CLASSICAL CHINA
Zachary Younger

From Isolationist to Worldly Entity

Due to China's geographical location, it developed largely apart from the other classical civilizations at the time, such as Greece and India.

Mountain ranges and deserts to the west prevented China from making contact with these other civilizations.

The creation of the Silk Road lead to China's becoming a major influence in world economics and the exchange of ideas.

A map showing the routes of the Silk Road

The Spread of Culture

The advent of the Silk Road meant that not only could goods be exchanged amongst civilizations, but cultural beliefs and scientific ideas could as well.

Buddhism spread out of India all along the Silk Road. Eventually, the emperor of China himself would convert to the religion.

Later, Islam also spread along the Silk Road, but to a lesser extent than Buddhism.

The Spread of Ideas

Classical China was responsible for many of the technological advances seen during the classical period. These innovations spread throughout the Middle East and into the Mediterranean.

Some of China's many technological advancements include paper, gunpowder, silk, the abacus astronomy, the compass, boat rudders, iron plows, and porcelain.

Classical Society

Classical Chinese society was highly patriarchal and very family-oriented. Even the society as a whole operated in a similar fashion to a family.

Work for the good of your family, work for the betterment of the society in which you live.

Three major dynasties ruled over classical China, each bringing something different to the nation.

Zhou Dynasty

Ruled from 1029 to 258 B.C.E.

Really only flourished until about 700 B.C.E., after which it began a very lengthy decline leading to an eventual downfall.

Never a strong central government the Zhou Dynasty ruled through alliances with regional princes and noble families.

Political system deteriorated and foreign invasions beset the country, leading to the eventual collapse of the Zhou Dynasty.

Qin Dynasty

Took power after the collapse of the Zhou Dynasty, but only lasted a few decades.

Qin Shi Huangdi, or First Emperor, ruled China with an iron fist, consolidating power within the central government and removing power from regional princes and nobles.

Though the period was brutal, the Qin Dynasty accomplished a number of things, including a national census, standardized weights, measurements, and coinage, standardized writing, and incredible military expansion.

Han Dynasty

Death of Qin Shi Huangdi left China in chaos, and the Han rose to power amongst the fighting.

Lasted from 202 B.C.E to 220 C.E.

Large, bureaucratic government that was capable of ruling over a much larger expanse of territory than the Qin Dynasty was able to.

Bureaucracy and functions of the state improved under the Han.

However, eventually deterioration of the central government coupled with foreign invasions led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty.

Chinese Philosophies

Confucianism the basis for Chinese political structure; more secular rather than religious.Individuals put emphasis on personal virtue and a solid political life would result.

Respect for social superiors.

Daoism a more religious philosophy than Confuciansim.Stressed the harmony and mystery of nature; nature contains in it a divine impulse that directs all life.

Citations

China's Flag. 2001. Graphic. EnchantedLearning.comWeb. 7 Oct 2012. .

Wild, Oliver. The Silk Road. 1998. Map. The Circle of Ancient Iranian StudiesWeb. 7 Oct 2012. .

Chinese Inventions. N.d. Graphic. vhinkle.comWeb. 7 Oct 2012. .

Sterns, Peter. World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 5th Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. 38-55. Print.