Ancient China

1

23

4

56

7 8

910 11

1213

1415

16 1718

19

20

China’s GeographyRead Chapter 4, Section 1Answer the questions on the worksheetRecord 3 key facts from each section in your notes

Physical Settings-Different RegionsThe rivers of ChinaChina’s isolation

Due Tomorrow

China’s GeographyAll types of

geographic features‘China’ has changed a

lot over the yearsThree main rivers

Huang or Yellow(China’s Sorrow)

Yangtze or ChangXi in the south

Strong sense of culture, isolated from most outsiders

Shang Dynasty-1750 BC-1050 BCFirst people in roughly 10,000 BCXia people first settle by the Yellow river in

3,000 BCShang invade the region, start first dynasty

3 groups Government/CultureReligionLanguage and Writing

ShangCreated a

Bureaucracy- a government organized into different levels and tasks

Economy Agriculture- Rice and

Millet, pigs, horses, Some merchants and

artisans

Shang CalendarWas created one of two ways

1. Based on the sun2. Based on the movements of the moon. This

was mainly used for special occasions such as birthdays and deaths.

ReligionAnimism- the belief that

spirits inhabit everythingGods of wind, sun,

clouds, and manShangdi- A great god

who controlled human destiny and the forces of nature

Oracle Bones- The shoulder of cattle or tortoise shells used for writing on

Fall of the ShangPeople came to the region mainly because

they were attracted to the wealth.The Zhou formed Alliances with other local

tribes They said that the Shang were corrupt and

unfit to rule

Zhou Dynasty 1050 BC- 256 BCNo centralized

governmentGave territory to members

of the royal family to control

Feudalism-loyalty-military service to kings for land

By 771 BC they are forced move

Begins the Late Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period of Chinese History

Established the ‘Mandate of Heaven’

Four principles to the Mandate:

The right to rule is granted by Heaven.

There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler.

The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler.

The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty.

Mandate of HeavenHere are some of the ways

these this idea impacted China1. It gives the ruler prestige

and religious importance. 2. It gives the ruler supreme

power. 3. It allows a new ruler to gain

power quickly if the people believe he has the 'Mandate of Heaven'.

4. A ruler's power must be kept in check by virtue.

5. The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful.

Floods, riots, and other disasters might be signs that the ancestor spirits were displeased with the King’s rule.

Leads to a long history of government overthrow and change

Late Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period of Chinese History

Zhou Dynasty Achievements - origin of Chinese philosophy

developed to deal with political and social changes (Confucianism,Daoism,Legalism)

- compass invented sometime between 480 - 221 B.C.

- kite - the oldest type of aircraft was invented during the 4th or 5th century

- lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history

- developed China's first projects involving hydraulic engineering

- perfection of bronze casting - use of gold and silver inlays in

objects - use of iron in developing iron casting

for tools and weapons was introduced

- developed technology for irrigation, drainage, waterways, canals, dikes, and dams

- used dyed yarns and materials like silk and linen

- produced glass - refined the calendar - studied and recorded astronomy

and astronomical events - created the first geographical

maps - discovered magnetism - advancements in mathematics,

including basic arithmetic, fractions, geometry, trigonometry, and calculations

- use of fertilizers and pesticides

AssignmentRead Chapter 4,

section 4 Fill out the

worksheetRecord 3 keys facts,

for both, Confucianism and Daoism

Due Friday, Jan. 31

ConfuciusBorn poor and vowed to

end suffering and bring peace, Political

Pushed education as the meaning of life

“noble deeds, not noble birth bestowed honor”

Family, Elders, AncestorsCivic Duty, Virtuous

leaders

Lao TzuBegan TaoismTaught about living

in harmony with nature

Tao=the wayEmphasizes non-

actionNo concern for

wealth or material world

The Art of WarMost important book

of military strategyWritten by Sun Tzu

in the 5th century BC“know your enemies

and know yourself”Sun Tzu considered

war as a necessary evil that must be avoided whenever possible.

"the best policy is to capture the state intact; it should be destroyed only if no other options are available“.

Win without fightingAvoid strengths,

attack weaknessDeception and

Foreknowledge

Qin Dynasty 221 BC-206 BCQin Shih Huang di-

Mean “first emperor”

Expanded TerritoryVictories doubled

the size of ChinaAgainst Confucius

and Lao Tzu’s Philosophies

Also had feudalism

Qin DynastyQin Shi Huang di

quickly put down any revolts against him

Ordered all Noble families to live at the capital city, so he could watch over them

Murdered 100’s of Confucian scholars and ordered useless books to be burned.

Qin and LegalismA highly efficient and powerful government is

the key to maintaining social orderAutocracy-Absolute power of one (emperor)Rewards and Punishments are useful to

maintain social order(people are selfish and untrustworthy)

Thinkers and their ideas should be strictly controlled by the governments

Qin DynastyForced peasants to

work on roads, walls, public works against their will

Set uniform standards, writing, laws, currency and measurements

This allowed for trade to blossom

Great Wall of China14,000 miles longFrom the Yellow Sea

in the East to the Gobi Desert in the West

Enemies would have to travel ½ way to Tibet

Many died while working on the wall

Terracotta ArmyDied in 210 B.CCreated the

Terracotta army to protect him in the afterlife

Discovered in 1974

Fall of the QinAfter Qin Shi Huang di died in 210 B.C. his

son took over, and proved to be a weak leader.

Peasants rebelled just three years after the second Qin Emperor took office

One of the leaders, a peasant from the land of Han, Marched his troops into the capital city

The harsh Qin Dynasty gave way to the Han Dynasty

HAN Dynasty 206 BC-220 ADLiu Bang (Born a peasant) overthrows QinLiu Bang won and declared himself the first

emperor of the Han DynastyStrong Centralized government-Civil Service

ReformsHe did however, lower taxes and softened

harsh punishmentsChina became a Confucian state

Silk RoadConnected China to Western EuropeTraded goods such as silk, spices, gold, and

silverCaused cultural diffusionLearned about foods, animals, and fashions

that were common in foreign lands