DROPBOX ANCIENT CHINA WORK #1 V-SHARE 1.CHINA VIDEO NOTES 2.CHINESE SOCIETY NOTES

Ancient Chinese Society

I. Geography 1. Mountains A. Make up 1/3 of China’s area 2. Huang He River A. Known as the Yellow River 1. A rich yellow soil carried in river gives it its name.

I. Geography

Yellow River Great Wall Qin Dynasty

II. Early History (2000 BC) 1. Yu the Great A. Founded first Chinese dynasty named the Xia (SYAH) around 2000 BC. B. Scientists have yet to find evidence of the Xia dynasty

III. The Chinese Dynasties 1. Government A. China was governed by rulers who ruled in a succession of ruling families called dynasties.

III. The Chinese Dynasties 1. Government B. Chinese rulers ruled under the Mandate of Heaven 1. If rulers were just and effective they received this mandate 2. If rulers did not govern properly: a. Indicated by poor crops, military losses b. Rulers lose mandate and someone can challenge ruler and take over

III. The Chinese Dynasties 2. Early Religion A. Oracle Bones(shoulder bones of cattle) 1. Priests would write questions on these bones and heat them in a fire 2. The Priests would interpret the cracks on the bones to predict future events and divine messages. (Especially from the spirits of ancestors)

III. The Chinese Dynasties 2. Early Religion A. Oracle Bones(shoulder bones of cattle)

III. The Chinese Dynasties 3. The Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 210 BC) A. Ruler: Qin Shi Huangdi “First Emperor” B. Advances 1. Developed a system of weights and measures to standardized trade 2. Standardized Coins 3. Developed a uniform writing system 4. Set up a code of law throughout China

III. The Chinese Dynasties 3. The Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 210 BC) A. Ruler: Qin Shi Huangdi “First Emperor” B. Advances

III. The Chinese Dynasties 3. The Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 210 BC) C. The Great Wall of China 1. Migratory invaders raided Chinese settlements from the north. Qin Shi Huangdi built the Great Wall as a line of defense against invasions. 2. Scholars believe between 300,000 to 1 million peasants died constructing the many pieces of the wall.

III. The Chinese Dynasties 3. The Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 210 BC) C. The Great Wall of China

III. The Chinese Dynasties 3. The Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 210 BC) D. Lasted only 15 years but produced many lasting changes in Chinese life. In fact, the Western name “China” comes from the name of this dynasty.

IV. Contributions of Classical China 1. Civil Service System A. Eventually candidates had to take examinations to qualify for government jobs.

IV. Contributions of Classical China 2. Paper 3. Porcelain – Is a type of pottery that is durable, easy to rinse, delicately decorated. 4. Silk – The spun thread of silkworms cocoons and created woven silk cloth from the thread.

V. The Silk Road 1.Facilitated trade and contact between China and other cultures as far as Rome. 2. Chinese caravans carried jade, silk, and other valuable goods. 3. These Chinese caravans returned to China with Greek and Roman gold, silver, and wool

V. The Silk Road

DATABASE TERMS 1. Dynasty 2. Mandate of Heaven 3. Oracle Bones 4. Qin Shi Huangdi 5. The Great Wall of China 6. Civil Service System 7. Paper 8. Porcelain 9. Silk 10. The Silk Road 11. Trade Caravan 12. Monopoly