The Bronze Age

China

Geography

One of the greatest food-producing areas of the ancient world developed in the valleys of two rivers in China–the Huang He (Yellow River, so named for its rich, yellow silt) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River).

Early Yellow Valley Civilization

Developed out of Neolithic settlements in Yellow River Valley

1750 – 1122 BCSHANG DYNASTY

Yellow River EconomyOnly 10% of China can

be used for farming b/c of mountains and deserts

The yellow river valley in particular lacked written language for an extensive period.

Because of this, documented economics are rare. What is known is that the civilization primarily focused on day to day agriculture, rather than spontaneous growth.

Yellow River Government

ZHOU DYNASTY1045 – 256 BCKing was believed to

connect Heaven and Earth

Yellow River Government• Mandate of Heaven:• Rulers had special

permission from the gods to rule but this permission could be revoked and given to another family if the current rulers misused their authority

Yellow River Social Structure• King ruled from the

capital city of Anyang. • His kingdom was

divided into different territories that were ruled by aristocratic warlords(military leaders).

Yellow River Family Life

• Family is very important for the Chinese culture. The authority of the family belongs to the father.

• A typical Chinese family contains a mother, father the sons and the unmarried daughters live in the home together.

Warring States Period• Around 300 BC, the

northwestern state of Qin began to conquer neighboring states

• Known as the Warring States Period in Chinese History

Consolidation of China• Qin Shi Huangdi:

The First EmperorShi Huangdi

• He introduced the following to China under the Qin Dynasty

• Centralized administrative system

• Standard system of weights and measures

• Uniform coinage system• Simplified standard alphabet• Began work on the Great Wall!

The Great Wall• Shi Huangdi

accomplished his work in only ten years

• Drove his people mercilessly

• Imposed heavy taxes, imposed forced labor, and brutally crushed all hints of dissent

Fall of the Qin Dynasty

• He became obsessed with finding a magic potion that would give him eternal life in last years

• Died in 210 BC while on a quest to find magic potion.

• His empire collapsed immediately in the midst of civil war

Emperor Qin Shi Hunagdi

Yellow River New Ruler

• Han Dynasty• 206 BC-220 AD• Founded by Lui Bang• Former bandit leader• Lui Bang continued

centralizing policies of Shi Huangdi but went easier on his people.

Han Dynasty• Restored Confucian

principals• Period of prosperity • Lowered taxes• Curtailed forced labor• Lightened up on

repression• Put Han Dynasty on firm

foundation that would last 400 years

Han Dynasty• Greatest of the Han

emperors• 157-87 BC• Extended Han power into

Tibet, Korea, and Mongolia

• Established relations with Japan

• Began work on the “Silk Road”

• Trade route that stretched from China, through India and the Middle East, and into Europe

The Silk Road and Cultural Diffusion

Yellow River Religion

• From 500 to 200 B.C., three schools of thought about human nature and the universe developed in China–

• Confucianism• Daoism• Legalism

Yellow River Religion

• Daoism’s chief ideas are in the book Tao Te Ching (The Way of the Dao).

• Daoists believe that the way to follow the Dao is inaction, not action.

• People should act spontaneously and let nature take its course.

Laozi. (the founder)

Daoism/Taoism

light and darkhigh and lowhot and coldfire and waterlife and deathmale and femalesun and moon

Yin/Yang symbolized harmonious action of nature and duality

Confusionism

• Confucius was known to the Chinese as the First Teacher.

• He was born in 551 B.C. • Motivated by Chinese

society’s moral decay and violence, Confucius tried to convince those in power to follow his ideas

Confuciuism• Duty & Humanity Ideas5 Constant Relationships:• Parent to child• Husband to wife• Older sibling to younger sibling• Older friend to younger friend• Ruler to subject• His ideas were political and

ethical, not spiritual.

Legalism

• Unlike Confucianism or Daoism, Legalism believed human beings were essentially evil.

• Legalism’s formula for social order was having a strong ruler and harsh, impersonal laws, both of which made people obedient through fear