ANCIENT CHINA

CHAPTER 5

Geography of China’s River Valleys When you think of Dragons….What

comes to mind?

Chinese Dragons

Dragons were a respected spirit Brought the life giving rains (China had

Dragon rain ceremonies) China’s Explanation of rivers?

The Geography of China

Contrasting Climate and Landforms North China Plain- Built by soil deposits

from the Huang River Short Summer and rain season due to

the monsoons Climate is very dry most of the year

Contrasting Climates

Southern climate is the direct opposite of the North (duh)

Very warm and damp

Effects of Civilization

Geographic Barriers? Mountains Rivers What did these barriers do?/ Cause

Flooding Rivers

China’s flooding rivers did what for the people?

Based off of everything we have learned this year, where do you believe the first Chinese villages were established?

Yellow River

The Huang River carries deposits of loess Loess- yellow-brown soil When the river floods it leaves this

yellow brown silt all over the northern region

That’s why the northern region can still farm even though it is dry

Millet is grown here (staple of Chinese diet)

China’s Sorrow

The Huang (Yellow) River was called China’s Sorrow

Why?

Flood Control

Dikes- walls to control the floods Major issue as a result?

Early Civilization in China

It is unknown when the first nomadic groups began settling and farming in the region, but it was believed to be as early as 5000 B.C.

Shang Dynasty

1st Major Civilization in China Arose around 1760 B.C. Created the first Chinese writing system

the writing system was culturally universal, multiple different Chinese groups could use the writing system

Built China’s first cities Great Bronze workers Ruled for about 600 years

Shang Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty

Bordered the Shang Had times of War and Peace with the

Shang Conquered the Shang in 1122 BC Ruled for 1000 years (Western

Zhou/Eastern Zhou) The end of the Zhou was marked by a

perior of time called the Warring States This period lasted only a small time

before the Qin took over

Mandate of Heaven

The idea is that a King or Ruler gets his power by fate, God has determined that person will be in control.

Same goes for the father leading his family.

The Importance of Family

Family is the center of Chinese life, more important than the individual and the nation.

Traditional Families

Could contain up to 5 generations Extended family- closely related group of

people living in the same house Wealthy families may live in one big

house Majority of the people were poor and

lived in one room cottages positioned close to one and other

Family Authority

Center authority was the eldest male After the oldest man died, land was

divided up between his sons and they started their own families at that point.

Women’s Roles

Women were considered lower status than men

Women were bound by the 3 obedience's 1- obey father in youth 2- obey husband in marriage 3- obey their sons if widowed

Family Names

Chinese tradition is that the family name is passed on to each child then a personal name is given also.

When spoken, the family name comes first.

Example instead of Seth Whiting, I would be Whiting Seth. What would your name be?

Confucius and His TeachingsSection 2

The Life of Confucius

Confucius- Chinese teacher and philosopher

Name- Kong Fu Zi (Master Kong) one of the earliest Chinese thinkers (Confucius is the Latin translation)

Born to a Noble (yet poor) family in the North China Plain (NCP)

Self taught (became a teacher)

Teaching Pioneer

First recognized paid teacher Goal was to find a leader to follow his

teachings He never did Believed his life to be a failure Teaching lasted for centuries

The Teachings of Confucius

His goal was to pass on forgotten teachings of wise men

Confucianism- A system of values and beliefs, a philosophy, based on Confucius’s ideas

Bringing Order to Society

Confucius believed that if people could be trained to behave properly, and orderly successful society would follow

Too many of China’s leaders were more worried about displaying power than intellegence

Respecting Others

People should know their place, and show respect to those above and below them

The five human relationships: Ruler and Ruled Father and Son Husband and Wife Older Brother and Younger Brother Friend and Friend

The Golden Rule

Very similar to Jewish and Christian belief that: “Do not do to others what you would not

want done to yourself”

Religious Traditions

Confucianism is a philosophy but was followed much like a religion, often along side another original religion

Ancient China was home to many beliefs Chinese people believed that you should

live life in harmony and happiness Taoism- living in harmony with the earth

(based off of the writings of Laozi)

Influence of Confucianism

Confucian ideas became the basis for Chinese government civil service

Civil Service- group of people who carry out the work of the government

Merit System- Govt. positions were given based on how well you did your job and if you passed the exams

Rising to high Positions- In order to take the exam you had to read and write, this left poor people out of govt. office because most lacked the ability to read and write

THE WARRING KINGDOMS UNITE

SHI HUANGDI

The first Emperor of China 6000 piece terracotta army

SHI HUANGDI

The emperor had this army created to protect his tomb and help him gain control in the afterlife.

He had grand plans for real life as well, he said his dynasty would last for 10,000 generations

THE QIN DYNASTY

QIN DYNASTY

Lasted only 2 generations Shi Huangdi was the first emperor He conquered and united all the warring

states First task was to enforce strong rule and

protect his people He ordered the construction of the great

wall of China

GREAT WALL

GREAT WALL FACTS

The Great wall is one continuous structure built by the QIN Dynasty…? False- it was started by the Qin and added to by many other dynasties. The wall is built in segments some attached others detached.

Death Toll- 1,000,000. Referred to as the longest cemetery in the world!

Length of the Defense walls- 31,070 miles

Circumference of earth- 24,854 miles

More Great Wall Facts

The wheelbarrow was invented and used extensively to build the great wall

25ft tall and up to 30 ft wide.

Organizing the Government

To stop rebelions, Huangdi had farmers build miles of road so his armies could quickly get to any uprising and stop it.

Huangdi killed any official who opposed him

Divided China into districts run by his trusted officials

Unifying Economy & Culture

Huangdi declared that one currency would be used

Currency- type of moneyWhy would he want one currency for all of

China?Also called for:

common weights and measuresimproved writing systemlaw code

Restricting Freedoms

Outlawed philosopher who was not QIN Confucius's teachings were banned Qin taught legalism, the Idea that you are

punished for bad behavior and rewarded for good behavior

People should work to serve the govt. and the emperor

Huangdi burnt all books except those containing medical, technical, or farming information.

The people who protested were killed

The End of the Qin

Huangdi died in 210 B.C. It was followed by 4 years of chaos 9

(both his sons were killed) His grandson takes over but cannot

maintain control Rebellions broke out and the dynasty fell The 10,000 generation dynasty only

lasted 15 years