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Chinese Dynasties: Rulers, Religion, and Culture

Learn about the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties, their religious practices, the Mandate of Heaven, and the construction of the Great Wall. Discover how the Silk Road facilitated cultural diffusion.

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Chinese Dynasties: Rulers, Religion, and Culture

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  1. 10/24 Focus: • Chinese rulers followed the dynastic cycle. This was the understanding that dynasties would rise and fall over and over again. • Important Terms: • Dynasty, Oracle Bones, Mandate of Heaven • Do Now: • Explain how geography lead to ethnocentrism in China

  2. China Dynasties

  3. The Shang Dynasty 1650 B.C. Shang gain control of N. China Government Ruled by Kings Establish first dynasty A ruling family

  4. The Shang Dynasty • Religion • Polytheistic • Worshiped ancestors • oracle bones • Used to communicate with ancestors • Bones inscribed with pictographs • Priests could read them for messages from ancestors • Offered ancestors gifts for the afterlife

  5. The Shang Dynasty • written language • used pictograms • symbols that represent pictures • Ideograms • symbols that represent ideas. • used on the Oracle Bones, but only few people learned how to read and write

  6. The Zhou Dynasty • 1029 -258 B.C. • Overthrow the Shang • Told people that the gods had become angry with Shang corruption & had chosen the Zhou to rule • Leads to the Mandate of Heaven King Wen, The founder of the Zhou dynasty

  7. The Mandate of Heaven • divine approval to rule • Used by rulers to claim authority over people • Was used to explain the dynastic cycle • New dynasties were good and just to the people • Overtime the dynasty became corrupt and unfair to the people • Lost approval of gods • New dynasty would take over

  8. Closure • How was the Mandate of Heaven used to justify the overthrow of a government? • What was the dynastic cycle?

  9. 10/27 Focus: • The Great Wall of China was created during the Qin Dynasty and is an example of Chinese ethnocentrism. • The Han Dynasty built a large civilization by using roads. They expanded trade routes and made a great deal of money that helped them expand. • Do Now: • Explain the Mandate of Heaven

  10. Zhou Government • Zhou kings called themselves “Sons of Heaven • Kings granted large areas of land to their supporters • Feudalism • Local lords controlled their own land • Owed military service to the ruler • Feudal lords became the real holders of power in China

  11. Zhou Accomplishments • Built roads and canals to expand trade • Silk production • Produced from cocoons of silkworms • Became a major export • Made the first books • Bound thin strips of bamboo & wood • The I Ching • Book of Songs • Astronomy • Developed an accurate calendar • Studied eclipses and movement of planets

  12. Qin Dynasty • Shi Huangdi • “The First Emperor” • Conquers the Zhou • Zhou government was weak • Feudal lords divided and at war

  13. Centralized Power • Shi Huangdi centralizes power and establishes autocracy • Power from one central area • Autocracy • A government in which the ruler has absolute or total power • Abolishes the feudal states • Divided the country into military districts • Harsh rules • Rules about being on time • Forced labor to build public works • High taxes

  14. The Great Wall of China • Extended from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert • Forced labor used to construct the wall • Ethnocentrism • Built to keep out nomads and invaders • Keep out foreign influences • Limits cultural diffusion

  15. The famous Terracotta Soldiers were built to guard the Emperor’ s tomb

  16. The Han Dynasty • Shi Huangdi dies • People revolt against the Qin • Liu Bang established the Han dyansty • Peasant leader • Takes the name Gau Zu • Reduced taxes • Changed harsh Qin laws

  17. Han Rule • Emperor Wudi • 441 B.C • Strengthens China’s government and economy • Establishes civil service system • Government workers • Civil service exam was required to work in government • Based on teachings of Confucius • Opened the Silk Road

  18. The Silk Road • Becomes a major trade route • Stretches from China to Mediterranean Sea • Brings China in contact with other civilizations • Cultural diffusion • Buddhism from India • New ideas, foods, animals , and products are spread along the silk road

  19. Han Golden Age • Expansion of trade and strong government under Han rule brought peace and prosperity • Technological Advances • Made paper from wood pulp • Iron production • Water powered mills • Invented: • Wheelbarrow • Fishing reel • Rudder

  20. Han Golden Age • Advances in Science and Medicine • Acupuncture and herbal remedies to treat illness • Develop anesthesia • Advanced astronomers • Developed accurate clocks

  21. Han Decline • Power shifted from strong central gov’t to local nobles • Nomadic groups began invading China • Led to 350 years of warfare and chaos • Period of Disunion (220-589 C.E.)

  22. Closure • How is the construction of the Great Wall of China an example of Chinese ethnocentrism? • Why did the Silk Road increase cultural diffusion?

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