How did geography influence the development of Ancient China?

How did geography influence the development of Ancient China? China is a very diverse land including deserts, mountains and fertile river basins. Most early people settled along the Huang He River.

Geographic Features Huang He River Yangtze River Loess (silt) Gobi Desert Pacific Ocean Himalayan Mts. Jungles

How did geography influence the development of Ancient China? Huang He & Yangtze Rivers were used for transportation and irrigation. Irrigation was very important to produce rice and wheat. Rivers deposited a layer of rich soil, called loess.

How did geography influence the development of Ancient China? Ancient China was very isolated from other civilizations. Because of their isolation, the early Chinese believed they were the only civilization in the world. Ethnocentrism: the belief that your culture is superior to all others;

How did geography influence the development of Ancient China? Only 10-12% of the land was usable for farming. Chinese farmers used terrace farming techniques to produce rice during the Ming Dynasty.

Ancient Dynasties Xia (first) Shang Zhou (longest) Qin (Chin) 2100 BCE – 1800 BCE Shang 1500BCE- 1100BCE Mandate of Heaven Zhou (longest) 1100BCE – 256BCE Confucianism during Axial Age (ca. 500 BCE) Qin (Chin) China gets its name from this dynasty 7

The Shang Dynasty 1650-1027 B.C.E. 1650 B.C.E.- communities merged into a small kingdom ruled by Shang leaders Most people were farmers Grew millet and other crops in the Huang He valley Huang He valley loess was very fertile surplus in food growth in population

End of the Shang Dynasty Shang kings constantly at war with surrounding kingdoms Zhou kingdom defeated Shang

The Zhou Dynasty 1027 BCE – 221 BCE

Where did Zhou start?

The Zhou Comes into Power 1027 BCE – 221 BCE The Zhou people moved East and came into contact with the Shang Dynasty 1150 B.C. º Zhou attacked the Shang Dynasty

Compare & contrast Zhou Dinasty Shang Dinasty

Mandate of Heaven Heaven gave to the emperors the Right to rule. When an emperor was weak or disasters occurred, the emperor lost the Mandate of Heaven.

Zhou Division of Classes Give Land to Nobles Military Service for King Farm and Serve Nobles Protect the Peasants

The Decline of the Zhou Power and good standing of the Zhou kings weakened. People to the north and to the west invaded the valley of the Wei River These civil wars were called Warring States.

Confucianism To Improve society and achieve good government, a code of ethical conduct 1. Careful observance of ancient traditions 2. Reverence for learning 3. Cherishing of honesty 4. Devotion to one’s parents, family, friends 5. Obedience to the rule: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”

Started by Confucius 1. Lived 551-479 BCE 2. Urged individuals to participate forcefully in society and recommended vigorous government action 3. A ruler who practiced the Confucian virtues would govern as an influential parental force. 4. Confucianism placed little attention on the hereafter. (life after life)

As Confucianism evolved… 1. The original stress on tradition became associated with ancestor worship 2. For more than 2000 yrs, dominated Chinese daily life and politics 3. Confucian writings served as official school textbooks 4. Stabilized society, but retained progress

Qin Dynasty

Qin Dynasty 221 B.C. - 206 B.C. First Emperor: Qin Shih Huangdi Began Great Wall It was short-lived.

Geography Qin Dynasty Extended Chinese territory to the south Reached up to present-day Hong Kong on the South China Sea and Northern Vietnam.

Trade

Maritime Silk Road- began in the Han dynasty The 7000 mile route spanned China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires. The maritime routes opened by Emperor Han Wudi provided access to the Roman Empire via India. Increased the number of foreign merchants present in China

The Arts Qin Dynasty The arts did not exist in the Qin Dynasty because it was considered an unnecessary item in China because it taught people to have their own thoughts.

Literature/Sacred Writings/Writing System Several writers elaborated Confucian philosophy during the Han dynasty. Learning and reciting poetry became significant part of Chinese education During the Qin Dynasty, the language was unified as one dialect.

In the north, to guard against barbarian invasion, Shih Huangdi built a Great Wall, extending over 3000 miles, wide enough for chariots to move along its crest. This wall is probably the largest construction project in human history. It was done with conscripted labor of peasantry by the central bureaucracy

Han Dynasty: The Silk Road In order to make trade possible , Emperor Wudi began to develop what has been called in modern times, the silk road. Following this route merchant traders took silk from China to the West, and brought glass, linen, and gold back to China.