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Ancient China

Ancient China. China. Natural Barriers: East – Yellow Sea & Pacific Ocean West – Taklimakan Desert & Plateau of Tibet Southwest – Himalayan Mountains North – Gobi Desert & Mongolian Plateau Major Rivers: Huang He (Yellow) ‘Cradle of Chinese Civilization’ Location of 1 st Civilization

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China

  2. China • Natural Barriers: • East – Yellow Sea & Pacific Ocean • West – Taklimakan Desert & Plateau of Tibet • Southwest – Himalayan Mountains • North – Gobi Desert & Mongolian Plateau • Major Rivers: • Huang He (Yellow) • ‘Cradle of Chinese Civilization’ • Location of 1st Civilization • ‘China’s Sorrow’ • Frequent devastating floods caused by large amounts of loess deposited on the river floor • loess: fertile deposit of windblown silt • Yangtze (Chang Jiang) • Longest river in China • North China Plain: • Plain between Huang He & Yangtze • Most populated & fertile region of China • ‘Middle Kingdom’: • Derived from belief they were the ‘center of civilization’ • Originated with the Zhou Dynasty

  3. Ancient Chinese Dynastic Periods • Xia Dynasty (2070 – 1600 BCE) • 1st Chinese Dynasty • Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1046 BCE) • 1st Chinese dynasty to leave written records • Zhou Dynasty (1045 – 256 BCE) • Established feudalism • Warring States Period (475 – 221 BCE) • Seven Kingdoms • Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BCE) • Qin Shi Huang – 1st Emperor of China • Key characteristics of Chinese civilization: • Advanced Cities ● Specialized Workers • Complex Institutions ● Record Keeping • Advanced Technology

  4. Xia Dynasty • 2070 – 1600 BCE • Founded by Yu the Great • Given the thrown by Shun • Yu passed power to his son Qi • Establishing dynastic rule of China • Flood-control and irrigation increased agricultural production • Food surplus allowed cities to grow

  5. Shang Dynasty • 1600 – 1046 BCE • Founded by Cheng Tang • Overthrew King Jie of the Xia Dynasty • Battle of Mingtiao • Capital was moved six times • Final/Largest: Yin Xu (Anyang) • North of Huang He • Shang Civilization: • Basis: • Agriculture • Key Aspects: • Hunting, Animal Husbandry, Bronze Production, War & Human Sacrifice • Decline: • Defeated by the Zhou at the Battle of Muye • Shang Zhou committed suicide after the defeat

  6. Shang Political & Social Structure • King was supreme ruler • Head Military Commander • High Priest of Society • Aristocracy: • Land owning warrior-nobles ruled • Aristocracy: rule by elite few • Shang kings divided the territory among generals • Peasants tilled the land for the aristocrats • Family: • Central to Chinese Society • Chief loyalty was to one’s family • Older males controlled property and decisions (Patriarchal) • Women were treated as inferiors • Mothers would eventually have to obey their own sons • Girls had marriages arranged between 13 & 16

  7. Zhou Dynasty • 1045 – 256 BCE • Longest dynasty in Chinese history • King Wu • 1st king of Zhou Dynasty • claimed the Shang rulers lost support of the gods • Established Feudal Rule: • Feudalism: • Nobles granted use of lands that belong to the king in exchange for owing loyalty and military service to the king • Control of various regions was given to family members and trusted nobles • Territory stretched further West, North and South to the Yangtze • As nobles grew in power they became less dependent on the king

  8. Mandate of Heaven • Notion that the ruler governed by divine authority • Used to justify authority and rule (Duke of Zhou) • Heaven (Tian) chose who would rule • Dao (‘The Way’): • Kings were responsible to be rule by the dao and keep the gods happy or lose the ‘Mandate of Heaven’ • Resulting in disasters, bad harvests or rebellion • Mandate of Heaven was used to explain the dynastic cycle • Rise, decline and replacement of different dynasties

  9. Dynastic Cycle

  10. Zhou Society • Trade: • Agricultural surplus led to an increase in trade • Silk: Most important trade item • Transportation: • Roads and canals were constructed • Linking growing cities • Iron: • Development of the blast furnace facilitated production • Weapons and agricultural tools • Stronger than bronze weapons/tools • Irrigation/Water Projects: • Control of river flow better watered the crops • Less reliance on rain • Coined Money: • Introduced metal coins to Chinese Civilization (possibly 1st in the World) • Improved trade

  11. Zhou Decline • ‘Warring States Period’: • Feudal lords began grow in power and fight neighbors • Annexing and consolidating smaller states around them • Seven major states emerged • Rulers changed from ‘Dukes’ to ‘Kings’ of their territory • Qin, Chu, Qi, Yan, Han, Wei & Zhao • Political Developments: • Complex bureaucracies, centralized governments & clear legal systems • Warfare: • Infantry (peasant foot soldiers) and cavalry became more prevalent • Replacing chariots • New weapons: • Iron battle-axes and swords • Crossbow • Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: • Oldest and most influential military guide

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