Ancient Chinese Civilization

Geographic and Cultural

China Proper…”Heart of China” Region that runs inland from the eastern seacoast Contains The Huang, Chang, and Xi Rivers

The Huang or Yellow River Chinese built dikes to help control the flooding

China’s isolation Great distance, mountains, deserts separated China

from the India and the West Infrequent contact gave China a strong sense of

identity and superiority Regarded China as Zhongguo or Middle Kingdom

The Shang Dynasty

Objectives: Examine how the Chinese

explained their early history Describe how the Shang

government and economy were organized

Identify the religious beliefs held by the Shang

Explain why the Shang dynasty collapsed

Ancient China Legends

Pangu, the 1st man Created the universe

Yu Mythological figure Drained away flood

waters Established line of Kings

called Xia

Xia ruled over the Neolithic people in China

ShangDynasty

First historic Dynasty Between 1750 BC and

1500 BC Stretched over 40,000 sq

miles Shang strengthened rule

by introducing irrigation and flood control systems

Shang Government

Stretched over 40,000 sq miles Ruled by a bureaucracy- government organized into

different levels and tasks Well organized government allowed culture to spread

Shang Economy and Crafts

Based on Agriculture Raised silkworms to make silk

cloth Artisans known for their use of

kaolin- fine white clay Artisans worked in bone, ivory,

and jade

Astronomy & Calendar

Used 2 calendars Sun and Moon

Lunar Calendar based on the movements on the

moon Each month began with new moon (29

days) 12 lunar months made a year with 365

days Priest-Astronomers had control over

planting times

Religion

Animism- the belief that spirits inhabited everything

Worshiped Gods of the sun, wind, clouds, and the moon

Believed in Shangdi- god who controlled human destiny and forces of nature

Priests tried to predict the future by reading oracle bones

Language and Writing

Spoke many dialects- variations of their language Assigned symbols to words: a signifier and a phonetic

sound Writings became known as calligraphy

Fall of the Shang Dynasty

Wealth and Lifestyle of the China Proper Created constant battles for the Shang Dynasty Military efforts exhausted the Shang rulers

around 1100 BC The Shang Dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou

(JOH) Zhou justified their conquest by claiming the

Shang was corrupt and unfit to rule

Zhou Dynasty 1050 BC- 256 BC

No centralized form of government Granted territories to members of royal families and

allies Believed in the “Mandate of Heaven”

God determined who ruled China Rebels would overthrow dynasty if “Mandate of

Heaven” was lost Decline of Zhou

Local leaders fought each other Military attacks by outsiders

The Qin Dynasty: 221 BC – 206 BC

Came to power by military might lead by Cheng Established an autocracy

Cheng suppressed and executed scholars

Great Wall of China Walls built to protect from invasions 1500 miles in length

Force labor policy for public works anger people Liu Bang overthrew the Qin Dynasty

Founded the Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty

Civil Service System Runs the day-to-day business of

Government Created system of examinations Established an imperial university to train

peoples for Government service Remained in China until early 1900’s AD

The Han Dynasty: Accomplishments

Began economic policy of leveling- price control to balance surplus and shortages

Silk Road Trade route from China to the Mediterranean Sea Traded jade and silk with wealthy Greeks and

Romans Population grew to about 50 million people Invention of Paper

Spread from China to the Western World

Ancient Chinese Beliefs

Supported dualism

Everything in the world results from

a balance between two forces

YIN- female, dark, and passive

Yang- male, bright, and active

Belief that balance in human affairs is

a normal condition

Confucius 551 BC- 479 BC

Followers collected his ideas in

Analects

3 factors of importance

Family, respect for ones elders,

and reverence for the past and

ones ancestors

Confucius Teachings

Concerned with the causes of social and political unrest

Concerned with how moral and ethical leadership would solve problems

2 ways Accept role in society Government and leaders should be virtuous

Rulers should be honest and trustworthy

Confucius Teachings

Encouraged only moral, well educated officials lead government

Mencius (372 Bc – 289 BC) Strong supporter of Confucianism Believed rulers who ruled by strong

moral and ethical guidelines would win support of people

Believed rulers who oppressed people would surrender the right to rule

Laozi

Founded the philosophy of Daoism Dao = “the way” Saw Dao as the force that governed the universe

and all of nature People should withdraw from the world and

contemplate nature Shunned politics

Advised not to seek power

People should be humble, quite, and thoughtful

Legalism

Believed in power and harsh laws

Believed people were by nature selfish and

untrustworthy

Peace and prosperity could be achieved only by

threatening severe punishment

Buddhism in China

Late years of the Han Dynasty brought violence and lawlessness

After the fall of the Han Dynasty people converted to Buddhism

Factors that lead to conversion Temples and ceremonies offered a sense of

peace and safety Emphasized universal charity and compassion

Accepted Mahayana Buddhism

Family and Social Life

Most important factor in Chinese society was family Each upper-class family kept a genealogy Role of the Father

Ruler of the house Arranged children’s and Grand Children's

Marriages Decided how much education the son would

receive Choose the son’s career

Women Gained power by bearing children

Arts and Science

Five Classics Texts used to train scholars and civil servants Book of Poems, History, Changes, Summer &

Spring Annals, and Rites Early Inventions

Seismograph- warned of earthquakes Paper- produced in 150 BC Medicines from herbs and minerals Acupuncture-developed by Daoists