Ancient China Stuff about ancient China and stuff Hwang Ho River Valley 4,500 B.C.E. people begin to settle along the Yellow River. They grew millet and soybeans. Animal wise they raised chickens, pigs, and dogs. 47 1600 B.C.E. Shang China arose on the Hwang Ho River, aka the Yellow River as the Shang family gains control of area. They used stable crop cycle surpluses to build a tradecentered civilization. They lasted until 1100 B.C.E. Hwang Ho River Valley 48 1
Shang Isolation The Shang were so isolated they believed themselves to be the center of the world. The called their civilization All Under Heaver to illustrate that belief. They traded with Mesopotamia, were accomplished bronze workers, used horse drawn chariots, developed the spoked wheel, were experts in pottery and silk, and developed the decimal system as well as a highly accurate calendar. The kings were commanders of military as well as high priests who offered sacrifices to their ancestors. 49 Shang Technology 50 Silkworm to Silk Technology 51 2
Advancements Writing based on symbols Silk Coined money Ironworks Great Wall of China 52 Shang Writing The Shang introduced a system of writing based on symbols which represented an idea rather than a sound. 53 Shang Culture Family was extremely important. Many generations would live under the same roof under a patriarchal structure lead by the eldest male. They believed that the gods controlled all aspects of Shang life and therefore they could call on the spirits of their dead ancestors to act as advocates for their gods. This gave the extended family great significance and is called Ancestor Worship today. 54 3
Ancestor Worship 55 1027 B.C.E. the Zhou enter the Hwang Ho Valley and defeat the Shang Empire. The do keep many of the traditions and culture in tact because of common beliefs and to help administer their new territory. The Zhou ruled China for almost 900 years. Lasted until 256 B.C.E. (EX) America has been in existence for 235 years. Enter the Zhou 周朝 56 Mandate of Heaven The idea that Heaven would only grant the Zhou its power if the rulers used it justly wisely. As long as the Zhou ruled wisely, they would remain in power. The Zhou developed a feudal system long before Europe. Dynastic Ancestors Nature Deities Former Lords & Pre- Dynastic Rulers Dynastic Ancestresses 57 4
Feudalism Feudalism Empires were so large that rulers had to appoint people to rule in their stead. The king issued protection as long as the appointed remained loyal and made sure the king s land produced and shipped the appropriate resources. 58 Confucianism Born in 551 B.C.E. Based on the ideas of Master Kung, the Latin Parent/Child name is Confucius. Elder Sibling/Younger Sibling He lived in a time of turmoil, Warring States Husband/Wife Period which is won by the Qin Dynasty, and Friend/Friend sought to restore some order with a set of Ruler/Subjects ideas. He believed the education should be for all people. That a life should be lead using courtesy, loyalty, hard work, and kindness. He believed that the universe had an order and therefore human behavior was key to order. These behaviors were controlled via the Five 59 Relationships: Taoism or Daoism The basic concept is to establish order and harmony with the Tao ( 道 ), which is everything that exists by Loazi. The Three Jewels are compassion, moderation, and humility. Action without action or effortless doing is an attempt express how a person in tune with nature and the Dao with be able to live within nature and man. Taoists also believe that people can accomplish the opposite of their goals. An example would be a state that wanted to show strength so that other states would not attack it may cause fear and concern in its neighbors which could lead to invasion and attack out of fear. Developed during the Warring States Period. 60 5
Qin Dynasty Used Legalist ideas to form an autocracy which ruled from 256 to 202 B.C.E. Centralized highway and irrigation networks Attempting to eliminate the history of other dynasties, they murdered Confucian scholars and burned previous writings. Their greatest achievement was the Great Wall and a centralized highway system. The famous terracotta army designed to protect the emperor after his death. Found in 1974. 61 Legalism Shang Yang first formed this idea in the book of Lord Shang which was intended to strengthen government and reinforce adherence to the law. During a period of conflict known as the Warring State Period. Introduced the idea that people were naturally evil and were in need of a firm hand to guide their actions. This system stressed punishment over liberty in an attempt to guide human behavior. Fa - The law must be clearly written, people are rewarded or punished for following/breaking the law, all people are equal under the law, and this guarantees that human actions are systematic and predictable. Shu Special tactics and secrets are to be employed by the ruler to ensure the safety of the state. No one but the ruler can know his plans and as such it must no be questioned. Shi The position of the ruler, not the ruler himself. The position of power. 62 202 B.C.E. to 9 C.E. Centralized government which included a strong bureaucracy with civil service occupations such as engineers for roads and bridges. Reinvigorated Confucianism Invented paper Han Dynasty 63 6
Sui Dynasty The Sui dynasty (581 618 AD) was a short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. It was followed by the Tang dynasty. Its greatest accomplishment by far the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal linked China north to south and allowed diffusion on a massive scale. 64 Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 AD) The linked, fortified, and completed the Great Wall. Zeng He displayed the Great Fleet of China to the world announcing them as a world power. The forbidden city was built. The invention of proper paper. The Chinese invention of gunpowder in the 9 th century would change the world forever. More about that later in the year, much more. 65 China s Withdrawal From the World Over the next few decades China withdrew from the world and grew more and more isolationist. They would not be a world power again until modern times because they suffered from the imperial occupation of the British and Japanese in WWII. 66 7