ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHINA Camels are undoubtedly better equipped than humans to endure a sandstorm. Double rows of protective eyelashes and the ability to close their nostrils help them survive sandstorms.

THE SILK ROAD: CHINA MEETS THE WEST Emperor Wudi’s conquests in West brought Chinese into contact with the people of Central Asia Chinese new foods – grapes; garlic; walnuts Silk Road – major new trade route – China to Mediterranean Sea – covered 4,000 miles – hard and dangerous

A ROUTE FOR GOODS Goods passed from one trader to the next With each trade the price of goods went up Silk Road got its name from silk - a valuable cloth 1 st made in China Silkworms make the silk – methods guarded secrets – penalty for revealing them was death Trade silk with Europeans for glass, horses, ivory, woolens, & linen cloth

A ROUTE FOR IDEAS More than goods traveled the road – missionaries from India traveled to China & brought the religion of Buddhism Han dynasty ended – Buddhism was becoming major religion in China

OLD TRADITIONS, NEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS Return to teaching of Confucius Member of Civil Service required to be educated in Confucian teachings

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Poets wrote excellent poetry Scholars put together 1 st dictionary Greatest advance was in field of history No one was sure just when Chinese rulers had lived or what they accomplished Scholar – Sima Qian – wrote history of China from mythical times to emperor Wudi called Historical records

PAPER A.D Chinese invented paper 1 st paper made from tree bark, hemp, and old rags Strengthened with starch – then coated with gelatin, a gooey substance Han dynasty came to an end in the 200s A.D. People in China call themselves “The Children of Han”