Ancient China

Objectives• Analyze the impact of geography on the

success of the empire of Ancient China • Identify the three main dynasties of

Ancient China• Cite and explain each of the key

advancements of the three main dynasties of Ancient China

The Geography of China• Monsoons impact the climate• Isolated from other cultures by:– Gobi Desert in the North– The Himalayan Mountains to the West and

South– Bodies of water to the East:

• Yellow Sea, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean• Known as the “Middle kingdom”

– believed they were in the middle of the world, surrounded by natural barriers on all sides

The Gobi Desert

Geography of China• Yangtze River is the longest river in

Asia and third longest in the world• Huang or Yellow River is the second

longest river in China– Loess – sedimentary soil that is formed

by the accumulation of wind-blown silt (creates yellow-brown soil)

– China’s Sorrow – River brought life, but also destructive floods• To control flooding, the Chinese built dikes

(protective walls to hold back water)

Shanghai

or Yellow

The Dynasties of Ancient China

• 13 dynastic periods, Spanning 4,000 years

• Mandate of Heaven: a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers– Similar to “divine

right of kings”– Heaven would bless

the authority of a just rule

The First Dynasties• The Shang Dynasty – built China’s first cities– Irrigation and farming– Known for their bronze work– Developed the first Chinese writing

system• Oracle Bones

– Created a social pyramid

EmperorMilitary

Nobles

Priests

Merchants

Farmers

The Shang Dynasty

The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty• Prior to the Qin Dynasty, China had broken into

7 warring kingdoms• Shi Huangdi merged the kingdoms to unify

China, and was the first true emperor – To protect China from nomadic invaders along the

northern border, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall of China, but did not complete the project.

– Abided by the philosophy of Legalism• People are evil at their core, and the state is more

important than the individual– Created a “Terra Cotta Army” at his burial

necropolis

Legalism 法家• Legalism is based on three principles:

1. Fa 法 - The law code must be clearly written and made public.

2. Shu 術 - Special tactics and "secrets" are to be employed by the ruler to make sure others don't take over control of the state.

3. Shi 勢 - It is the position of the ruler, not the ruler himself or herself, that holds the power.

Qin Dynasty Ming Dynasty

Hey guys!

The Terra Cotta Army

Terracotta Warriors in un-restored

condition,

Qin Shi Huang Di's Mausoleum Mound. This is the stairway up the mound. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is about 1 mile from here.

Han Dynasty• Dynasty lasts 400 years• Liu Pang – overthrew the Qin Dynasty and became

emperor (202 BC)– Not a heavy-handed ruler (abandons Legalism for

Confucianism) – Establishes imperial university

• Wu Ti – Liu Pang’s great grandson and Emperor– Ruled from age 15-65 as the “Warrior Emperor”– Expanded the empire – Created a public school system (for boys only)– Silk Road to the west

The Shang Dynasty

Liu Pang

WuTi you looking at

punk?!?

The Silk Road• Connected Asia with the

Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North Africa

• Extends 4,000 miles long• In addition to silk, many other goods

were traded, as well as various technologies, religions and philosophies

The Silk Road

Tang Dynasty• China’s Golden Age– Greatest age for Chinese poetry– Buddhism reaches its peak

• Also Taoism and Confucianism – Men granted equal allotments of land in

exchange for taxes– Did not have to be a noble to hold a high position;

government exams– Borders expand from Korea to central Asia

(present day Afghanistan)

Tang Dynasty• Kingdom eventually dissolves into 10

different kingdoms– Feuds within the government, assassination plots,

etc. leave the empire vulnerable to invasion.

The Shang Dynasty