Ancient China

1. Ancient China

2. Ancient China: Section 1Contrasting 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

3. “The Middle Kingdom” • Geographic features such as mountains ,desertsand 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”

4. 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. Both deposit yellow silt • Chang Jiang/Yangtzelocated in central China • Huang He/Yellow River is located to the north • Farming done between the two rivers—area called North China Plain

5. 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

6. 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)

7. A Varied Climate • Western China: dry like Western United States • Northern China: like New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, etc.) • Wheat and millet grown in the drier northern lands • Southeast China: like southern United States • Rice grown in the moist climate

8. Shang Dynasty • Around 2000 B.C. farming settlements along the Huang He grew into cities. • The beginning of Chinese culture developed. • China is the oldest, longest lasting civilization in the world!

9. Shang Kings Dynasty: line of rulers from the same family 1766 B.C. Shang family started to rule some cities. Kings were responsible for religious activities. Claimed to rule with gods’ permission Controlled central portion of North China Plain Relatives ruled distant areas Protected themselves from nomads, the Zhou, to the North and west with chariots.

10. Shang Families • Respect for family and ancestors very important • Family was closely tied to religion • Believes spirits of ancestors could bring good fortune to family • Family paid respect to father’s ancestors by making animal sacrifices • Men were in charge of the family

11. 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.

12. Developing Language • Oracle bones—animal bones or turtle shells on which Shang royal priests used to interpret messages from the gods. • Priests would make scratch marks on bones and shells—early form of writing

13. Developing Language Continued… • Pictograph system of writing developed • Used simple drawings/symbols for words or ideas • To barely be able to read and write must know at least 1,500 Characters in the Chinese alphabet • Scribe needed to know 10,000 characters

14. Ancient China Section 2: 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Five Relationships • Confucius created code of proper conduct for people. • Each relationship has its own duties and own code of conduct. • Relationships fall under two categories: • Proper conduct in the family • Proper conduct in society

19. Proper Conduct Family • Confucius believed respect and good behavior started at home. • Filial Piety—respect for one’s parents and ancestors Society Authority should be respected. Ruler should lead in a right, moral way and subjects will obey. Ruler should treat subjects with respect.

20. 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.)

21. Ancient China Section 3:Chinese Dynasties

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Cycle of Chinese Dynasties (dynastic cycle)

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

27. 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”

28. The Qin Unified China Shi Huangdi stopped battles within warring states. Co Conquered rival states Drove out nomadic invaders China grew the largest it had ever been!

29. The Qin Unified China Cont. • Huangdi killed or put into prison anyone who opposed him • Wanted total control of China: • Took land away from defeated noble families • Forced nobles to live at the capital so he could watch them • This weakened noble families’ power. • He divided China into districts, and each district was run by the emperor’s most trusted officials

30. Organizing the Government • Shi Huangdi build highways and irrigation projects. • Forced peasants to work on projects such as building roads • These roads helped his army to rush to the scene if a rebellion occurred. • Set high taxes for peasants to pay

31. Unifying the Culture • Shi Huangdi ordered one type of currency (money) to be used throughout China. This united 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. • Killed 460 government critics and Confucianists • Ordered the burning of books unless they were about medicine, technology, or farming

32. 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

33. Great Wall of China Cont’d • Shi Huangdi ordered farmers, merchants (peasants), and criminals to form an army of about 300,000 workers • Many died and the people resented the emperor. • Great Wall linked many small walls that were built during the time of the Warring States. • Earliest walls built of earth, later stone and brick were used. • When finished the wall stretched for 1,400 miles. (The distance from Washington DC to Denver, Colorado)

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

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

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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Han Government Liu Bang kept Qin policies of central government, but lowered taxes. Made punishments less harsh. Peasant men owed the government a month of labor/work a year on government projects. Peasants built roads, canals, and irrigation projects.

40. Han Government Cont… • Bureaucracy: network of appointed officials that assist in government • Officials helped Liu Bang enforce rules. • Bureaucrats put family members and trusted people in local government positions. • Set up a system of tests to find the most educated and ethical people for the imperial bureaucratic state. • Tested people on their knowledge of Confucianism.

41. Empress Rules Liu Bang died 195 B.C. Widow, Empress Lu took the thrown for their young son. Outlived son and continued to put babies on the throne so she could rule for them. When she died in 180 B.C. all her family members were killed.

42. Wudi- The Warrior Emperor • The Han Dynasty reached its peak under the rule of Liu Bang’s great grandson Wudi • Wudi (descendent of Liu Bang) ruled the Han empire from 141-87 B.C.E. • Made improvements to the Great Wall • Extended Chinese territory • Made many military conquests including southern Chinese provinces, northern Vietnam, and northern Korea. • Chased nomadic invaders out of northern China • China was almost as large as modern day China.

43. Collapse of Han Dynasty • The Han empire faced rebellions, peasant revolts, floods, famine, and economic disasters, but stayed in power until 220 C.E./A.D. • After Wudi’s death the Han dynasty slowly began to fall apart • Warlords (leaders of armed local bands) took control

44. Only Chinese knew how to make silk during the Han dynasty. • Silk is a luxury fabric around the world.

45. Achievements of Ancient China Section 4: 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

46. 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.

47. 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