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Ancient China

Ancient China. Rise of the Dynasties. Major Chinese Dynasties. Xia 2205-1818 BC Shang 1523-1027 BC Zhou 1027-256 BC Qin 221-207 BC Han 206 BC- 220 AD Tang 618-907 Song 960-1279 Yuan 1280-1367 Ming 1368-1644 Qing 1644-1911. Prehistory. China is the oldest continuous civilization

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China Rise of the Dynasties

  2. Major Chinese Dynasties • Xia 2205-1818 BC • Shang 1523-1027 BC • Zhou 1027-256 BC • Qin 221-207 BC • Han 206 BC- 220 AD • Tang 618-907 • Song 960-1279 • Yuan 1280-1367 • Ming 1368-1644 • Qing 1644-1911

  3. Prehistory • China is the oldest continuous civilization • 1.7 million years ago • Peking Man- Homo Erectus skeleton found • 5000 BC • Yangshou- earliest known civilization • Evidence of Agriculture • 3500-2000 BC • Longsham- signs of animal domestication

  4. Xia and Shang • Earliest dynasties • Settled around rivers • Developed irrigation • Use of bronze for weapons • Not very unified which led to their demise

  5. Chinese Writing

  6. History • Dates back to the Shang Dynasty (1200 BC) • Oracle Bones • Used to predict futures • Have also discovered various forms of writing on bronze and bamboo • Qin Dynasty- 221 BC • Shi Huangdi calls for standardization of writing

  7. Today 47,035 characters in Chinese writing No links between symbols and spoken language To be considered literate, must know 3-4 thousand Monosyllabic – one symbol equals one basic meaning Polysyllabic – two or more symbols to make one basic meaning

  8. Vertical How to Read: Horizontal

  9. Dynastic Cycle

  10. Mandate of Heaven • Belief that authority came from heaven • Good rulers kept their power • Poor rulers could lose theirs

  11. 2. Redistributes lands, appoints officers, rebuilds defense walls, roads, and canals 1. New dynasty claims Mandate of Heaven and restores peace Dynastic Cycle in China 3. Over time, dynasty ages and becomes corrupt 6. Dynasty is overthrown and replaced by a new one 4. Disasters occur: floods, famines, peasant revolts and invasions 5. Dynasty loses Mandate of Heaven; rebellion justified http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNR0ccrvnBc&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

  12. Schools of Thought Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism

  13. What is Philosophy? • Investigation into the general causes and principles of things. • Personal attitude

  14. Confucianism • Born during the Zhou dynasty • Witnessed constant fighting and decay of imperial rule and human morality • Devoted himself to teaching the key to social harmony • Died thinking he was a failure Founded by Confucius

  15. Education • Essential to one’s character and morality • Civil service exams ensured that leaders were well educated • Used from the Han dynasty until abolishment in Qing dynasty

  16. Government • People are inherently good, but need someone to show them how. • Good leaders would set the example for others to follow. • Established bureaucracy – departments that ran the government • Got jobs in government by taking the Civil Service Exams

  17. 5 Basic Relationships Superior Subordinate • Ruler • Father • Husband • Older brother • Friend • Subject • Son • Wife • Younger brother • Friend Believed one should always defer to the person in the superior position. This would help maintain social order and harmony. Filial Piety - respect to parents during life and honoring memory once dead

  18. Virtues of Man • These 5 virtues would make the ‘perfect gentleman:’ • Ritual, etiquette • Honesty • Trustworthiness • Compassion • Knowledge of right and wrong

  19. Daoism

  20. Ideas developed by Laozi during the Han Dynasty • “Dao” – universal force that guides all things • Means ‘The Way’ • Emphasized natural order and relationships among living things

  21. One must achieve balance: • YIN: • Earth • Passive • Negative • Female • Yielding • Weak • Dark • YANG: • Heaven • Active • Positive • Male • Strong • Light

