Ancient China

First Civilization

• Along the Yellow river, isolated from other early cultures

• Longest lasting in the world

• Ruled by dynasties –families of rulers, headed by emperor

• First was the Shang dynasty,

• oracle bones and priests

Mongols Invade• China taken over by

Mongols —nomadic warrior horsemen from Mongolia

• Leader was Genghis Khan —ruthless warrior

• Great Wall was later built to keep them out

• Mongols also tried to invade Japan –stopped by a storm and samurais

• Eventually driven out of China

Dynasties Grow• After Mongols –Ming Dynasty

grows, strong military and takes over lots of land

• Capital -- Beijing is created, emperor lives in the Forbidden City –huge palace, over 800 buildings, 9,999 rooms, gates, walls, moats –now a museum/tourist attraction

The Silk Road• Silk– valuable cloth

made from worms, loved by Europe & M.E., process kept secret=$$

• Silk Road– 4000 mile route from China to Europe, many goods transported, dangerous (weather, animals, robbers)

Achievements and Inventions

Porcelain– fine pottery (China), method kept secret

Writing and Calligraphy– 50,000 characters, many combos, used also in Japan and Korea, decorative and artistic

Paper, kites, gunpowder, fireworks, crossbow, ice cream

Chinese Construction• The Great Wall– over 4,000miles,

parts built over many years• Keep out the Mongols to the North,

most places 30ft wide and 50ft tall• Prisoners, peasants, labors used,

harsh treatment, many died—bodies in the wall

• Towers, gates, bunk houses, supply houses

• Grand Canal –water from river valleys to villages

• Tomb of Qin Shi Huang –buried w/8,000 life size stone warriors, all different

Religion and Philosophy• Confucius– philosopher, good

character and responsibility, famous after deathBefore you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. – Confucius

• Taoism– Lao Tzu, force that guides the world, goal to find harmony with the Tao (force), use yoga, meditation, martial arts

Be the chief but never the lord.—Lao Tzu

• Buddhism– from N. India (more info to come)