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Ancient China

Ancient China. Geography – The Physical Setting. Three major Rivers. Huang He (Yellow). Qinling Shandi – separates the valleys of the Huang He & the Chang Jiang, divides North & South China. Chang Jiang (Yangtze). Xi Chiang. Altai Mts- Formed Northern Boundary. Gobi Desert. Mountains.

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China

  2. Geography – The Physical Setting Three major Rivers Huang He (Yellow) Qinling Shandi – separates the valleys of the Huang He & the Chang Jiang, divides North & South China Chang Jiang (Yangtze) Xi Chiang Altai Mts- Formed Northern Boundary Gobi Desert Mountains Altai Mts Himalayas Gobi Desert Altai Huang He (Yellow) Gobi Desert – part of the northern boundary to China, Tremendous source for dinosaur fossils Qinling Shandi Qinling Shandi Himalayas Chang Jiang (Yangtze) The Xi Chiang – 1,200 miles long, excellent navigation Xi Jiang The Huang He –(Yellow River) 2900 miles long to the Yellow Sea, Forms river valley with rich yellow soil called Loess - Due to levees And dikes built by man, river flows up to 33 feet above the surrounding land The Chang Jiang- (Yangtze) 3,434 miles long, deep channel, excellent navigation

  3. The Dynastic Cycle Expansion Founding Regression Collapse

  4. China's Cultural Evolution Advanced Collapse Regression Expansion Founding Collapse Regression Expansion Founding Primitive

  5. Shang Dynasty1750 B.C. – 1122 B.C. Culture Religion – Combined Animism (a belief that spirits inhabit everything), & Ancestor worship. They believed in magical dragons that impacted all life. Eventually, the dragon became the symbol of Chinese rulers. They also believed in a principal god, Shang Ti, who controlled their lives & all the other gods. Priests made predictions based upon the Oracle Bones (Earliest form of writing found on them) Culture Economy – Agricultural base, with supplemental trade, and artisan works, such as bronze artistic castings, jewelry of Jade, Ivory, & Bone, ceramic items. Introduced irrigation Astronomy & Calendar- Two calendars, one based on the sun, & one on the Moon. Lunar used to record private & public events. Language & writing – developed very early writing system -Many one syllable words, often very few multiple meaning words Common to many Chinese dialects (variations) -Writing was first pictographs which later developed to ideographs (two part letters, which included a signifier, or idea sign, and a phonetic, or sound sign) -Writing became so stylized that it developed its own art form . . . Calligraphy Government- Monarchy – Hereditary rulers formed dynasty Complex Bureaucracy – King owned land, allowed Nobles to control portions with return of loyalty & service (roots of Feudalism) Powerful military- used chariots & bronze weapons, controlled most of Eastern China Chapter 4, sect. 2

  6. Shang Dynasty1750 B.C. – 1122 B.C. Fall of the Shang Dynasty- Constant wars weakened the monarchy Failed to guard the Northern frontier The Zhou led a rebellion -claimed that the Shang king was a monster of corruption, wickedness, & cruelty -claimed that because of this, he had lost the right to rule Chapter 4, sect. 2

  7. Shang Dynasty1750 B.C. – 1122 B.C. • First to have written records • Built elaborate palaces, pyramids, & tombs • First writing found on oracle bones • Cultured silk worms & Made silk clothes • Made bronze sculptures • Introduced irrigation • Developed two calendars, one based on the Sun, and one based on the Moon Chapter 4, sect. 2

  8. Ancient China Chapter 4, sect. 2

  9. Society King Nobles (Includes Scribes) Artisans Peasants Government • Dynasties • First one formed in China before Sumerian civilization began Religion • Worshipped ancestors who communicated with the gods & Animism • Used oracle bones (animal bones with messages scratched on them and then broken to release message) Chapter 4, sect. 2

  10. Started building the Great Wall to keep out invaders Zhou Dynasty1100s B.C. – 200s BC Achievements: • Believed in the “Mandate ofHeaven” ( if a ruler was just the gods would allow him to rule - if he was bad, the gods would cause his reign to end) • Built roads & canals • Internal Expanded trade • Made iron tools & weapons (plows pulled by oxen) • Used Copper coins for trade • Built canals, dikes, & reservoirs for irrigation • Steady Population growth • Fell prey to the “Warring States” • Background: • Overthrew Shang, saying that they had lost their “Mandate” • Called themselves “Sons of Heaven” • Had a feudal system (king gave noble/warriors land in return for support in war- no strong central gov’t.) • Zhou Capital force to move because of outside attackers • By 800’s BC began losing territories (Regression) Chapter 4, sect. 3

