Ancient China

Geographic Features Cities grew along the banks

of two rivers Isolated culture due to

geography Civilization developed with

few outside influences Borders:

o East: Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Pacific Ocean

o West: Taklimakan Deserto North: Gobi Deserto Southwest: Himalayan

Mountains

Gobi Desert is a cold desert.

Geographic FeaturesTwo River Systems Flow toward the Pac.

Ocean Chang Jiang (Yangtze):

central China Huang He (Yellow):

northern China North China Plain

o Land between the riverso Rich farmlando Center of Chinese

Civilization

Yellow River

Yangtze River

Geographic FeaturesVaried Climate Like the US West: dry Northeast: cold winters; warm summers Southeast: mild winters; hot, rainy summers

What crops are grown in China?

China’s Climate

Chinese & US Climates: A Comparison

Shang Dynasty 1766 BC: dynasty

established Claimed to have the

permission of the gods Controlled portion of the

North China Plain Made war with nomadic

people Treated parents &

ancestors with great respect

No strong central gov’t; family members ruled distant lands

Shang DynastyDeveloping Language Developed pictograph

writing; symbols=words Educated person knew

10,000 characters Can learn written Chinese

without being able to speak it

What is the advantage of a language that you can learn without speaking?

Zhou Dynasty 1027 BC: defeated the Shang Rise of the Zhou created a pattern: dynastic cycle Rulers must keep the Mandate of Heaven Distant lands ruled by lords pledged to support the Zhou When lords grew in strength, they began to fight

Legalism Powerful gov’t with strict laws will keep order People will only do good if forced to Harsh punishments needed to make people afraid

to do wrong

Legalism Shang Yang: those who

fail to report lawbreakers should be punished

Under Legalism, books were burned and those who questioned the gov’t were arrested

Confucianism Confucius (551-479 BC) Order can be kept if everyone

has respect for each other Leaders should serve as good

examples Lower members of society

should obey those above them Ideas collected in a book: Analects

Confucianism: The Five Relationships

Each relationship has its own duties and code of conduct

Father and son Elder brother and younger brother Husband and wife Friend and friend Ruler and subject

What is the nature of these relationships?

Confucianism: Proper Conduct

Filial piety: treating parents and elders with respect

Authority should be respected

Confucianism eventually adopted by Chinese rulers

Guiding force that shaped Chinese culture

Daoism Laozi (500s BC) All humans must find a way (Dao) to

live in harmony with nature Questions of right and wrong are

pointless “People would be content with their

simple, everyday lives, in harmony, and free of desire.”

Gov’t should leave people alone

Daoism: Yin and Yang Yin (black): cold, dark, and mysterious Yang (white): warm, bright, and light Both forces complement each other Each changes & evolves

Qin Dynasty Started by Shi Huangdi Lasted from 221 – 202 BC Unified China after warring-

states period Legalistic ruler Conquered neighbors and

expanded the empire

Qin & Strong Central Gov’t

Forced nobles to live at capital

Built highways and irrigation projects to unite China

Began linking existing defensive walls, starting the Great Wall of China

Huangdi died in 210 BC Son took over, but was

quickly overthrown

Han Dynasty 202 BC – 220 AD Liu Bang first emperor Lowered taxes and

punishments less harsh Created a bureaucracy to

help run the government Created a test based on

Confucianism for these scholar-officials

Empress Lu Liu Bang died in 195 BC Succeeded by his wife, Empress Lu She ruled on half of their young son, whom she outlived She continued to rule by putting infants on the throne Upon her death in 180 BC, all members of her family were

put to death

Expanding the Empire Wudi ruled from 141-87

BC “Martial Emperor” used

war to expand the empire Conquered northern

Vietnam and northern Korea

Chased nomadic invaders out of northern China

Conquered people were encouraged to assimilate

Daily Life in Han China Most people worked as farmers Farmers lived in small villages near their land Rich farmers had oxen to plow their lands South: rice North: wheat Families had personal vegetable gardens Meat and fish were expensive

City Living Centers of trade, education, and government Merchants, government workers, craftspeople Problems of modern cities: crowded, street gangs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS7pKZJ3zPs

The Silk Roads During the Han dynasty, only the Chinese knew

how to make silk. Desired luxury item Roads linking China to Eurasian were built to

trade silk One of the first global trading networks

Trade on the Silk Road Cities sprouted up around the trail. Goods leaving China: silk, paper, jade, pottery Goods coming to China: sesame seeds, oil,

metals, precious stones, Central Asian horses

Silk Road Affects Culture

Silk Roads also brought ideas and customs to and from China (cultural diffusion)

During the Han dynasty, Buddhist missionaries from India brought Buddhism to China

Buddhism gained many followers after the fall of the Han. Why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfe-eNq-Qyg

Confucianism, Daoism & Buddhism

Chinese Inventions & Discoveries

Agricultural Improvements Two-bladed plow Wheelbarrow Water Mills

o Using water power to grind grain Collar Harness for horses

o Allowed horses to pull heavier loads

Chinese Inventions & Discoveries

Paper 105 AD Made from old rags, tree bark, and fibers from

hemp How did the invention of paper help the Chinese

people?

Chinese Inventions & Discoveries

Silk For 3,000 years, only the Chinese knew how to make Used to get silver and gold from the west At one time one pound of silk = one pound of gold

How much is a pound of gold worth today? $24,522.77