Chapter 3 Discussion and Review

China’s Flourishing Civilization

Ancient China’s Topography Topographical features that lead to isolation: Gobi Desert: one of the driest in the world Himalayas: 43% of China’s land is mountainous!

Impact of China’s Geography Long distances and physical barriers isolated China, blocking cultural diffusion Protecting China from invasion 3. Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth and the only civilization.

Timeline of China’s Earliest Dynasties

Writing of the Shang on a tortoise shell. The Shang Dynasty First writing system: However, few in China would learn to read and write! Writing of the Shang on a tortoise shell.

Religious beliefs of the Shang Veneration of ancestors people prayed to ancestors who would speak to the gods on their behalf Oracle bones Used by Shamans to understand the will of the gods and to foresee the future Wrote a question on animal bones or turtle shells and heated it till it broke When it cracked priests interpreted the lines Gods controlled the forces of nature and shaped destinies.

The Shang Dynasty A class system and division of labor developed during this dynasty: Warrior and hunting aristocracy was most prominent Bronze was sign of status, wealth and used in rituals nobles, artisans, peasant farmers and slaves

More Shang Contributions Bronze weapons are cast. Horse-drawn chariots are used.

Downfall of the Shang Dynasty Slave revolt in 1122 B.C.E led to downfall of Shang dynasty

importance of the Mandate of Heaven in the transition from the Shang to the Zhou period Used to legitimize and strengthen their claims to the Shang domain chief god “Heaven” the king was the “Son of Heaven” king’s rule was a product of the “Mandate of Heaven” Incompetent or otherwise unfit would lose the “Mandate of Heaven” allowed the development of important largely secular philosophies during the Zhou period.

Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C.–256 B.C.) Great advances in technology and their economy and commerce grew. Developed trade routes Population increased. First official coins in China

Religion or Philosophy? Traditional Chinese beliefs are often mistakenly called religion and they are not… Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism are not religions! They are philosophies the Chinese regard as more important than religion.

Confucianism

Teachings of Confucius China’s most influential scholar was Kongfuzi (551-479 BCE) concerned with: how to ensure social order good government. His teachings were collected in a work called the Analects Written by his students

Teachings of Confucius Confucius & The Analects His ideas included that everyone has duties and responsibilities: Filial piety, or respect for parents, is the most important duty. A ruler has the responsibility to provide good government. In return, the people would be respectful and loyal subjects. Government leaders and officials should be well educated. Harmony is achieved when people accept their place in society.

Legalism Hanfeizi People are evil Emphasized the importance of strict laws and harsh punishments Strong leader and central government Became official policy of Qin dynasty Hanfeizi

Daoism Emphasized living in harmony with nature, for example, improving oneself mentally and physically. A direct reaction to the formalism of Confucianism: Daoism looked for the simple Confucianism more concerned with work ethic and proper conduct Laozi

Yin and Yang They are the dynamic force of the Tao, constantly interacting with one another Ying and Yang The female is the yin (shady) principal of passive, shaded, and reflective. (moon) The male is the yang (sunny) principle of active, bright, and shining. (sun) Yang "sun” Yin "moon"

Explain concept of yin and yang and how it represents the relationship between men and women. Patriarchal family importance of hierarchy the dominance of men over women. Father has supreme authority! arranged marriages Men were permitted to have concubines, but only one wife. Role of the wife bear male offspring and honor the ancestors. Ying and Yang represent the balance of the natural order All things in the cosmos are in balance men and women play complementary roles in the natural order.

The Dynastic Cycle in China The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall of dynasties.

3 Kingdoms of Egypt Old Kingdom (2700 BCE -2200 BCE) Pharaohs organized a strong central state Policy of isolation Pyramid Age Middle Kingdom (2050 BCE – 1800 BCE) Corruption and rebellion were common Hyksos invaded and occupied the delta region (1648 -1540 BCE) New Kingdom (1550 BCE – 1100 BCE) The empire will extend to its greatest size (Syria and Nubia Nubian Kingdom Meroe took control of Egypt as the twenty-fifth dynasty (712-660 BCE) Driven out of Egypt by the Assyrians 332 BCE Alexander of Macedon conquered Egypt Ptolemaic Egypt Ended in 51 BCE when the Romans conquered them

Hatshepsut: The Lady Pharaoh 1473 – 1458 BCE Egypt’s only female pharaoh!

Great Leaders of the New Kingdom Ramses II: most effective leader. (1279 BCE – 1213 BCE) ---What is he famous for? Pharaoh of the Exodus? The most powerful pharaoh, Ramses II expanded Egypt to the height of its power Palestine to Syria Ramses II

Ancient Greece-Unit #3 3000 B.C.E. – 133 B.C.E.

Geography of Greece Rocky, rugged terrain Poor soil; only 30% can support crops No extensive river system Few natural resources Required significant food imports

Located on the island of Crete The Minoans 2500 B.C. – 1400 B.C. Located on the island of Crete A trading empire… took ideas from Egypt and Mesopotamia Traders not fighters… Why? Dominated the seas with no competition

Rulers of Mycenae Around 1900 B.C.E., a central Asian people began settling in mainland Greece Spoke Greek Intermarried with the locals Became interested in trade because of the poor soil and few natural resources

The Mycenaean World of Ancient Greece

The Trojan War The traditional legend is believed to reflect a real war Between mainland Greeks and the inhabitants of Troy Troy was destroyed by fire between 1230 – 1180 BCE

Helen being stolen by Paris! BUT… legend “tells us” that is about a Trojan youth kidnapping the wife of a Greek king! Why? Because he could not live without her… We love it don’t we… and so did the Greeks! Helen being stolen by Paris!

Why So Remembered??? Cause? desire to plunder the wealthy city or to put an end to Troy's commercial control of the Mediterranean and Black Sea purely economical

Displaced populations migrated to new areas, creating a domino effect. What were the reasons for the nearly simultaneous collapse of several civilizations in the Middle East and Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age? Many centers of civilization were either destroyed or lost significant territories around the year 1200 B.C.E. Egypt lost land and trading connections The Mycenaean Greek civilization also fell The nearly simultaneous collapse of those disparate civilizations reveals their interdependence through complex trade, diplomatic, and technological links. Competition for limited resources led to internal unrest and political collapse. Displaced populations migrated to new areas, creating a domino effect.