Ancient China

SSWH1 Analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of societies in the ancient world from 3500 BCE/BC to 500 BCE/BC. ea•  1b. Describe the societies of India and

China, include: religion, culture, economics, politics, and technology.

•  SSWH2 Identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies to 500 CE/AD.

•  2b. Describe the development of Chinese civilization under Zhou, Qin, and Han.

2100-1700B.C.XiaDynastyemergesas1stChinesedynasty•  Yu,theleader,designedfloodcontrolprojectstoreduceflooddamageàhelpedmorepermanentse@lementsgrow

•  Yualsodesignedirriga3onprojectsthatallowedfarmerstogrowsurplusfoodtosupportciDes

ShangDynasty1700-1027B.C.•  Firsttoleavewri7enrecords•  Foughtmanywars•  LivedinwalledciDes(likeSumerians)forprotecDon

1700-1027B.C.ShangDynastyCulture•  Family

–  CentraltoChinesesociety–  Respectforone’sparents–  Womenweretreatedasinferiors

•  SocialClasses–  Sharplydividedbetweennoblesandpeasants–  Rulingclassofwarrior-noblesheadedbyaking

•  ReligiousBeliefs–  Spiritsoffamilyancestorscouldbringgoodfortuneor

disastertolivingfamilymembers–  Polytheis3c–worshippedasupremegodandthen

manylessergods

ZhouDynasty1027B.C.-Zhoubeginrule•  ClaimedauthoritytotakeoverbydeclaringtheMandateofHeaven–  Rulershaddivineapprovaltoberulers,butawickedorfoolishkingcouldlosetheMandateofHeavenandsolosetherighttorule

ZhouDynastyTheDynasDcCycle•  Floods,riots,etc.couldbesignsthattheancestralspiritswere

displeasedwithaking’srule•  Inthatcase,theMandateofHeavenmightpasstoanother

noblefamily•  Thispa7ernofrise,decline,&replacementofdynas3eswas

knownastheDynasDcCycle

ZhouDynastyTerritorialControl–How?

• Feudalism– PoliDcalsystemwherenobles,orlords,aregrantedtheuseoflandsthatlegallybelongtotheking

– Inreturn,noblesoweloyalty&militaryservicetotheking&protecDontothepeoplelivingontheirestates

ZhouDynastyImprovementsinTechnology&Trade

• Roads&canalsbuiltàsDmulatedtrade&agriculture

• Coinedmoneyintroducedàfurtherimprovedtrade

• Blastfurnacesdevelopedàproducedcastiron

ZhouDynasty226B.C.Decline&Fall• Nomadsfromwest&northsackedcapital

• Zhoukingsfled,butwerepowerlesstocontrolnoblefamilies

• Lordsfoughtneighboringlords– Astheirpowergrew,theyclaimedtobekingsintheirownterritory

WhileZhouwasindecline…

RiseofChinesePhilosophiesConfucianism•  Founder:

–  Confucius(551-479B.C.)•  IdeasAboutSocialOrder:

–  Emphasisonfamily–  Respectforelders(filialpiety)

•  IdeasAboutGovernment:–  Emphasisoneduca3on

• Couldchangeacommonerintoagentleman–  TrainedcivilserviceessenDalforgoodgov’t

5BasicSocialRelaDonships:

•  Ruler&Subject

•  Father&Son

•  Husband&Wife

•  OlderBrother&YoungerBrother

•  Friend&Friend

RiseofChinesePhilosophiesDaoism•  Founder:

–  LaoTsu•  IdeasAboutOrder&Harmony:

–  Understandingnatureiskeytoorder&harmony

–  NaturalOrdermoreimportantthanSocialOrder

•  IdeasAboutAUniversalForce:–  UniversalForcecalledDao(aka“TheWay”)guidesallthings

RiseofChinesePhilosophiesLegalism•  Founders:

–  LiSi,Hanfeizi•  IdeasAboutSocialOrder:

–  Efficient&powerfulgov’tiskeytosocialorder

•  IdeasAboutGovernment– Gov’tshouldcontrolideas&uselaw&harshpunishmenttorestoreharmony

–  RewardsforpeoplewhocarryouttheirduDeswell

QinDynasty221B.C.ShiHuangdiAssumesControl•  Establishedautocracy–gov’tthathasunlimitedpower&usesitinanarbitrary(random)manner

•  “Strengthentrunk,weakenbranches”–  Forcednoblefamiliestoliveincapitalunderhissuspiciousgaze

