Ancient China

Big Idea China's physical geography made farming possible but travel & communication difficult Developed along 2 rivers China's first dynasties helped Chinese society develop and made many other achievements

Review Section 1 Geography –Gobi Desert –Low-lying plains: farmland –Quinling Shandi: mountains Separates north/south China –Monsoons –Developed Huang He or Yellow River (China’s Sorrow) Chang Jiang, or Yangzi

Development of Farming Food –Rice -Cereal millet & wheat Location: Huang He & Chang Jiang Hunter & Fisherman Domestication animals Increase Population

Early Settlements Houses –Partly underground, covered roofs Walls –Surrounded towns Animal pens, storage pits, cemeteries Potters wheel

2 seperate cultures Separate cultures in North & South China Sanxingdui Hongshan

Burial Sites Provide information –Filled tombs with objects Food –Social Hierarchy –Beautiful jewelry Jade

Burial Sites Provide information –Filled tombs with objects Food –Social Hierarchy –Beautiful jewelry Jade

Xia Dynasty Yu the Great –founder Channels –Flooding to drain the water –Yu dug the channels??? Stories –Provide Chinese with stories of working together

Shang Dynasty 1500 B.C. In the Huang He Valley –Northern China Moved capital several times King center of life –Political –religious

Shang Dynasty Social Order King: Royal Family & Nobles Warriors Artisans: lived outside city walls Farmers: long hours, high taxes, no $ Slaves: source of labor

Shang Advancements China's first writing system –Writing found on oracle bones Cattle bones & turtle shells Priest would interpret the cracks Oracle: is a prediction Bronze containers Axes, ornaments, knives, war chariots, bows, body armor, calender

Section 2 Overview Zhou Dynasty expanded China but then declined Confucius offered ideas to bring order to the Chinese Daoism and Legalism also gained followers

Big Idea The Zhou dynasty brought political stability and new ways to deal with political and social changes in ancient China

Zhou Dynasty Overthrew the Shang Kings gained power through Heaven –Mandate of Heaven Lords & Peasants –Taxes & soldiers Lack of Loyalty from generation to generation

Decline of Zhou Power Fire Warring States Period –A time of many civil wars –China lacked a strong government to stop power struggles within the ruling class families Internal Problems –Families broke apart—decrease in loyalty

Confucius China was rude and people dishonest Wanted to restore family order and social harmony

Confucius Guidelines Fathers should display high moral values to inspire their families Children should respect and obey their parents All family members should be loyal to each other

Ideas on Government Moral leadership, not laws A king should lead by example inspiring good behavior in all of his subjects The lower classes would learn by following the example of their superiors.

Confucius Great Teacher The Analects

Daoism Reaction to Confucianism Government stay out of peoples lives Be like water Balance of opposites: low high Dao Natural world Laozi

Legalism Political Philosophy Government & Social Control Reject Confucianism and Daoism Society-Strict laws –People and neighbors and family punished Always be ready for war to expand territory

The Qin Dynasty Main Ideas –The first Qin Emperor created a strong but strict government. –A unified China was created through Qin policies and achievements.

The Qin Dynasty Main Ideas –The first Qin Emperor created a strong but strict government. –A unified China was created through Qin policies and achievements.

Big Idea The Qin Dynasty unified China with a strong government and a system of standardization.

Qin Dynasty Developed a strong military during the Warring State (civil war period) Qin king Ying Zheng: –Named himself: Shi Huangdi “first emperor” Legalism Strong government Strict laws Harsh punishments

Shi Huangdi Must follow his policies Burning of books –Opposition buried alive Expanded Empire –When they conquered a city they destroyed the walls and took all the weapons

Change in the Rules He did not share power He took away land from nobles He forced people to work on government buildings He controlled China by dividing it into districts with governors being which enforced the tax system

Unified China Uniform system of laws (everyone does the same thing) –Rules –Laws –Writing Symbols –Money System –Weight & Measures

Unified China Trade became easier Severe Punishments if you did not obey

Qin Achievements Roads- connected to the capital Water system-canals Irrigation System- still used today Great Wall

The Fall of the Qin New policies stirred resentment –Peasant, scholars, nobles Shi Huangdi died in 210 B.C. Rebels formed and said the received the “Mandate of Heaven” Country falls to civil war