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China

Before the Common Era - Dynasties

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Geographical Influences

Mountains, sea, and desert provide some protection and isolation

Vulnerable to northwest River valleys

– 1. Yellow (Huang Ho) earliest civilization - damaging floods

– 2. Yangtze- very important in unification- transportation- irrigation

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Yellow River Civilization

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Earliest Civilizations- most isolated

Earliest- Neolithic- Ban Po- similar to other parts of the world/ one of the oldest

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The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

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Shang Dynasty 1500-1027 BCE

in N. China along the Huang Ho raised silk worms- silk part of lure and

fascination of China famous for bronze sculpture, daggers, jade

jewelry paid homage to ancestors- family important

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Shang: 1523-1028 BCE

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Shang Bronzes

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Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE - jade

Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE

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Zhou (Chou) Dynasty1027 – 256 BCE

Feudal society- emperor gave out fiefs Shang thought they had a divine right-

Chou rulers had responsibility Zhou did take title “Son of Heaven” compared to medieval Europe- had a code

for dress, fighting etc. longest-developed foundations for Chinese

society Iron Age

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Western Zhou: 1027-771 BCE

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Eastern Zhou: 771-256 BCE

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Period of Ancient Philosophies

About 500BCE Buddha, Confucius, Greek Philosophers and Chinese - Lao Tzu

Called a flowering period India more concerned with cosmos and soul China more concerned with ethical life on

earth

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Way of Life- Confucianism

Moral and ethical code highly developed treat everyone with consideration

Advocated paternalistic government Value on family head- ancestor respect Values- loyalty, righteousness, wisdom,

sincerity very practical and humanistic

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Daoism (Taoism)LaoTzu (Lao Zi)

contemporary of Confucius Tao= the road way Absolute=sum of existence Goal to bring people into harmony very introspective not as influential as Confucius

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“T’ien Ming”The Mandate of

HeavenPrinciples in Action1. The leader must lead by

ability and virtue. 2. The dynasty's

leadership must be justified by succeeding generations.

3. The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important.

4 Main Principles 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.

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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

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Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty 221-206 BCE

dominated by “The First Emperor” Qin Shi Huangdi (Chin Shi Huang Ti) ambitious= understatement centralized the government- rid of feudal

lords constructed roads and canals An amazing tomb found in 20th Cen

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Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, 221-206 B.C.E. Established China’s first empire Shi Huangdi (221-206 B.C.E) Legalist rule

– Bureaucratic administration– Centralized control– Military expansion– Book burnings targeted

Confucianists Buried protestors alive!

Built large section of the Great Wall

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Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

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The Details of an Individual Soldier

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The Great Wall with Towers

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The Eastern terminus of the Great Wall, Shanhai Pass

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Han Dynasty 202BCE-220 CE(Roman Times) Similar: built cities, officials to carry out edicts,

heavy taxes collapsed under invasions and internal revolts

contact along the Silk Road combination of Confucius and legalism advanced in science and literature invented rudder, paper, magnetic compass,

acupuncture

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Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.

“People of the Han” original Chinese Paper invented [105 B.C.E.]

Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many Buddhism introduced into China Expanded into Central Asia

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Han – Roman Empire Connection

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Chang’an

The Han Capital

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Liu Sheng Tomb (d. 113 BCE)

His jade suit has 2498 pieces!

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Emperor Wudi, 141-87 B.C.E. Started public schools.

Colonized Manchuria, Korea, & Vietnam.

Civil service system – bureaucrats– Confucian scholar-gentry

Revival of Chinese landscape painting.

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Han Artifacts

Imperial Seal

Han Ceramic House

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Three Kingdoms 220 CE – 581 CE

China’s Dark Ages 1. Wei

– Capital in Loyang, maintains imperial seals, country’s wealth, 30 million people

– How are the above ideas advantageous? 2. Wu 3. Shu Chaotic times, war and violence 581 – Yang Chien assassinates ruling family in N and

establishes Sui Dynasty

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Sui Dynasty 581 CE-618 CE Yang Chien Wen-ti

– Devoted to Buddhism; built temples, trained clergy– Centralized govt: controlled appointments, inspectors

to assess and report back 3 times a year– Banned weapons, forced labor– Repaired Great Wall

Yang-ti: takes over in 604– Spends on construction projects– Rebellion in 617

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Tang Dynasty 618-907 CE Contributions

Internal renewal(improved lives of people) and external expansion

Used formal civil service exam to recruit-set up university

Tried to equalize land holdings- fought corruption literature and art flourished Inventions- paper during Han- used for clothes and

tp- used for writing

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Empress Wu Chao, 624-705 The only female Empress in China’s

history who ruled alone. Searched for outstanding individuals

to attract to her court. Construction of new irrigation

systems. Buddhism was the favored state

religion. Financed the building of many

Buddhist temples. BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic

ministers to seek out her enemies.

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Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

Imperial examination system perfected.

Liberal attitude towards all religions. Spread of Buddhism in China

Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries.

Japan, Korea, Persia

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Tang Government Organization

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Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

New technologies:– Printing moveable print (Encyclopedia)– Porcelain– Gunpowder– Mechanical clocks

More cosmopolitan culture.

Reestablished the safety of the Silk Road.

Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia.

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Foot-Binding in Tang China

Broken toes by 3 years of age.

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

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Foot-Binding in Tang China

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

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Foot-Binding in Tang China

For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

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Song(Sung) Dynasty 960-1279

moved the capitol east economic expansion - used paper money used abacus Silk Road traffic at height

– when dangerous went to sea routes– first period of great oceanic commerce– trades tea, silk and porcelain for exotic woods

and precious stones

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Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E.

Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class.

Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books.

Magnetic compass makes China a great sea power!

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Song Peasant Family

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Song Rice Cultivation

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The MongolsNomadic peoples

Loosely organized clans in a state of stress Genghis Kahn- son of impoverished noble

with army of less than 130,000 conquered Asia

mastered military tactics on horseback- pursue and ambush, firelance, took China

Kublai Kahn- grandson Yuan dynasty at Peking- adopted Chinese ways- lasted 100 years- gave way to Ming dynasty

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Mongol Invasions

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The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”]

Temujin --> Genghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”]– 1162 - 1227 – from the steppe [dry, grass-covered plains of Central

Asia]

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The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”]

Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:– If you do not pay homage,

we will take your prosperity.– If you do not have prosperity,

we will take your children.– If you do not have children,

we will take your wife.– If you do not have a wife,

we will take your head. Used cruelty as a weapon some areas never recovered

from Mongol destruction!

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Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E.

Kublai Khan [r. 1260-1294]– Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”]

Tolerated Chinese culturebut lived apart from them.

No Chinese in top govt. posts.Believed foreigner were more

trustworthy.Encouraged foreign trade & foreign

merchants to live and work in China. Marco Polo

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Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E.

The Black Plague was spread by the Mongols in the mid-14c.

Sent fleets against Japan.– 1281 150,000 warriors– Defeated by kamikazi [“winds of the gods”]

Kublai Khan experienced several humiliating defeats in Southeast Asia late in his life.