1. Can you guess who invented the following?

4. Geography China is located on the continent of Asia.
The climate in ancient China includes seasons similar to those in North America.
The ancient Chinese fished, farmed, and irrigated the land. There is a variety of plant life in China.
The land in ancient China consists of forests, hills, mountains, and deserts.

6. Yangtze River The Yangtze (Long River)
third longest river in the world
It is about 4000 miles long.
It floods each year and leaves fertile soil along the banks.
has high banks, which keeps homes safe from the annual flooding 

7. The Huang He The Huang He (Yellow River) about 3000 miles long
It also floods each year.
The banks along the Huang He River are low.
Civilization in ancient China began along the Yellow River about 5000 years ago. 

8. The Great Sorrow
People called all rivers in China by the nickname "The Great Sorrow". 
Each year during the flood season, all homes along the Huang He River were destroyed.
The ancient Chinese had to rebuild their homes and their lives.
People learned the techniques of flood control. The rich began to build their homes high above the river.

9. Chinese Civilization Begins
Approximately 4,500 B.C.E.
Began settling into farming villages along the Huang He River, then along the Yangtze River
People tamed animals
Used to provide food
Helped with farming

10. Chinese Civilization Begins cont.
Used irrigation
Used bronze and copper tools
Silk (a major resource in China) also was developed.
Writing system existed

11. Dynasties Dynasties- a succession of rulers in the same family
Rule was passed down from father to son.
Dynasties lasted for hundreds of years.
Dynasties
Xia (Hsia)       
Shang
Chou (Zhou)         
Late Chou
Ch'in (Qin)
Han
T'ang
   

12. Ancient China Cheat Sheet
Early Period
10,000 – 1,500 B.C.E.
Xia Dynasty
Silk
Baked brick houses
Flood control and irrigation
Bronze Age
1,500 – 600 B.C.E.
Shang and Chou Dynasties
Chinese writing
Mandate of Heaven
chariots
bronze
Classical Age
600 B.C.E. – 200 C.E.
Late Chou, Ch’in, and Han Dynasties
Confucius
Taoism
Great Wall

13. Ancient China Cheat Sheet cont.
Age of Division
-200 – 600 C.E.
A bunch of dynasties
Invention of gunpowder
Tea first started to be enjoyed
Early Medieval Period
600 – 900 C.E.
T’ang dynasty
Called the Golden Age
Buddhism
“Tea and Horse” policy
Many inventions during this time

14. Religion Believed appointed rulers were gods Mandate of Heaven
Based on four principles:
The right to rule is granted by Heaven.
There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler.
The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler.
The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty.

15. Confucius Born in China about 2,500 years ago Teacher and thinker
Developed system of ethics
Taught people how to behave and how to get along
Stressed need of family and state
Philosophy called Confucianism

16. Buddhism A religion based on the teachings of Buddha
Teaches that desire causes pain
To get rid of pain, a person must overcome desire and attachment to things of this earth.
Person must meditate and follow Eightfold Path

17. Four Noble Truths/Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths- life is ruled by four truths
Life is filled with suffering.
Suffering is caused by people’s wants.
Suffering can be ended if people stop wanting things.
Eightfold Path- 8 laws to stop people from wanting things

18. Eightfold Path To know the truth To intend to resist evil
To not say anything to hurt others
To respect life, property, and morality
To work at a job that does not injure others
To try to free one’s mind from evil
To be in control of one’s feelings and thoughts
To practice appropriate forms of concentration

19. Taoism Tao (pronounced Dow) means “The Way (to happiness)
Taoism is NOT a religion.
Philosophy- way of looking at life and a way of thinking about things
Taoists believe if you look at life and think about things in the right way, you’ll be much happier.

20. Taoism cont. Think of the story of The Ugly Duckling
When does the duckling stop feeling ugly?
When he recognizes who he really is, which would be a beautiful swan.
He finds his way to happiness.

21. Great Wall
built over 2,000 years ago by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C B.C.).
About 5,000 km long
Built as a form of
defense from nomadic
groups and invaders

22. Silk Road Not actually a road- a route that led from China to Rome
4,000 miles long
Rome had gold, silver, and precious gems.
China had silk, spices, and ivory.
Ideas also traveled along the Silk Road; ideas that affected everyone.

23. Silk Road continued Romans were in the search of “the Silk People”.
Sent people on the search
Routes were dangerous- faced desolate white-hot sand dunes in the desert, forbidding mountains, brutal winds, and poisonous snakes. 

24. Chinese Inventions Paper Silk Matches Wheelbarrows Gunpowder
the decimal system
the waterwheel
tangrams
Medicines
Dominoes
jump rope
Kites
tea ceremony
Folding umbrella
Ink
Calligraphy
Sundial
Astronomy
porcelain china
lacquer paint
pottery
Fireworks
paper money
Compass
Seismograph
Cards
Printing
Abacus
Wallpaper
the crossbow
ice cream