Chapter 8 Ancient China

1. Chapter 8 Ancient China

2. Geography Shapes Life in Ancient ChinaChapter 8 Lesson 1 • Located on the Eastern side of Asia • Lies about same latitude lines as United States • Bordered on the east by the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean • Deserts edge the northern and western lands. • North—Gobi Desert • West—Taklimakan Desert • Mountain ranges form tight curve on western border • Pamir, Tian Shan, and Himalaya mountains.

3. Isolated by Barriers • Did not interact with other civilizations because geographically separated from other civilizations because of: • Mountain ranges • Deserts • Large bodies of water • Made spread of ideas difficult

4. Two River System • Chang Jiang/Yangtze located in central China • Huang He/Yellow River is located to the north • Both deposit yellow silt • Farming done between the two rivers—area called North China Plain

5. A Varied Climate • Western China: dry like Western United States • Northern China: like New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, etc.) • Wheat and millet grown in the drier northern lands • Southeast China: like southern United States • Rice grown in the moist climate

6. Shang Dynasty • Around 2000 B.C. farming settlements along the Huang He grew into cities. • The beginning of Chinese culture developed. • China is the oldest, longest lasting civilization in the world!

7. Shang Kings • Dynasty: line of rulers from the same family • 1766 B.C. Shang family started to rule some cities. • Kings were responsible for religious activities. • Claimed to rule with gods’ permission • Controlled central portion of North China Plain • Relatives ruled distant areas • Protected themselves from nomads, the Zhou, to the North and west with chariots.

8. Shang Families • Respect for family and ancestors very important • Family was closely tied to religion • Believes spirits of ancestors could bring good fortune to family • Family paid respect to father’s ancestors by making animal sacrifices • Men were in charge of the family

9. Developing Language • Oracle bones—animal bones or turtle shells on which Shang royal priests used to interpret messages from the gods. • Priests would make scratch marks on bones and shells—early form of writing

10. Developing Language Continued… • Pictograph system of writing developed • Used simple drawings/symbols for words or ideas • To barely be able to read and write must know at least 1,500 Characters in the Chinese alphabet • Scribe needed to know 10,000 characters

11. The Zhou Dynasty • 1027 B.C. the Zhou ruler, Wu Wang, defeated the Shang dynasty. • A new dynasty was started. • Adopted many Shang ways and started the pattern of Chinese culture.

12. Dynastic Cycle

13. Zhou Government • Did not have strong central government. • Family members or trusted friends were put in control of regions • Regions owed military service to the Zhou king, and the king would protect their lands. • As cities grew lords became more powerful and fought against themselves to expand Chinese territory.

14. The Time of the Warring States • 800 B.C. Invaders killed the Zhou king, but the Zhou family escaped and set up a new capital. • The Warring States: Starting around 403 B.C., Lords and regions fought constantly due to the fact the Zhou kings were weak.

15. China’s Ancient Philosophies Chapter 8 Lesson 2

16. Legalism • Philosophy: study of basic truths and ideas about the universe • Legalism: a belief that rulers should use the legal system to force people to obey laws • These people believed a strong government was the answer to China’s problems.

17. Strict Laws and Harsh Punishments • Legalists’ beliefs: • Human nature is naturally wicked, and people must be forced to do good. • Government must pass strict laws to control the way people behave • Harsh punishments make people fear doing wrong.

18. An Increase of Government Control • Shang Yang wanted people to turn in others who broke the law. • He thought that people who did not report lawbreakers should be punished. • Legalists: • thought those who did their duty should be rewarded. • did not want people to complain about government. • Favored arresting people who questioned the government or taught different ideas. • Thought rulers should burn books that contained different philosophies or ideas.

19. Confucianism • Lived 551-479 B.C. • Developed ideas to end conflict and have peace in all relationships • Believed: • respect for others was absolutely necessary for peace and harmony • Government leaders should set a good example • Students collected Confucius’ teachings and ideas to make book called the Analects which Confucianism is based.

20. The Five Relationships • Confucius created code of proper conduct for people. • Each relationship has its own duties and own code of conduct. • Relationships fall under two categories: • Proper conduct in the family • Proper conduct in society

21. Proper Conduct Society • Authority should be respected. • Ruler should lead in a right, moral way and subjects will obey. • Ruler should treat subjects with respect. Family • Confucius believed respect and good behavior started at home. • Filial Piety—respect for one’s parents and ancestors

22. The Impact of Confucianism • Confucianism set out clear family and social roles. • Chinese found ways to avoid problems and live peacefully. • Many rulers tried to follow philosophy. • By encouraging education, Confucius laid groundwork for fair and skilled government officials.

23. Daoism & The Way • Is said to be started with Laozi, “Old Master”. • Book of teachings called Dao De Jing (The Book of the Virtue) • Believes “The Way” or Dao guides all things. • All creatures except humans follow Dao • Humans must learn to live in harmony with nature and with their inner feelings to find the way.

24. Following the Way • Daoistsaccepted things as they were. • Did not become involved with government • Tried to understand nature and live in harmony with it. • Yin Yang: two things that interact with one another • Yin (black): all things cold, dark, and mysterious • Yang (white): all that is warm, bright, and light. • Compliment each other • Helps people understand how the fit into the world.

