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The Yellow River Valley PowerPoint The Yellow River Valley PowerPoint

Philosophy Discussion Philosophy Discussion

Aim: The Yellow River Aim: The Yellow River ValleyValley

GeographyGeography Consists of Consists of three main riversthree main rivers

– Huang (Yellow),Huang (Yellow), Chang and Xi Rivers Chang and Xi Rivers Rivers flooding is Rivers flooding is unpredictableunpredictable Rivers produced Rivers produced loessloess

– fertilefertile yellow soil yellow soil Isolated due to Isolated due to natural barriersnatural barriers

– Gobi DesertGobi Desert and and Himalaya Himalaya MountainsMountains

The Middle Kingdom The Middle Kingdom Felt it was the Felt it was the center of the worldcenter of the world

– called itself the called itself the “Middle Kingdom”“Middle Kingdom” Felt its culture was Felt its culture was superiorsuperior than than

every other cultureevery other culture– known as known as ethnocentrismethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism lead to Ethnocentrism lead to isolationismisolationism– traditional lifestyle traditional lifestyle

China did not come in contact with China did not come in contact with other civilizationsother civilizations– lacked technologylacked technology

Eventually, the Chinese discontinuedthe expeditions due to ethnocentrism.The Chinese believed that they were

superior to other cultures.

The Chinese believed that theywere the “Middle Kingdom.”

They believed that they could learn nothing important from other

inferior cultures.

Though China was very advancedfor the time period, isolationism

caused China to fall behind.

The Shang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty First First dynastydynasty of China of China

– dynastydynasty: a ruling family: a ruling family Developed a writing system called Developed a writing system called

calligraphycalligraphy– eventually became a eventually became a form of artform of art

Believed in Believed in animismanimism and and ancestor ancestor worshipworship– animismanimism: belief spirits inhabit all objects: belief spirits inhabit all objects

The first known dynasty of China was theShang dynasty. This dynasty united the people living around the Huang He and

Yangtze river valleys.

Ancient Calligraphy Ancient Calligraphy

The Zhou Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty Emperors justified their takeover Emperors justified their takeover

due to the due to the Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven– belief that belief that godsgods picked the emperor to picked the emperor to

rule but the rule but the godsgods could also remove a could also remove a bad emperor from power bad emperor from power

The rise and fall of dynasties is The rise and fall of dynasties is known as the known as the dynastic cycledynastic cycle

Zhou rulers claimed

theMandate of Heaven or

theright to rule.However, thegods could

remove the ruler’s

right to rule.

The Qin DynastyThe Qin Dynasty Built the Built the Great Wall of ChinaGreat Wall of China

– built to keep invaders outbuilt to keep invaders out– didn't work didn't work

Established a Established a strong strong centralized government centralized government – one government controlled all local one government controlled all local

areasareas

During Qin China,the Chinese beganbuilding the GreatWall of China.The Great Wall ofChina was built toprotect China fromnomadic invaders.

The Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty China’s China’s “Golden Age”“Golden Age”

– numerous numerous inventionsinventions were introduced were introduced porcelain, silk, gunpowder, printing press, porcelain, silk, gunpowder, printing press,

compasscompass Developed the Developed the civil service examcivil service exam

– people needed to do well on tests to people needed to do well on tests to obtain jobsobtain jobs

– questions based on questions based on ConfucianismConfucianism Silk RoadSilk Road emerged emerged

– trade between trade between China and the Middle China and the Middle EastEast

– lead to lead to cultural diffusioncultural diffusion

It is important to remember that during theHan dynasty, a scholar had to pass a teston Chinese history and Confucianism to

work in the government.

To work for thegovernment, a

Chinese man hadto pass a difficultexamination. Byestablishing a civil service examination, education wasemphasized.

The Silk Road was a famous Chinese trading route.

Throughout Chinese history, there havebeen many great philosophers.

Confucianism Confucianism Most Most influentialinfluential philosophy in China philosophy in China

ever!ever! Stressed:Stressed:

– respect for eldersrespect for elders– education education is important is important – follow a follow a code of moral conductcode of moral conduct – maintain politicalmaintain political and and social ordersocial order– filial piety (worship of family)filial piety (worship of family)– each society member must complete their each society member must complete their

dutyduty – the the five relationships five relationships of Confucius of Confucius – people must do their people must do their assigned tasks and assigned tasks and

dutiesduties

While all three philosophies greatly influenced China, Confucianism became the official philosophy of dynastic China.

In Confucianism, a son must obey hisfather.

Daoism Daoism

Stressed Stressed naturenature Believed in the Believed in the Ying-YangYing-Yang

The Yin-Yang is a popular Daoist or Taoist symbol.

Legalism Legalism

Believed:Believed:– people are people are born badborn bad – people are people are selfishselfish– people needed people needed lawslaws to control them to control them– people need to be people need to be punishedpunished harshly harshly

to main order in society to main order in society

Putting Them TogetherPutting Them Together

All three philosophies try to All three philosophies try to establish:establish:– peacepeace– political and social orderpolitical and social order– respect for respect for authorityauthority

Chinese Chinese AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

GunpowderGunpowder CompassCompass PorcelainPorcelain Metal Printing PressMetal Printing Press PaperPaper The Silk RoadThe Silk Road

– trade between trade between Asia and Europe/Middle Asia and Europe/Middle EastEast

AcupunctureAcupuncture Oldest Male Head of HouseholdOldest Male Head of Household Extended FamilyExtended Family