2000 BCE – 220 CE

Satellite View of China

China’s Provinces

China—Asia’s Superpower

China vs. the U. S. in Size China United States

Comparing China & the U. S. China United States Size 3.7 million square miles 3.6 million square miles Main physical barrier HimalayasRockies Main River Yangtze / East - West Mississippi / North – South Population East Coast Connectivity problems North - South East - West

Pacific “Rim of Fire”

Bodies of Water Huang-He River Y e l l o w S e a Yangtze River Pacific Ocean Amur River Xi River South China Sea Sea of Japan

The Polluted Yellow River! VOCABULARY Loess

The Yangtze River

China’s Climate Zones

Precipitation in China

Arable Land

“Brown” China vs. “Green” China Rice Dominant Wheat Dominant Pasture and Oasis Double-crop rice

China as % of World Population

The Population of China thousands

“Chung Kuo” (The “Middle Kingdom”)

Bronze Age Empires

Shang Religion n Animism – The belief that spirits inhabit everything. n Ancestor Worship n Shang Di – A god who controlled the forces of nature n Oracle Bones

Oracle Bones

The Evolution of Chinese Writing During PictographsSemantic-Phonetics

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

Shang Urn

Shang Bronzes

Ritual Wine Vessel – Bronze, 13c BCE

Western Zhou: BCE

Zhou Coins - Bronze

“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.

The Dynastic Cycle 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 lose 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 

Early Ideology n Yin and Yang n Yin: female, dark, weak, wet, passive n Yang: male, bright, strong, dry, active n balance of opposites

Zhou Contributions n Feudalism –Kings > Local Lords > Peasants Feudal Lords Gain Power n Iron Age n The First Bound Books n Astronomers Study Planets & Eclipses

Silk Worms

* 551 – 479 B.C.E. * Born in the feudal state of Liu. * Became a teacher and editor of books. * Filial Piety (Respect your elders!) * Social Order / Education

1. Ruler Subject 2. Father Son 3. Husband Wife 4. Older Brother Younger Brother 5. Older Friend Younger Friend

* Status * Age * Gender

* The single most important Confucian work. * In Chinese, it means “conversation.” * Focus on practicalities of interpersonal relationships and the relationship of the role of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government.

INDIA 1. Brahmin CHINA 1. Scholar-Gentry 2. Kshatriyas 2. Peasants 3. Vaishyas 4. Shudras 3. Artisans 4. Merchants UntouchablesSoldiers Imperial Nobility Domestic Slaves

*His name means “Old Master” * Contemporary of Confucius * The Dao De Ching, The Classic in the Way and Its Power

1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning. 2. Relying on the senses and instincts. 3. Discovering the nature and “rhythm” of the universe. 4. Ignoring political and social laws. To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:

* Masculine * Active * Light * Warmth * Strong * Heaven; Sun * Feminine * Passive * Darkness * Cold * Weak * Earth; Moon

How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity?? Confucianism --> Moral order in society. Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order. Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less govt. to avoid uniformity and conformity.

Qin Dynasty 221 BCE – 206 BCE

China under the Qin dynasty, B.C.E.

Emperor Shi Huangdi n Means “First Emperor” n Ruled by the Legalist theory n Autocracy n Standardization: Coins, Measurements, Writing n Massive conscription for labor –His Necropolis –Great Wall of China Begun

1. Human nature is naturally selfish. 2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged. 3. Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality. 4. The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand. 5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.

n The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. n Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.

The Great Wall of China

Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE

The Han Dynasty & Tributary States

Han Achievements n Civil Service Exam founded by Emperor Wudi n Paper n The Rudder n Astronomers observe sunspots n Acupuncture n Silk Road n Buddhism spreads after the Han fall

The Silk Road in the 1 st Century

Reasons for the Han Dynasty’s Fall n Political – Emperors after Wudi unable to control powerful warlords n Economic – Canals and roads fell into disrepair, destroying commerce. High taxes led to revolt n Military – Warlords overthrew and divided. Invaders pass the Great Wall. Leads to 400 years of disunity.