Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Discussion and ReviewDiscussion and Review

China’s Flourishing CivilizationChina’s Flourishing Civilization

Ancient China’s TopographyAncient China’s TopographyTopographical features

that lead to isolation: • Gobi Desert: one of the

driest in the world• Himalayas: 43% of

China’s land is mountainous!

Impact of China’s GeographyImpact of China’s Geography

1.Long distances and physical barriers isolated China, blocking cultural diffusion

2.Protecting China from invasion

3. Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth and the only civilization.

Timeline of China’sTimeline of China’s Earliest Dynasties Earliest Dynasties

The Shang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty• First writing

system: • However, few in

China would learn to read and write!

Writing of the Shang on a tortoise shell.

Religious beliefs of the ShangReligious beliefs of the ShangVeneration of ancestors Veneration of ancestors

people prayed to ancestors who would speak to people prayed to ancestors who would speak to the gods on their behalfthe gods on their behalfOracle bonesOracle bones– Used by Shamans to understand the will of the Used by Shamans to understand the will of the

gods and to foresee the futuregods and to foresee the future– Wrote a question on animal bones or turtle shells Wrote a question on animal bones or turtle shells

and heated it till it brokeand heated it till it broke– When it cracked priests interpreted the lines When it cracked priests interpreted the lines

– Gods controlled the forces of nature and Gods controlled the forces of nature and shaped destinies.shaped destinies.

The Shang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty• A class system and

division of labor developed during this dynasty:

• Warrior and hunting aristocracy was most prominent • Bronze was sign of status,

wealth and used in rituals

• nobles, artisans, peasant farmers and slaves

More Shang ContributionsMore Shang Contributions•Bronze weapons are cast.

•Horse-drawn chariots are used.

Downfall of the Shang DynastyDownfall of the Shang DynastySlave revolt in 1122 B.C.E led to downfall of Shang dynasty

importance of the Mandate of Heaven in the importance of the Mandate of Heaven in the transition from the Shang to the Zhou periodtransition from the Shang to the Zhou period

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

Used to legitimize and strengthen their Used to legitimize and strengthen their claims to the Shang domainclaims to the Shang domain– chief god “Heaven” chief god “Heaven” – the king was the “Son of Heaven” the king was the “Son of Heaven” – king’s rule was a product of the king’s rule was a product of the

“Mandate of Heaven”“Mandate of Heaven”

Incompetent or otherwise unfit would Incompetent or otherwise unfit would lose the “Mandate of Heaven”lose the “Mandate of Heaven”

allowed the development of important allowed the development of important largely secular philosophies during the largely secular philosophies during the Zhou period.Zhou period.

Zhou Dynasty Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)(1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)

•

• Great advances in technology and their economy and commerce grew.

• Developed trade routes • Population increased. • First official coins in China

Religion or Philosophy?Religion or Philosophy?

Traditional Chinese beliefs are often Traditional Chinese beliefs are often mistakenly called religion and they are mistakenly called religion and they are not… not…

Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism are not religions! are not religions!

They are philosophies the Chinese They are philosophies the Chinese regard as more important than religion.regard as more important than religion.

ConfucianismConfucianism

Teachings of ConfuciusTeachings of Confucius • China’s most influential scholar

was Kongfuzi (551-479 BCE)• concerned with:

• how to ensure social order

• good government. • His teachings were collected in

a work called the AnalectsAnalects

• Written by his students

Teachings of ConfuciusTeachings of Confucius

Confucius & The AnalectsConfucius & The Analects His ideas included that everyone has duties and responsibilities: Filial piety, or respect for parents, is the most

important duty. A ruler has the responsibility to provide good

government. In return, the people would be respectful and loyal subjects.

Government leaders and officials should be well educated.

Harmony is achieved when people accept their place in society.

LegalismLegalism• People are evil• Emphasized the

importance of strict laws and harsh punishments

• Strong leader and central government

• Became official policy of Qin dynasty

Hanfeizi

DaoismDaoism • Emphasized living in harmony with nature, for example, improving oneself mentally and physically.

• A direct reaction to the formalism of Confucianism:

Daoism looked for the simple Confucianism more concerned with work ethic and proper conduct

Laozi

Yin and YangYin and YangThey are the dynamic force of They are the dynamic force of the Tao, constantly interacting the Tao, constantly interacting with one another with one another

Ying and YangYing and Yang

The female is the yin (shady)The female is the yin (shady)– principal of passive, shaded, and principal of passive, shaded, and

reflective. (moon)reflective. (moon)

The male is the yang (sunny)The male is the yang (sunny)– principle of active, bright, and principle of active, bright, and

shining. (sun)shining. (sun)

Yin Yin "moon""moon" Yang Yang "sun”"sun”

Explain concept of yin and yang and how it represents Explain concept of yin and yang and how it represents the relationship between men and women.the relationship between men and women.

