Chapter TwoChapter TwoClassical Civilization: ChinaClassical Civilization: China

Chinese Dynasty Song (Tune ---- Frère Jacques)

Shang Zhou (“Joe”) Qin (“chin”) Han (Repeat) ( ------------------- 400 years of Disunity ------------------) Sui (“sway”) Tang Song (Repeat) Yuan ------ Mongol Ming Qing (“ching”) --------Manchu Republic -------- Republic of China (Repeat) Mao Zedong ---------People’s Republic of China / Communist China (Repeat)

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty First to construct First to construct

tombs and palaces, tombs and palaces, unlike Huanghe unlike Huanghe civilization.civilization.

Invasions caused Invasions caused fallfall

Zhou DynastyZhou Dynasty Allied with regional princes, no Allied with regional princes, no

strong governmentstrong government– Could not control large agricultural areas Could not control large agricultural areas

(similar to India, Japan, Europe, and (similar to India, Japan, Europe, and Africa).Africa).

– Depended on regional kingdoms to be Depended on regional kingdoms to be loyalloyal FeudalismFeudalism

Expanded to Yangtze River ValleyExpanded to Yangtze River Valley– Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven– Sons of HeavenSons of Heaven

Banned human sacrificeBanned human sacrifice Began standard Mandarin languageBegan standard Mandarin language

Zhou DeclineZhou Decline Regional rulers not loyalRegional rulers not loyal

– Era of the Warring StatesEra of the Warring States Qin Shi Huangdi deposed last Zhou Qin Shi Huangdi deposed last Zhou

Ruler and named himself First Ruler and named himself First EmperorEmperor

Qin DynastyQin Dynasty Founded by Qin Shi Founded by Qin Shi

HuangdiHuangdi– Brutal RulerBrutal Ruler– Dismantled regional Dismantled regional

kingdomskingdoms– Expanded empire (Hong Expanded empire (Hong

Kong, Vietnam)Kong, Vietnam)– Built the Great WallBuilt the Great Wall– Built roads, canals, Built roads, canals, – Very unpopular for Very unpopular for

attacks on intellectuals, attacks on intellectuals, heavy taxes, and heavy taxes, and punishments.punishments.

– His death sparked revolts, His death sparked revolts, leading to the Han.leading to the Han.

http://content.mahalo.com/images/0/0e/Great_wall_china_100107_TNO.jpg

Han DynastyHan Dynasty Retained centralized Retained centralized

rule, but less brutalrule, but less brutal– More bureaucracyMore bureaucracy

Expansion (Korea, Expansion (Korea, Indochina, central Asia)Indochina, central Asia)

Trade with India, Trade with India, Parthians, RomansParthians, Romans

Confucianism risesConfucianism rises Contemporary with the Contemporary with the

Roman EmpireRoman Empire Begin to decline due to Begin to decline due to

Hun invasionHun invasion

Lasting InfluencesLasting Influences Large bureaucracyLarge bureaucracy Strong patriarchal societyStrong patriarchal society Ancestor worshipAncestor worship Civil service examinationsCivil service examinations Strong government and law systems that Strong government and law systems that

even invaders couldn’t overturneven invaders couldn’t overturn Harmony with natureHarmony with nature The Five Classics (basis for exams)The Five Classics (basis for exams) Accurate calendarAccurate calendar Not much outside influenceNot much outside influence

SocietySociety Gaps between upper and lower classesGaps between upper and lower classes Three social groupsThree social groups

– LandownersLandowners– PeasantsPeasants– Mean people (without meaningful skills)Mean people (without meaningful skills)

Merchants not valuedMerchants not valued Tight family structureTight family structure

– hierarchical/deferential/patriarchalhierarchical/deferential/patriarchal

Other Social aspects of Other Social aspects of Classical ChinaClassical China

Kung Fuzi—Confucius (ca. 551–478 Kung Fuzi—Confucius (ca. 551–478 B.C.E.)B.C.E.)

– respect for superiorsrespect for superiors– leaders must show moderationleaders must show moderation– rank based on intelligence, meritrank based on intelligence, merit

LegalismLegalism– alternative to Confucianismalternative to Confucianism– support authoritarian statesupport authoritarian state– belief in evil nature of humankindbelief in evil nature of humankind

Daoism – “the way”; harmony; Daoism – “the way”; harmony; balance; avoid excess; yin & yang more balance; avoid excess; yin & yang more religiousreligious

– Laozi (5th century B.C.E.)Laozi (5th century B.C.E.)– respect for forces of naturerespect for forces of nature– ethical codeethical code

Compare & Contrast

Confucianism & Daoism

China in the Shang and Zhou Eras

China from the Later Zhou to the Han Era

Thumbs Up/DownThumbs Up/Down Thumbs Up if:Thumbs Up if:

– The Han Dynasty was centralized.The Han Dynasty was centralized.– The Han Dynasty was matriarchal.The Han Dynasty was matriarchal.– The Han Dynasty created the Civil The Han Dynasty created the Civil

Service Examinations.Service Examinations.– Merchants are valued in Chinese Merchants are valued in Chinese

society.society.

Potential Essay QuestionsPotential Essay Questions1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of 1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of classical Chinese society.classical Chinese society.

2. Trace the rise of Confucianism.2. Trace the rise of Confucianism.3. Identify the ways that3. Identify the ways that Confucian philosophy Confucian philosophy supported the political structure in China.supported the political structure in China.

4. Summarize why bureaucracy developed in 4. Summarize why bureaucracy developed in classical China.classical China.

5. In what ways did the three philosophical 5. In what ways did the three philosophical movements of classical China shape its civilization. movements of classical China shape its civilization.