Ancient China
description
Transcript of Ancient China
Yellow River Yellow River CivilizationCivilization
CHINA
• Isolated Region of the world• by Distance, Mountain, and Jungle
Loess = Yellow soil, •forms in Huang He River Valley
•( The Yellow River)
The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley River Valley
CulturesCultures
Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires
Shang: Shang: 1523-1028 1523-1028 BCEBCE
Shang Shang DynastyDynasty– People live in clans (group of families who claim common
lineage)– Peasant Society- lead grueling lives / live in pit houses dug
into the ground (primitive heat / ac)
Religion
»Shang Di = Supreme Being
»Yin and Yang= opposing forces that must balance
»Yin= Earth, darkness, female
»Yang = Heaven, light, male
““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”The Mandate of The Mandate of
HeavenHeaven1.1.The leader must lead by ability The leader must lead by ability
and and virtue. virtue.
2.2.The dynasty's leadership must The dynasty's leadership must be be justified by succeeding justified by succeeding generations.generations.
3.3.The mandate could be revoked The mandate could be revoked by by negligence and abuse; the will negligence and abuse; the will of of the people was important. the people was important.
TheDynastic
Cycle
A new dynasty
comes to power.
Lives of common people improved;
taxes reduced;farming encouraged.
Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)
Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.
Farming neglected.
Govt. increasesspending; corruption.
Droughts,floods,
famines occur.
Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels
& attack landlords.
Rebel bands findstrong leader who
unites them.Attack the emperor.
Emperor isdefeated !!
The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more
efficient.
Start here
FeudalismFeudalism
Gov't system in which local lordsgovern their own land,
but owe military support and service to their ruler
Population rises
– Iron working from Mesopotamia reaches China in 500 BC
–Iron axes, plows = more food, better irrigation
– Copper coins make trade easier–New roads, canals
Achievements»Silk – woven and dyed= clothes of the
rich, wanted commodity around the world = “silk road”
»Books- bound wood or bamboo together to make books
»Calendar- 365 ¼ days»Great Wall- Divides Chinese from
“uncivilized world”, 25 ft high, extended thousands of miles
Confucius- 551 BCE– Scholar, Teacher, Philosopher– The Analects= Collected Works and Sayings– Harmony Exists in Society when everyone accepts their
role- 5 Relationships– Except for friends, no relationship is equal- older superior
to younger, men to women– Filial Piety (Respect for Parents) Above All– Best Ruler= Virtuous, Leads by Example– Education = Key To Success, Advancement
Legalism– Hanfeizi= Chinese Philosopher– Nature of Man is Evil, Greed is motive for most actions– Order is only achieved through strict laws and harsh
punishments
DaoismNo interest in bringing order to human affairs
Goal is harmony with nature
Laozi- lived without leaving any traces
“Dao”= The Way”
Government is unnatural- causes problems
Look beyond everyday worries, human desires and enjoy the simple ways of nature