Patriarchal familyPatriarchal family– importance of hierarchyimportance of hierarchy– the dominance of men over women. the dominance of men over women.

Father has supreme authority!Father has supreme authority!– arranged marriagesarranged marriages– Men were permitted to have concubines, but only one wife. Men were permitted to have concubines, but only one wife.

Role of the wifeRole of the wife– bear male offspring and honor the ancestors. bear male offspring and honor the ancestors.

Ying and YangYing and Yang– represent the balance of the natural orderrepresent the balance of the natural order– All things in the cosmos are in balanceAll things in the cosmos are in balance– men and women play complementary roles in the natural men and women play complementary roles in the natural

order. order.

The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall of dynasties.

The Dynastic Cycle in ChinaThe Dynastic Cycle in China

3 Kingdoms of Egypt3 Kingdoms of EgyptOld Kingdom (2700 BCE -2200 BCE)Old Kingdom (2700 BCE -2200 BCE)– Pharaohs organized a strong central statePharaohs organized a strong central state– Policy of isolationPolicy of isolation– Pyramid AgePyramid Age

Middle Kingdom (2050 BCE – 1800 BCE)Middle Kingdom (2050 BCE – 1800 BCE)– Corruption and rebellion were commonCorruption and rebellion were common– Hyksos invaded and occupied the delta region (1648 -1540 Hyksos invaded and occupied the delta region (1648 -1540

BCE)BCE)

New Kingdom (1550 BCE – 1100 BCE)New Kingdom (1550 BCE – 1100 BCE)– The empire will extend to its greatest size (Syria and NubiaThe empire will extend to its greatest size (Syria and Nubia

Nubian Kingdom Meroe took control of Egypt as the Nubian Kingdom Meroe took control of Egypt as the twenty-fifth dynasty (712-660 BCE)twenty-fifth dynasty (712-660 BCE)– Driven out of Egypt by the AssyriansDriven out of Egypt by the Assyrians

332 BCE Alexander of Macedon conquered Egypt332 BCE Alexander of Macedon conquered Egypt– Ptolemaic EgyptPtolemaic Egypt

Ended in 51 BCE when the Romans conquered themEnded in 51 BCE when the Romans conquered them

Hatshepsut: The Lady Pharaoh 1473 – 1458 BCE

•Egypt’s only female pharaoh!

Great Leaders of the New Kingdom

• Ramses II: most effective leader. (1279 BCE – 1213 BCE)

---What is he famous for?

Pharaoh of the Exodus?• The most powerful pharaoh,

Ramses II expanded Egypt to the height of its power

• Palestine to Syria

Ramses II

Ancient Greece-Unit #3Ancient Greece-Unit #33000 B.C.E. – 133 B.C.E.3000 B.C.E. – 133 B.C.E.

Geography of Greece• Rocky, rugged terrain • Poor soil; only 30% can support crops • No extensive river system • Few natural resources

• Required significant food importsRequired significant food imports

The Minoans2500 B.C. – 1400 B.C.

• Located on the island of Crete

• A trading empire… took ideas from Egypt and Mesopotamia

• Traders not fighters… Why?

• Dominated the seas with no competition

Rulers of Mycenae

• Around 1900 B.C.E., a central Asian people began settling in mainland Greece

• Spoke Greek • Intermarried with the locals • Became interested in trade because of the

poor soil and few natural resources

The Mycenaean World of Ancient Greece

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War• The traditional

legend is believed to reflect a real war

• Between mainland Greeks and the inhabitants of Troy

• Troy was destroyed by fire between 1230 – 1180 BCE

BUT… legend “tells us” that is about a Trojan youth kidnapping the wife of a Greek king!

Why? Because he could not live without her…We love it don’t we… and so did the Greeks!

Helen being stolen by Paris!

Why So Remembered???

• Cause?• desire to plunder the

wealthy city or to put an end to Troy's commercial control of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

• purely economical

What were the reasons for the nearly simultaneous What were the reasons for the nearly simultaneous collapse of several civilizations in the Middle East collapse of several civilizations in the Middle East and Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age?and Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age?

Many centers of civilization were either destroyed or Many centers of civilization were either destroyed or lost significant territories around the year 1200 B.C.E. lost significant territories around the year 1200 B.C.E. – Egypt lost land and trading connections Egypt lost land and trading connections – The Mycenaean Greek civilization also fell The Mycenaean Greek civilization also fell

The nearly simultaneous collapse of those disparate The nearly simultaneous collapse of those disparate civilizations reveals their interdependence through civilizations reveals their interdependence through complex trade, diplomatic, and technological links. complex trade, diplomatic, and technological links.

Competition for limited resources led to internal unrest Competition for limited resources led to internal unrest and political collapse. and political collapse.

Displaced populations migrated to new areas, creating Displaced populations migrated to new areas, creating a domino effect. a domino effect.