–  CarvedChinainto36administraDvedistricts&sentQinofficialstocontrolthem

QinDynastyShiHuangdiBeginsBuildingGreatWall• BuilttopreventinvasionsfromN&W• EnemieswouldhavetogallophalfwaytoTibettogetaroundit

HanDynasty-“GoldenAge”206-195B.C.LiuBangwasapeasantwholedarevolt&becameemperor• Establishedcentralizedgov’t• Loweredtaxes• Easedharshpunishments• Broughtstability&peacetoChina

HanDynasty-“GoldenAge”195-180B.C.EmpressLü• Maintainedcontrolbynamingoneinfantameranotherasemperor&actedasregentforeachinfant

HanDynasty-“GoldenAge”141-87B.C.Wudi

•  ExpandedChineseempirebyconqueringlands&makingalliesoftheenemiesofhisenemies(theenemyofmyenemyismyfriend)

•  Setupcivilservicesystemoftraining&examinaDonsforthosewhowantedgov’tcareers(Examina3onSystem–Confucianidea)

HanDynasty-“GoldenAge”PaperInvented•  Increasedavailabilityofbooks• Spreadeduca3on• Expansionofgov’tbureaucracy–recordsbecameeasiertoread&store

HanDynasty-“GoldenAge”AgriculturalImprovements• CollarHarness•  ImprovedPlow• Wheelbarrow• Watermills•  ImprovedIronTool

AbilitytoFeedaLargePopula3on

Popula3onGrowth

FallofHanDynasty&TheirReturnGapBetweenRich&Poor• Customsallowedtherichtogainmorewealthattheexpenseofthepoor

FallofHanDynasty&TheirReturn45B.C.-24A.D.WangMang• Mintednewmoney•  Establishedpublicgranariestofeedpoor

•  Triedtoredistributelandfromtherichtothepoor

•  A.D.11–Greatfloodlemthousandsdead&millionshomeless–  Revoltsbrokeout–WangMangassassinated

LaterHan24A.D.-220A.D.• EncouragedSilkRoadtradewithwest• Disintegratedin3rivalkingdoms

SocialHierarchyUndertheHanDynasty,thestructureofChinesesocietywasclearlydefined.Atthetopwastheemperor,whowasconsideredsemi-divine.Nextcamekingsandgovernors,bothappointedbytheemperor.Theygovernedwiththehelpofstateofficials,nobles,andscholars.Peasantfarmerscamenext.TheirproducDonoffoodwasconsideredvitaltotheexistenceoftheempire.ArDsansandmerchantswerebelowthem.Nearthebo@omwerethesoldiers,whoguardedtheempire'sfronDers.Atthebo@omwereenslavedpersons,whowereusuallyconqueredpeoples.

FamilyOrganizaDon

•  Patriarchal–  Headedbytheeldestmale(*thiswasthesamewayinIndia)

•  RoleofWomen–  Limitedroleswithinthefamilyathome&onthefarm

•  Matriarchal–  SouthIndiaduringtheGuptaerawasmatriarchal(headedbythemotherratherthanfather)-propertyandsomeDmesthroneswerepassedthroughthefemaleline.

CulturalDiffusionIndia&TheSilkRoad•  IndiantradersactedasmiddlemenontheSilkRoad(boughtChinesegoods&thensoldthemtotradersonthewaytoRome)

•  BuilttradingstaDonsalongtheSilkRoads•  TradedalongthecoastsoftheIndianOceanfromChinatoSWAsia(throughthePersianGulf)&totheMediterranean(throughtheRedSea)

CulturalDiffusionChina&TheSilkRoad•  Chinesegov’tmadesilkproduc3ontechniquesacloselyguardedsecret

•  Helpedcreateaworldwidedemandforsilk•  ExpandedChinesecommerceallthewaytoRome

Fromthispoint,shipscarriedsilk&spicestoRome.TheRomanspaidapoundofgoldforapoundofChinesesilk!!

TheSilkRoadsplitintwotoskirttheedgesoftheTaklimakanDesert.Bothrouteshadoasesalongtheway.

Caravans

Notes Quiz •  Which Chinese dynasty was the first and who

was the leader? •  What environmental/geographical problems

did Chinese civilization have similar to Egypt, Mesopotamia, or India?

•  Name one sign that Chinese people might take as meaning that the current dynasty had lost the approval of the gods (mandate of Heaven).

•  What was a technological improvement of the Zhou dynasty?

Notes Quiz •  What view did Confucius have about

family relationships? •  What was the key to order and harmony

according to Lao Tsu? •  How did Shi Huangdi rule during the

Qin dynasty? •  What is one way government changed

under Liu Bang & the Han Dynasty? •  What was a technological advancement

of the Han Dynasty?