  22. Legalism

  23. Ideas developed by Hanfiezi and Li Si • Developed prior to Qin Dynasty during a period of civil unrest • Highly efficient and powerful government was key to restoration of society • Law will end civil disorder • Reward good • Punish bad

  24. Legalism and the Qin Dynasty • Shi Huangdi- first Chinese leader to call himself an Emperor • Legalist policies: • Book burning • Hard peasant labor • Defeated invaders • Limited power of nobles • Established autocracy

  25. Shi Huangdi’s Legacy: • Early development of the Great Wall • 4000 highway miles • Irrigation projects • Standardization of currency and writing • Standard laws • Expanded trade

  26. Shi Huangdi’s Tomb in Xian

  27. In 1974, while digging a new well, farmers came across 7000 clay soldiers

  28. There were over 7000 of them and each was intricately detailed.

  29. It is believed that Shi Huangdi had them built by peasants to protect him in his death http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5atoe51Ylo&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

  30. Buddhism

  31. Buddhism • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama in India • Prophesized to be a great leader. • Kept in his home for 29 years • Went out and saw an old man, a dying man and a dead man • Set out to find an understanding for these things

  32. Four Noble Truths • Seeking enlightenment (wisdom) created the idea of the Four Noble Truths • 1st: Life is filled with suffering and sorrow • 2nd: Cause is people’s desire for temporary pleasures • 3rd: To end suffering, must end desires • 4th: To do this, had to follow the Eightfold Path, called the Middle Way between desires and self-denial

  33. Additional Beliefs • If one followed the Eightfold Path, they could reach nirvana (release from selfishness and pain) • Karma- what goes around comes around • Reincarnation This nirvana… …Not this one…

  34. Closely related to magical rites Have compassion and seek personal enlightenment Requires one to become a monk

  35. What’s Up With Tibet? • For many centuries Tibet was its own country. • This is where the Dalai Lama had been located. • However, after WWII, the Chinese came into Tibet and took over the government. • The Dalai Lama (TenzinGyatso) fled to India where he has been ever since. • Tibet is currently trying to free themselves from Chinese rule.

  36. The Silk Road

  37. The Silk Road

  38. What was it? • A trade route from China to the Mediterranean • Began during the Han Dynasty • Traded goods like spices, silks, perfumes, gems, etc • Spread cultural ideas as well. Ex. Buddhism

  39. Riches of the Tang Dynasty • Led by Tang Taizong, the Tang Dynasty was the richest dynasty in Chinese history • Expanded Chinese territory • Silk Road was at its peak during this time • Wealthy ran the government • High taxes led to the dynasty’s demise

  40. Foot BindingDeveloped during the Tang Dynasty for wealthy women in order to signify their freedom from manual labor

  41. Marco?....Polo! • In 1271, Italian teen who traveled the Silk Road with his uncle for 24 years. • Recorded everything he saw and took the ideas back to Italy with him • Paper Money • Burning coal for fuel

  42. Attack of the Mongols

  43. For years, nomadic invaders from Mongolia had been invading China, conquering border towns and settling on the lands • Separate tribes, no unification

  44. Temujin • Said to have been born with a blood clot in his hand • This meant he would become a great leader one day • Unites Mongols and sets sights on China • Changes name to Genghis Khan

  45. Campaign of Terror • Seeks vengeance for the death of Mongol leaders • Set out to conquer lands by slaughtering those who would not follow • Conquered more land than anyone in history • How did he do it? • Gifted strategist • Great organizer • Cruelty as weapon • People fled when they knew he was coming

  46. Upon his death in 1227, Genghis had created the largest unified land empire in history

  47. PaxMongolica Mid 12-1300s • Time of peace after Genghis’s death • Empire broken into four khanates, each headed by one of Khan’s descendants • Period of good trade with Europe • Rulers let things run down, but people were happy • Plague starts here?

  48. Yuan Dynasty • Created by Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis) • Moves capital to from Mongolia to Beijing • Attempts to conquer Japan • Typhoon (kamikaze) prevents it • Marco Polo worked for Kublai for 17 years • Dynasty dies when Kublai dies

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