Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY Edited by Ms. Steward Gateway Middle School Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY Edited by Ms. Steward Gateway Middle School

“Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BCE) Sinanthropus pekinesis

The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

Yellow River Civilization

Geographic Influences Isolated River valleys 1. Yellow(Huang He) earliest civilization - damaging floods 2. Yangtze- very important in unification- transportation- irrigation

HsiaHsia  Only know about this dynasty because of legend  Associated with invention of wheeled vehicles, ships, armor, pottery, and silk making

Hsia Plaque, 1700 BCE

Bronze Age Empires

Shang: BCE

Distinct Characteristics Raised silk worms; production of silk Bronze Age, daggers, sculptures, jade Ancestor worship The family was most important; not the government, not the self, not the religion

Oracle Bones

Society Peasants support nobles, officials, bureaucracy, etc. Government centered in towns Warrior elite; Poor live in primitive conditions Differences between rich and poor –price of civilization ?

The Evolution of Chinese Writing during the Shang Pictographs Semantic-Phonetics

Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE - jade Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE

Shang Bronzes

Western Zhou: BCE

Eastern Zhou: BCE

Zhou/Chou Dynasty Probable nomadic invaders ended Shang dynasty the Zhou dynasty –1027 B.C. replaced one ruling class with another –“meet the new boss...same as the old boss.”

Zhou Characteristics Decentralized government Local nobility Long running problem 771 B.C. Chou driven east

Political Theory The mandate of Heaven Universal monarch –favors consolidation –xenophobic Emperor is the Son of Heaven Feudal monarchy

“T’ien Ming” The Mandate of Heaven 1.The leader must lead by ability and virtue. 2.The dynasty's leadership must be justified by succeeding generations. 3.The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important.

Period of Warring States 771 B.C. Dozen-plus states Balance of power until 500’s Period of consolidation by warfare –warfare chronic

Development of Intellectual Movement Response to crisis and uncertainty Confucianism –a sort of philosophy Taoism –a sort of religion

Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou)

Ritual Wine Vessel – 4c bronze, silver, gold, copper

Zhou Coins - bronze

Imperial China’s Impact on History The Dynastic Cycle Secular Law Beginnings of political philosophy through which a ruler must prove he/she is legitimate –Mandate of Heaven

The Dynastic Cycle A new dynasty comes to power. Lives of common people improved; taxes reduced; farming encouraged. Problems begin (extensive wars, invasions, etc.) Taxes increase; men forced to work for army. Farming neglected. Govt. increases spending; corruption. Droughts, floods, famines occur. Poor loose respect for govt. They join rebels & attack landlords. Rebel bands find strong leader who unites them. Attack the emperor. Emperor is defeated !! The emperor reforms the govt. & makes it more efficient. Start here 

Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty B.C. Established China’s first empire Shi Huangdi ( BC) Legalist rule –Bureaucratic administration –Centralized control –Military expansion –Built large section of the Great Wall

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers & Cavalrymen

Cavalry

Individual Soldiers

The Details of an Individual Soldier

The Great Wall with Towers

Han dynasty Ruled for 400 years New bureaucracy Emphasis on centralization –weakening of the aristocracy Imperial expansion

 Paper invented [105 B.C.E.] Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many, cities develops  Buddhism introduced into China  Expanded into Central Asia Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.

-Advanced in science and literature -Invented rudder, paper, magnetic compass, acupuncture -Short period of Civil War- Sui Dynasty connected two rivers with canal- over extended Han Dynasty 206BCE-220 CE (Roman Times)

Han – Roman Empire Connection

Han Artifacts Imperial Seal Han Ceramic House

Ceramics, Later Han Period

Trade Routes of the Ancient World

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal Today

Tang Dynasty, C.E.  Imperial examination system perfected to recruit.  Liberal attitude towards all religions.  Spread of Buddhism in China  Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries.  Japan, Korea, Persia

Tang Dynasty CE Contributions Internal renewal(improved lives of people) and external expansion Set up university Tried to equalize land holdings- fought corruption

Tang Dynasty CE Contributions Literature and art flourished Inventions- paper during Han- used for clothes and writing Invented printing, gun powder, encyclopedia

Song [Sung] Dynasty, A.D. -Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class. -Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books. Magnetic compass makes China a great sea power!

Song Peasant Family

Song(Sung) Dynasty Moved the capitol east Economic expansion- used paper money, Used abacus Silk Road traffic at height –when dangerous went to sea routes –first period of great oceanic commerce –trades tea, silk and porcelain for exotic woods and precious stones

Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

Mongolian Steppes