China

1. China The Longest Story of Stability By Ms. Gluskin The Great Wall

2. Themes • E • C • I • I

3. Geography and Stability Chinese history began in the north. The fertile northern plain was fed by the Yellow River that flooded and gave life to the land, though it could also bring catastrophic flooding causing death. Later, settlement grew along the Yangtze River. Geographic features that promoted isolation included mountains, the Gobi desert, steppes of Central Asia, and the vast Pacific Ocean. Isolation supported continuity. There were also internal boundaries, such as mountains and rivers, that served to promote regional rivalries, sometimes leading to change as new powers took over and united other states. Though the land seems productive, in actual fact a low percentage of land is arable. Chinese have literally carved out new places to farm, such as along the terraced slopes of mountains, showing great ingenuity and inventiveness, an adaptation and form of change.

4. Expansion

5. Map of Modern China China today

6. Topography Mountains and deserts were isolating factors. Columbia University, East Asia in Geographic Perspective, N.d., http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/geography/element_a/ea1.html (Nov. 15, 2011)

7. Topography, con’t 3-steps of elevation from east to west showing regional differences. 365Saturdays. Summary History of China. 2012. http://365saturdays.org/blog/?p=9083 (April 27, 2012).

8. Yellow River Yellow River really is yellow in some parts due to loesse (clay) soil it picks up. The land is fertile. Facts and Details, Land and Geography of China, 2010, http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=400&catid=10&subcatid=64#01 (Nov. 15, 2011).

9. Steppes Inner Mongolian grasslands provided some isolation. University of Washington, Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization, Outer China, N.d., http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/geo/outer.htm (Nov. 15, 2011).

10. Difficult Terrain Terracing is a way of getting more farm land where there is little arable land. Asia for Educators, Columbia University. Chinese Geography: Readings and Maps. 2009. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/china/geog/maps.htm (April 27, 2012).

11. Historical Stability Even before the “first emperor,” China had emperors, though they only ruled small regional areas. Shi Huangdi united, by force – a major change – many warring states to create China’s first official empire and his short-lived dynasty, the Qin. Though his dynasty didn’t last long, many of the first emperor’s achievements did outlive him – signifying continuity – including the Great Wall, unity, centralization and standardization. These became the hallmarks of the Han, Song, Tang and Ming dynasties.

12. The First Emperor Shi Huangdi, viewed by some as a hero and by some as a tyrannical villain, was the first to unite the Chinese states into one empire.

13. Terra Cotta Warriors The First Emperor wanted to be well protected in his tomb so he had thousands of clay soldiers built to preserve his safety.

14. Foreign Rule - Mongols The Mongol invasion was traumatic because foreign rulers took over and overran the Chinese with their skilled horsemanship – as seen in the skills of this mounted archer, and brutal methods of warfare. The Ming dynasty overthrew them and gave the Chinese confidence in their own abilities and fear of foreigners.

15. Economic Stability Farming was always the basis of Chinese life, demonstrating a major continuity: wheat in the north, rice in the south. China was mostly self-sufficient because of its agricultural production and its trade. It traded in East Asia (Japan, Korea) and along the Silk Road. Most of its trade was exports, including silk, copper, and porcelain. China only imported luxuries. Though trade was also a continuity, because it was present throughout most of Chinese history, it was more prominent during certain dynasties, such as the Song, which specialized in porcelain exports, demonstrating a change.

16. Traded Items Ming dynasty porcelain jar, 1426-1435. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Tmeline of Art History: Ming Dynasty. 2000. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ming/hd_ming.htm (April 27, 2012).

17. China As A Sea Power Maritime expeditions in the Ming dynasty went to Southeast Asia, and through the Indian Ocean to the African coast and Arabia, led by Zheng He, as shown in this drawing of one of his expeditions. Evan Hadingham. PBS. Nova: Ancient Chinese Explorers. 2001. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/ancient-chinese-explorers.html (Nov. 9, 2011).

18. Silk Road Traders from Rome and the Middle East came to China for jade, gold, spices, horses, precious gems and silk along “the silk road” beginning in the Han dynasty. The China Project. 2003. http://www.globaled.org/chinaproject/ (April 27, 2012).

