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Ancient China

Ancient China. Mhmm. Geography of China. A mix of climates, environments, and geographic features The Huang He (further north) The Yellow River – nutrients The Chang Jiang (further south) Isolation The Himalaya The jungles of SE Asia The Gobi Desert . The Shang Dynasty.

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China Mhmm

  2. Geography of China • A mix of climates, environments, and geographic features • The Huang He (further north) • The Yellow River – nutrients • The Chang Jiang (further south) • Isolation • The Himalaya • The jungles of SE Asia • The Gobi Desert

  3. The Shang Dynasty • Well, the Xia Dynasty (mystery) • But the Shang – 1766 B.C. • Huang He • Ruled by a court – a gathering of wealthy nobles • These men were assigned parts of the kingdom to rule

  4. Beliefs • Ancestor worship • Dinner example • Oracle bones • Questions inscribed on bone, heated and cracked, oracles would interpret the cracks as messages

  5. Shang Foundations • Agricultural systems • Political systems • Writing system (pictographs) • Advanced metallurgy

  6. The Zhou Dynasty The Mandate of Heaven and Dynastic Cycle Justification for rule

  7. Two Phases • Taking control in 1100 BC, the early Zhou period was relatively peaceful • Capital at Xi’an – center of cultural development • Development of iron and chopsticks • Agricultural developments = population increase • Infrastructure expanded greatly • After about 300 years, amidst conflict, the capital was moved to Luoyang

  8. The Decline of the Zhou • The Aristocracy vs. The State • Instability • The concept of Central Power • Centralization vs. Decentralization

  9. Shang Dynasty

  10. I am here because of the Mandate of Heaven Zhou Dynasty Not true

  11. The Zhou State The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion Centralization The Zhou Dynastic Dominion The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion

  12. The Zhou State Loyal to the Emperor The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion Decentralization The Zhou Dynastic Dominion The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion The Zhou Aristocratic Dominion

  13. The Warring States Period Decentralization leads to things like this because of a complete lack of Central Power

  14. 403 BC – 221 BC • A collection of small states run by powerful nobles compete for power and wealth in China • Nominally, the Zhou were still in control of all the states but because of decentralization, they held no real power over their nobles

  15. Philosophies of China Confucianism and Daoism

  16. Conflict and Chaos in society led to some serious questions • People began to wonder: • What is the nature of society? • What are the roles of people within it? • Many philosophies were created to answer these questions

  17. Confucianism • Confucius born c.550 BC • Believed in humane acts between humans through love and respect – tradition should establish these ways of living • The lack of this moral tradition created the violent chaos • Restoring it would restore order to China

  18. Confucianism and Governance • Rulers should rule with fairness • In turn, the ruled should be loyal and respectful • Education is key to the success of kingdoms • The educated should then give back through civic duty

  19. Daoism • Confucianism focused on improving society through effort • Daoism focuses rather on removal from society and yielding to the laws of nature • Dao = the way • A force of nature • By finding your place in nature you reach fulfillment • Yin and yang – the balancing forces

  20. Classwork • In a one page response: • Compare and contrast the histories of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (so about half a page) • Compare and contrast Confucianism and Daoism (then finish out that page)

  21. China Reunited

  22. Catching Up • Qin Dynasty (221 B.C. – 210 B.C.) • Qin Shihuangdi • Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 A.D.) • Liu Pang (Peasant)

  23. Dynastic Struggles • After the collapse of the Han Dynasty, civil war ravaged China for the next 300 years • Dynasties fighting each other for power

  24. Sui Dynasty • Brought the chaos to an end in 581 A.D. and established the new dynastic power • It would not last long (collapsed in 618 A.D.), but succeeded in bringing some form of stability to China

  25. The Tang Dynasty • Established after the collapse of the Sui Dynasty • 618 – 907 A.D. • Reforms after the chaos created stability, structure, and prosperity • Expanded empire west along Silk Road • Civil Service Exam • Merit System • Downfall • Weakened state, rebellions, and outside invaders (from the North)

  26. The Song Dynasty • Established (960 – 1279 A.D.) • Ruled during a period of economic prosperity • Constant military pressure • Loss of Tibet • Northern invasions • The Song moved the capital south to Hangzhou

  27. The Aristocracy vs. The People The Issue of Land Distribution

  28. The Aristocracy The People

  29. The Issue of Land (Sui – Song) • During the periods of war, aristocrats seized large tracts of land • The people thus lost land = Making more people peasants or serfs (people literally bound to the land) • During the Song Dynasty however, the state worked to weaken the aristocracy’s hold on land • This led to an increase in the number of private land holders = Making less people peasants and/or serfs • More private land means more private money, which leads to more private investment • More investment means more specialization, which leads to greater technology

  30. The Rise of a New Social Class • The landed-gentry • As private ownership of land and wealth increased, a new class formed the basis of economic and political elite • Similar to the “middle class” of United States today

  31. Chinese Technologies • Steel (Tang) • Blast Furnace • Coal • Quench-hardened steel • Cotton • Gunpowder (Tang) • Originally used for fireworks and communications • Some military use, not on par with what Europe would do with it • Printing and paper

  32. Long Distance Trade • The Silk Road • Declined between the 300s and 500s • Collapse of Han Dynasty and Roman Empire • Rose around the 700s • The unification of Southwest Asia under the Arabs • The Rise of the Tang Dynasty in East Asia

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