chose China’s ruler • Developed: irrigation and flood control, iron plows, trade and silk

13. Fall of the Zhou • Leaders of territories rebelled against the king - 403 BC • Fighting lasted for 200 years • became known as the “Warring States Period” • Ruler of the “Qin” defeated the other states and set up a new dynasty

14. China Writing 2 Imagine that you are an aristocrat fighting for control of China during the Warring States period. How do you feel about the fighting? Why do you want to unify China? What do you hope to do to improve China?

15. Dynasty Journal 2 Zhou Dynasty Journal - Be Creative • Imagine that you are a citizen of China under the Zhou Dynasty. • Write a diary entry for a typical day you experience living in the Zhou Dynasty. Be sure to add as many details as possible, so we can imagine what you are doing. Answer • What do you do for a living? • How do you feel about the Mandate of Heaven? • Explain how new technologies and inventions impact your life?

16. Chinese Social Society • Social Hierarchy • Emperor • Aristocrat • Farmer • Merchant • Filal Piety - idea of children respecting parents and older adults • Men were the head of the household

17. Social Hierarchy How does China’s social hierarchy compare to other civilizations social hierarchy? What's the same about it? Whats different about it? Do you think it was better? WHY?

18. Thinkers and Philosophers • During the Warring States Period, many people were looking for PEACEFUL ways of restoring China’s society. The three most popular theories were • Confucianism • Daoism • Legalism

19. Confucianism • Based off the teachings of Confucius (China’s first great thinker) • Believed: • People needed to have a sense of duty • Rulers had to set good examples • Seek knowledge • Golden rule - “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” • All men should be able to be part of the government • Traveled through China spreading his words - gained many followers - died in 479 BC

21. Confucious Quote “There are those who act without knowing; I will have none of this. To hear a lot, choose the good, and follow it, to see a lot and learn to recognize it; this is next to knowledge.” What do you think this means? Write in your notebook what you think this passage means

22. Daoism • Based on the teachings of Laozi • Believe • should give up wordly desires • turn to nature and the dao (the force that guides all things) • Seek inner peace and live in harmony with nature • Based off of the relationships of opposites (yin and yang) • Opposite of Confucianism • Confucius asked for people to work to improve the world; Daoism asked people to give their concerns about the world • Confucianism - focused on society Daoism - focused on individual • Many followed both

24. Daoism Quote “Higher good is like water: the good in water benefits all, and does so without contention. It rests where people dislike to be, so it is close to the Way. Where it dwells becomes good ground; profound is the good in its heart. Benevolent the good it bestows.” What do you think this passage means? Write what you think this passage means in your notebook

25. Legalism • Developed by Hanfeizi in the 200s BC • Taught that humans were naturally evil • needed harsh laws and punishments • Strong ruler was needed • Favored by aristocrats • WHY?!?!

26. Qin Dynasty • Was the dynasty established after the Warring States period - Qin Shihuangdi • Based his rule off of Legalism • Made the government stronger • appointed officials to monitor people • Unified China • One type of money • Building of roads and canals

28. The Great Wall of China • Mongolians - group of nomadic people who lived in the Gobi desert • Mongolians attacked Chinese farms and villages • Qin Shihuangdi ordered the strengthening and connecting of the walls • Was not finished until 1,500 years later

30. Rebellion against the Qin • Many people thought Shi Huangdi was cruel • Arisocrats were angry because they lost power • Scholars hated him for burning writings • Farmers hated him because he forced them to build the Great Wall and canals • After he died, the Qin’s lost power • Civil War happened - new dynasty rose

31. Dynasty Journal 3 Qin Dynasty Journal - Be Creative • Imagine that you are a farmer forced to leave your field and work on the Great Wall of China under the Qin Dynasty. • Write a diary entry for a typical day you experience living in the Qin Dynasty. Be sure to add as many details as possible, so we can imagine what you are doing. Answer 1. How do you feel about working on the Great Wall? 2. Your daily routine.

32. Han Dynasty • Founded by Liu Bang in 202 BC • Peasant to Military Leader • Han’s started Civil Service Exams • Tests to give the most qualified people jobs in the government • Favored the rich • Heavily influenced by Confucianism

33. Han Dynasty • Population grew - 20 mil to 60 mil • Grew in size - added land to the south and west • Made China more secure • Drove the Mongolians back • Inventions • Waterwheels • Iron Drill Bits • Steel • Paper • Accupuncture • Rudder

34. Chinese Inventions Which of these Inventions was the most important? Why do you think that? Write your answer to this passage in your notebook.

35. The Silk Road • China made a lot of money trading and shipping • Silk was the most desired • Silk Road - network of trade routes that stretched over 4000 miles long • Traded with the Romans (silk, spices, tea, porcelin)

37. Major Changes in China • Buddhism came to China during the 100’s AD • Han dynasty lost control - wars, rebellions, plots against the emperor • China in Civil War • Mongolians invading from the North • All made Buddhisim more popular

38. Dynasty Journal 4 Han Dynasty Journal - Be Creative • Imagine that you are a trader on the Great Silk Road during the time of the Han Dynasty. • Write a diary entry for a typical day you experience living in the Han Dynasty. Be sure to add as many details as possible, so we can imagine what you are doing. Answer 1. How do you feel about working on the Great Wall? 2. Your daily routine. 3. What are you trading and with whom? 4. Which of the new inventions has changed your life the most? Why?