Ancient China

1. Ancient China

2. I can… • I can explain why China is referred to as the “Middle Kingdom” • I can name the two important rivers of China and explain how they affected the people of China

3. Contrasting Climate and Landforms • Southern China- warm and wet as a result of the Monsoons from the South China Sea • Northern- cool and dry, dependent on rivers as a source of water

4. “The Middle Kingdom” • Geographic features such as mountains and seas blocked off China from the rest of the Ancient world. • They only knew of the nomadic people to the North and West of them • China had no knowledge of Egypt, India, Greece, Rome, etc. • They were sure they lived in the center of the earth that they called themselves the “Middle Kingdom”

5. Rivers, the Birthplace of Civilization • The Huang He river and the Yangtze River would overflow. • This would provided rich, fertile soil ideal for farming near the rivers.

6. China’s Sorrow • The Huang He river was also called “China’s Sorrow” because it was very unpredictable • Destructive floods would come without warning • At times the floods would cut new paths for the river

7. The Bonds of Family • Traditional Families- A household in ancient China might contain as many as 5 generations living together. • Most privileges in a family would belong to the elders (they would make household decisions) • Women were typically governed by men (their fathers, husbands or sons)

8. Family Names • The Chinese were the first people to have 2 names. • One name was for the family, one was for the individual. • In Chinese society the family name comes first.

9. The Life of Confucius • Confucius was the most famous and important Chinese thinkers. • Born 551 B.C. • Noble but poor family • Loved learning and self-taught himself • Thought to be China’s first professional teacher • Education was very expensive—Confucius charged a small fee but would also take in students who were poor if they truly wanted to learn.

10. The Life of Confucius (cont.) • Confucius wandered North China looking for rulers to follow his teachings. • Was unsuccessful finding a ruler • Died 479 B.C.—72 years old • Felt his life was a failure.

11. Teachings of Confucius • Confucius never wrote down his teachings. • Students gathered his sayings and made up a philosophy, after his death. • A philosophy is a system of beliefs or values. • This philosophy became known as Confucianism, one of several important philosophies of ancient China.

12. Teachings of Confucius (cont.) • Confucius’s goal—order in society. • If people would behave properly to one another, order and peace would return. • People should know their place in family and in society. • You should respect people above and below you.

13. Five Relationships • Father-child • Ruler-subject • Husband-wife • Elder brother-younger brother • Friend-friend

14. Impact of Confucius • Confucius teachings became basic training for members of civil service groups. • Civil service group of people who work for the government. • Before Confucius ideas, government posts given to sons of important people. Afterward jobs given on merit. • Candidates had to pass official exams. • (Exams were based on Confucius teachings.)

15. I can… • I can define the term dynasty • I can describe the cycle of Chinese dynasties • I can explain why there is uncertainty over which dynasty is the first

16. Chinese Dynasties

17. What’s a dynasty? • A sequence of powerful leaders within the same family • Chinese history is measured and described through the various dynasties.

18. Chinese Dynasties • Xia Dynasty About 1994 BCE - 1766 BCE • Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE - 1027 BCE • Zhou Dynasty 1122 BCE -256 BCE • Qin Dynasty 221 BCE - 206 BCE • Early Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 9 AD • Xin Dynasty 9 AD - 24 AD • Later Han Dynasty 25 AD - 220 AD • Three Kingdoms - Period of Disunion 220 AD - 280 AD • Sui Dynasty 589 AD - 618 AD • Tang Dynasty 618 AD - 907 AD • Song Dynasty 969 AD - 1279 AD • Yuan Dyansty 1279 AD - 1368 AD • Ming Dynasty 1368 AD - 1644 AD • Manchu or Qing Dynasty 1644 AD - 1912 AD

19. The First Dynasty?Xia or Shang? • According to legend, the Xia Dynasty is the first Chinese dynasty that existed from 1994 BCE - 1766 BCE. • However, there is no archeological evidence to prove the existence of the Xia dynasty. • Therefore, the Shang Dynasty is the first known dynasty with historical evidence

20. Cycle of Chinese Dynasties (dynastic cycle)

21. The Shang Dynasty • Arose sometime after 1700BC • Some of the finest bronze work of Ancient China • First to introduce a Chinese writing language

22. Terra-cotta Army • In 1974, 8,000 life-size statues were discovered in Northern China.

23. For over 2000 years these soldiers protected the tomb of Shi Huangdi

24. No 2 statues are identical • With his underground army Shi Huangdi planned on ruling a second empire in the afterlife

25. Who was Shi Huangdi? • Ruler of the Qin Dynasty • Originally, his name was Zheng • “cracking his long whip, he drove the universe before him… His might shook the four seas.” • By 221 Zheng extended his rule to cover most of modern day China • Renamed himself Shi Huangdi or “first emperor”

26. Great Wall of China • Throughout China’s history, people were constantly worried about attacks from the north. Different towns built walls to help protect their borders. • Shi Huangdi set out to connect those walls by building the Great Wall of China

27. Great Wall of China Cont’d • Shi Huangdi ordered farmers and merchants to form an army of about 300,000 workers • When finished the wall stretched for 1,400 miles. (The distance from Washington DC to Denver, Colorado)

28. Organizing the Government • Shi Huangdi put thousands of farmers to work building roads • These roads helped his army to rush to the scene if a rebellion occurred. • Shi Huangdi killed or put into prison anyone who opposed him • He divided China into districts, and each district was run by the emperor’s most trusted officials

29. Unifying the Culture • Shi Huangdi ordered one type of currency (money) to be used throughout China • Ordered a common system of weights and measures • He tried to control the thoughts of people by outlawing the ideas of Confucius and other thinkers. • Ordered the burning of books unless they were about medicine, technology, or farming

30. End of the Qin Dynasty • Shi Huandi died in 210 BC • This started four years of chaos and civil war • Marked the end of the Qin dynasty

31. The Han Dynasty • One of the rebels that helped overthrow the Qin dynasty was Liu Bang • Liu Bang became the 1st emperor of the Han dynasty by 202B.C. • The stable government of the Han dynasty lasted about 400 years

32. Wudi- The Warrior Emperor • The Han Dynasty reached its peak under the rule of Liu Bang’s great grandson Wudi • Made improvements to the Great Wall • Extended Chinese territory

33. Collapse of Han Dynasty • After Wudi’s death the Han dynasty slowly began to fall apart • Warlords (leaders of armed local bands) took control • By 220A.D.the Han dynasty ended

34. The Silk Road • A trade route that went from China to the Mediterranean Sea • It was a series of routes that covered more than 4,000 miles

35. The Silk Road Cont’d • Crossing the Silk Road was dangerous, travelers were easily killed by desert sandstorms • Few travelers made the entire journey, generally goods were passed trader to trader • Once they reached the Mediterranean goods such as silk were shipped to Ancient Greece, Rome, India, and Egypt.

36. Silk Road Cont’d • Silk Road received its name from silk, made only in China • Trade of Ideas- The silk road was also a way of spreading ideas. Buddhism spread from India into China via the silk road