19. Stability of Beliefs In China there has long been a crossover between religion and philosophy. From the earliest times Chinese people practiced ancestor veneration, respect for the spirits of dead ancestors, and this continues even to this day. Tian means heaven, and it is an old concept: not a god, but a force guarding China and the imperial family. Nature was also central to many beliefs, as seen through the concepts of yin and yang and the practice of Taoism. Confucianism became a major philosophy strengthening social and family relations. Buddhism from India came into China in the first century CE. Even though new beliefs were added to the mix, Chinese people always continued to believe in and practice naturalism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism all at the same time.

20. Dynastic Cycle Emperors, known as Sons of Heaven, ruled with the blessing of Heaven, called the Mandate of Heaven. Natural omens would warn an emperor he was doing something wrong; if he ignored it, Heaven would see that the people rose up and got rid of that emperor.

21. Confucianism During a time of internal disorder (5th century BCE), a bureaucrat and teacher named Kong Fuzi created a philosophy based on ORDER. HistoryWhiz, Confucius, 2008, http://www.historywiz.com/historymakers/confucius.htm (Nov. 15, 2011).

22. Yin-Yang Forces of nature called Yin-Yang are symbolized on the Taiji or great pivot. Together yin and yang are complementary.

23. Taoism “Humans model themselves on earth, Earth on heaven, Heaven on the Way, And the way on that which is naturally so.” Taoism incorporated the idea of Yin-Yang into the philosophy of being one with nature, with the idea that one should follow the way, the tao.

24. Buddhism Buddhism, as represented here by this Buddha, was appealing because it brought the idea of salvation and an end to suffering during a difficult time for Chinese people.

25. Social Structures of Stability Like most ancient societies, Chinese life was hierarchical. Also like other civs, the imperial family, nobles and landowners were highly placed. Unique to China was the high status of scholar officials because of their key role in learning the Confucian classics (books). Their education allowed them to serve as advisors to emperors. The characteristics of the top ranks of the hierarchy were relatively consistent throughout most of Chinese history. While the bottom ranks of peasants and farmers were also consistent, it should be noted that merchants, who were usually at the bottom because of the general dislike of business-oriented things, rose higher in more business friendly dynasties such as the Song. This change would foreshadow modern China’s dynamic role as the world’s business leader. Another aspect of continuity throughout China’s history has been the patriarchal domination of males, whether seen through the fact that only males could perform the rituals of ancestor veneration or through the painful process of girls having their feet bound to please men and keep them immobile.

26. The Hierarchy Classes GENTRY: Imperial Family Scholar Officials Nobles Landowners COMMONERS: Peasants, Farmers, Artisans Merchants Servants and Entertainers

27. Gender Foot binding for women and children made the shape of the foot resemble a lotus flower. The tiny objects are known as lotus shoes.

28. Stability Through Record Keeping Throughout history, Chinese people placed high value on education and thus written over spoken language. Writing evolved over time, from picture-based pictographs to idea-driven ideographs. Chinese writing used difficult-to-learn characters rather than a simplified alphabet, once again highlighting the importance of education. Paper and printing, two important Chinese innovations, enabled the spread of learning.

29. Chinese Characters Chinese characters began as pictograms.

30. Adapting Through Technology & Infrastructure China is well known for its many innovations, including technology, architecture, and inventions. Throughout history Chinese people continued the trend of creating practical things to assist them in their living. Each innovation was also evidence of change, something new. The Great Wall, renovated over time by each dynasty, was built to keep northern invaders out. Paper money was invented to make trade easier. The porcelain- making process was perfected so that China had the world’s most desirable trade goods.

31. The Great Wall The Great Wall, first made out of tamped earth, began as a defense against invasion. It was built up in sections over time. The brick wall recognized today was a renovation by the Ming dynasty.

32. tea gun powder porcelain paper wheelbarrow paper money block printing compass seismograph (simple) chopsticks wok lacquerware efficient iron production silk acupuncture, Chi inoculation Technology: What China Gave the West

33. Before the West Making silk Paper money The first book, 868 CE

34. China... the oldest continuous civilization Some would say the most stable?