25. The Qin and the Han Lesson 3

26. The Qin Unified China—A Legalistic Ruler • New ruler came from state of Qin • New emperor -- Shi Huangdi • Stopped battles within warring states. Co • Conquered rival states • Drove out nomadic invaders • China grew the largest it had ever been!

27. A Legalistic Ruler Continued… • Shi Huangdi didn’t believe in Confucian teachings • Killed 460 government critics and Confucianists • Ordered burning of books that had ideas he disliked.

28. Uniting China • Wanted total control of China: • Took land away from defeated noble families • Forced nobles to live at the capital so he could watch them • This weakened noble families’ power. • Shi Huangdi build highways and irrigation projects. • Forced peasants to work on projects • Set high taxes for peasants to pay • Made a standard measure of weights, coins, and writing to unite the country.

29. The Great Wall of China • Shi Huangdi planned the Great Wall along the northern border to keep out invaders. • Thousands of peasants and criminals forced to build it. • Many died and the people resented the emperor. • Great Wall linked many small walls that were built during the time of the Warring States. • Earliest walls built of earth, later stone and brick were used.

30. The Qin Dynasty Ends • Shi Huandi died in 210 B.C.E. • Created an elaborate tomb with terra cotta soldiers. • Archeologists discovered the soliders in 1974

31. Han Dynasty • The Han Dynasty began in 202 B.C.E. after Liu Bang defeated the Qin forces.

32. Han Government • Liu Bang kept Qin policies of central government, but lowered taxes. • Made punishments less harsh. • Peasant men owed the government a month of labor/work a year on government projects. • Peasants built roads, canals, and irrigation projects.

33. Han Government Cont… • Bureaucracy: network of appointed officials that assist in government • Officials helped Liu Bang enforce rules. • Bureaucrats put family members and trusted people in local government positions. • Set up a system of tests to find the most educated and ethical people for the imperial bureaucratic state. • Tested people on their knowledge of Confucianism.

34. Empress Rules • Liu Bang died 195 B.C. • Widow, Empress Lu took the thrown for their young son. • Outlived son and continued to put babies on the throne so she could rule for them. • When she died in 180 B.C. all her family members were killed.

35. Expanding the Empire • Wudi (descendent of Liu Bang) ruled the Han empire from 141-87 B.C.E. • Made many military conquests including southern Chinese provinces, northern Vietnam, and northern Korea. • Chased nomadic invaders out of northern China • China was almost as large as modern day China. • The Han empire faced rebellions, peasant revolts, floods, famine, and economic disasters, but stayed in power until 220 C.E./A.D.

36. Daily Life in Han China • Majority of society lived and worked on farms. • Farmers lived in one to two story houses in villages near their farm. • Barns, pigsties, and storage buildings were located in the village. • Rich farmers had ox to pull their plows while poor farmers had to pull the plows themselves.

37. Daily Life in Han China Cont… • Farmers wore simple clothing and sandals like today. • Clothing was stuffed like quilts for colder weather. • Northern farmers grew wheat or millet. • Southern farmers grew rice. • Families kept vegetable gardens for additional food. • Fish and meat were expensive so people ate small portions.

38. City Living • Cities were centers of trade, education, and government. • Merchants, craftspeople, and government officials lived in the city. • Cities were crowded and had lots of entertainment • Included musicians, jugglers, and acrobats • Some cities had street gangs.

39. The Legacy of Ancient China Chapter 8, Lesson 4

40. The Silk Road • Only Chinese new how to make silk during the Han dynasty. • Silk is a luxury fabric around the world.

41. A Trans-Eurasian Link • Silk Roads: land trade routes that people took to trade silk and other goods on caravan trails. • Trails stretched from China to central Asia to Mesopotamia to Europe. • Trans-Eurasian: stretched across two continents and part of global trade network. • Goods leaving China included: • Silk • Paper • Pottery • Goods exchanged from the west included: • Sesame seeds and oil • Metals • Precious stones • horses

42. Cultural Diffusion • Cultural Diffusion: the spread of ideas and customs • Cultural diffusion also was traded on the Silk Road. • For example: • Military methods • Buddhism • Western cultural styles • Art • Silks • pottery

43. The Spread of Buddhism • During Han Dynasty Buddhist monks took the Silk Road spreading the religion to China, Japan, and Korea. • Chinese Buddhists modified the religion to fit their traditions.

44. Influential Ideas and Beliefs Confucianism • Confucianism remained important in Chinese government and education. • Ideas about social duty are still important to villages. • Became influential philosophy in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Daoism • Had a lasting influence. • By 6th century became religion with priests, rituals, and volumes of writings. • Remained primarily a Chinese belief.

45. Chinese Inventions and Discoveries Agricultural Improvements • The plow and farm tools increased crop production • For example: • Collar harness • Wheelbarrow • Better plow • Watermill Paper • Books used to be made out of silk. • 105 A.D./C.E. paper was invented by china • Made it less expensive for everyone. • Important in a culture that valued learning. Silk • China lacked gold and silver. • Important to trade silk for this scarcity • Silk is can be dyed brightly and is long lasting. • 1 lb. silk equals 1 lb. of gold/silver