  11. Qin (Chin) Dynasty 221 B.C. - 206 B.C. -Shi Huangdi – (means “first emperor”) -First strong central government, organized military districts with strict rulers -standardized weights & measures -established uniform system of writing -Code of Chin – uniform laws -Autocracy – emperor held total authority -Used forced labor for public works -Very harsh rule (executed some dissidents) Public discontent – eventually overthrown by commoner named Liu Bang Chapter 4, sect. 3

  12. Liu Bang – King of Han Han Dynasty: (202 BC-220 AD) • Background • Restored order after years of civil war • Power of nobles weakened, strong central gov’t. • Confucian ideas advocated • Land redistributed to peasants • Longest ruling Emperor was Wu Di who expanded the empire. Established Pax Sinica Chapter 4, sect. 3

  13. Han Dynasty: (202 BC-220 AD) • Silk Roads • Trade routes between Mediterranean Sea and China • Sent silk, bronze, and iron goods west to Romans for gold, glass, and ivory • Promoted the growth of merchant class Chapter 4, sect. 3

  14. Han Dynasty: (202 BC-220 AD) • Achievements • Civil Service: • Used difficult examinations to find the best qualified person for government jobs • Ended control of these jobs by nobles • Created bureaucracy system • Other: • Developed road and messenger systems • Excluded outsiders with army and Great Wall (beginning of ethnocentrism) Chapter 4, sect. 3

  15. Philosophies of Ancient China • Dualism- • Two complementary sides of nature • Harmony when both sides are in balance • Both sides need each other Yin and Yang Yin –female side of the universe, dark, passive traits Yang – male side, bright, active Chapter 4, sect. 4

  16. Philosophies of Ancient China Confucius (Confucianism) • Was a government official, gov’t should set example, founded civil service concept of trained employees • Stressed virtue, order and obedience (people serve the ruler, children serve their parents) • Wrote The Analects(Thoughts, ideas, & teachings). • Lao Tzu (Daoism) • Said universal force (Dao) guides all things in life • Stressed living in harmony with nature • Do not strive for riches or power • Wrote The Way of Virtue(also known as The Way of Nature). Chapter 4, sect. 4

  17. Philosophies of Ancient China • Legalism- • Philosophy of politics • Believed in power, not virtue • People naturally selfish & untrustworthy • Peace & Prosperity only achieved by threats & punishments • Core of Qin Dynasty belief • Han Dynasty adopted but tempered the application not as harsh Buddhism- Came from India during Han Dynasty Followed Mahayana Discipline (Buddha a savior whose goal was to save mankind from the miseries of this world) Chapter 4, sect. 4

  18. Chinese Life & Culture Family Life • Welfare of the family key to the welfare of the state • reverence for family • respect for age • acceptance of superior’s decisions • Patriarchal Society – The father ruled the family • Respected Mothers & Mothers-in-law • Principal of Filial Piety applied to social & cultural life • Family was more important than the individual • Kept strict genealogies • Ancestors were revered • Altars were built upon which offerings were made to ancestors Chapter 4, sect. 5

  19. Chinese Life & Culture Economy • Agriculture- Majority of Chinese on small farms • subject to the weather • Heavy taxes & Forced labor on gov’t projects • Farmers Grew • *Millet & wheat in the North • *Rice in the South • Groups of families worked fields together • Used • *ox drawn iron plows • *complex irrigation systems Chapter 4, sect. 5

  20. Chinese Life & Culture Economy • Trade: • Importance increased after weights & measures • standardized (Qin Dynasty) • Upgrade of roads & canals facilitated (Qin & Han) • Silk Roads linked China to Mediterranean countries • (Han Dynasty) Chapter 4, sect. 5

  21. Chinese Life & Culture Literature • The Five Classics • The Book of Poetry • The Book of History • Book of Divination • The Spring and Autumn Annals • Book of Rites • The Analects used to produce civil servants Chapter 4, sect. 5

  22. Chinese Life & Culture Science & Technology • Inventions • Water Clock • Paper (replaced papyrus) • Block Printing • Primitive Seismograph • Glazed Pottery • Clothing dyes • Astronomers developed 3651/4 day Calendar • Discovered sunspots (28BC) • Chinese doctors developed process of acupuncture Chapter 4, sect. 5

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