Politics, Culture, and Society Classical China Politics, Culture, and Society

Political Institutions patriarchal family ancestor worship centralized government semi-autonomous villages ruled by nobles (feudal system) local authority justice local armies regional governors Bureaucracies civil service exams Confucian Schools Rulers were divinely promoted Military system present Established a Judicial system

Daoism Laozi (5th century B.C.E. Zhou dynasty) Founder of Daoism Means “the way of nature” more religious than legalism Appealed to the upper class Believes in the force of nature Ying & Yang Uses ethical codes Priests

Culture Art Science Math Calligraphy Pottery Jewelry Great Wall Developed 365.5. day calendar Astronomical Advances Medicine and Hygiene Found order in nature Acoustics

Society Agricultural based Three main social groups Only the wealthy upper class was literate Slavery- house slaves were common Inherited social status Father was a noble you were a noble Three main social groups Mandarins - Landowning aristocracy, educated bureaucrats Laboring Masses – peasants and artisans “Mean” people – unskilled laborers, lowest status

Society: Family Unity of Family Patriarchy Hierarchy Oldest son inherits property and position “There are no wrongdoing parents” – Confucius Women were subordinate to everyone except to younger women

Economics Trade Silk Road Silk Road Trade in Silk & Luxury products luxury items – sold to upper class Silks Jewelry Leather furniture Copper coins Facilitated trade with merchants Silk Road Trade in Silk & Luxury products India, Middle East, & Mediterranean societies traded with China for desired Chinese silk Mostly nomadic merchants traded & traveled

Innovative Legacy Ox-drawn plows Iron mining Pulleys & winding gear to pull minerals to the surface Iron tools & lamps Water-powered mills Creation of paper