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6-3.1. Summarize the major contributions of the Chinese civilization from the Qin dynasty through the Ming dynasty, including the golden age of art and literature, the invention of gunpowder and woodblock printing, and the rise of trade via the Silk Road. Classical Chinese Society.
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6-3.1 Summarize the major contributions of the Chinese civilization from the Qin dynasty through the Ming dynasty, including the golden age of art and literature, the invention of gunpowder and woodblock printing, and the rise of trade via the Silk Road.
Period of the Warring States • China had to deal with lots of political and social instability. • This led to a series of civil wars that lasted for hundreds of years. • This led to the creation of two Chinese philosophies. The philosophies attempted to find peaceful solutions to problems.
Chinese Philosophies • Chinese society was greatly influence by the following two philosophies: • 1. Confucianism • 2. Taoism
The Main Ideas of Confucianism • People should be respectful and loyal to their family members. • Leaders should be kind and lead by example. • Learning is a process that never ends. • Heaven expects people to behave well and act morally.
The Main Ideas of Taoism • Live in harmony with the Tao, the guiding force of all reality. • People should avoid interfering with nature and each other. • Be like water and let things flow their natural way. • Yin and Yang – the universe is a balance of opposites.
Government Stability • To help create stability in the government, the civil service exam was created. • A person had to pass this exam if they wanted a government job. • This ensured that smarter, wiser people would get jobs in the government.
The Era of Inventions • Eventually, the Chinese are able to create a stable kingdom. • During this time of stability, the Chinese were able to create and invent many items to improve their life greatly. • Stable times also allowed the Chinese to improve agriculture and trade.
Improvement of Trade • Government support of trade resulted in the building of roads and waterways. • The roads and waterways stimulated trade beyond the borders of China. • The major trading occurred along the Silk Road.
The Silk Road • The Silk Road is the major trading network that starts in China. • The network of roads, waterways, etc. allows Chinese goods to transfer throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Major Items traded • Silk – made from silkworm cocoons • Porcelain- Made of fine clay and baked at high temperatures • Gold, silver, precious stones, fine woods
Ideas • Ideas were also traded along the Silk Road. • The Silk Road also connected societies that otherwise had very little contact with one another. • Marco Polo had a major influence on the amount trade that occurred.
The 4 Great Inventions • Paper • Gunpowder • Woodblock Printing • Compass
Paper • Before its invention, bones, tortoise shells, and bamboo slips were all used as writing surfaces. • In 105 A.D. Cai Lun invented paper from worn fishnet, bark and cloth. These raw materials could be easily found at a much lower cost so large quantities of paper could be produced.
Gunpowder • Explosives • Fire lance • Fireworks • Made by combining sulfur, charcoal and saltpeter
Woodblock printing • Blocks of wood cut with entire page of characters • Ink placed over blocks, pressed onto paper • Ideas could now be spread quickly
Compass • The compass greatly improved a ship's ability to navigate over long distances. • It was not until the beginning of the 14th century that compass was introduced to Europe from China.
Chinese Seismograph • The Chinese invented the seismograph to record earthquakes.
Coal/ Steel • Used coal instead of wood to heat homes • Heated iron to produce steel • Steel was stronger, used to make weapons, tools
Poetry • Celebrated the beauty of nature, seasons changing, joy of having a good friend, feelings • Li Bo- wrote poems centered on nature • Duo Fu- wrote serious poems about social injustice, problems of the poor
Painting • Landscapes • Portray the “idea” of the mountains, lakes • Empty spaces left on purpose • Show people “living in, but not controlling nature”-reflects Taoist values • Calligraphy-beautiful writing
