1. Ancient China

2. Geography
Like India, first people in China settled near two rivers, the Huang He (Yellow River) in the north and Chang Jiang (Yangzi River) in the south.
Mountains to the south and west kept the country relatively isolated and resulted in a feeling that they were the center of the universe.
Over time, dynasties, or families began to take power.

3. Shang Dynasty Established by 1500s BC
First Chinese writing system - 2,000+ symbols, basis for modern symbols
Oracle bones – priests carved questions about future on cattle bones and turtle shells then heated them, causing them to crack. Priests believed they could “read” the cracks to predict the future.

4. Shang Dynasty
Art – bronze containers for cooking and religious ceremonies, axes, knives, jade ornaments.
War – war chariots, powerful bows, bronze armor
Calendar based on cycles of moon.

5. Zhou Dynasty
Shang rulers overthrown by rebels from western China, and the Zhou dynasty born.
Longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history ( BC)
Mandate of heaven - Zhou claimed they had been chosen by heaven and given power to rule China.
Social order - emperor at top, gave land to lords in exchange for loyalty or military service, peasants at bottom growing food.

6. Warring States Warring States Period
Invaders attack capital in 771 BC, lords wouldn’t fight, emperor overthrown, Zhou dynasty breaks down.
China breaks apart into many kingdoms that fight against each other.
This period came to an end when one of the states, Qin, became strong enough to defeat all its rivals.

7. Qin Dynasty Qin Government
The Qin king unified all of China and named himself Shi Huangdi, which means “first emperor.” (Talk more about him in a moment.)
Refused to share power, so lords lost many rights.
Ordered thousands of noble families to move to his capital, now called Xi’an, so would be less likely to rebel.
Strong ruler, but dynasty fell apart after his death.

8. Qin Dynasty Qin Achievements
People all over China acted and thought same way.
System of laws that applied equally to people in all parts of China.
New, uniform system of money
Uniform system of writing
Built huge network of roads and canals that linked the empire and made travel and trade easier.

9. The Great Wall Greatest Qin achievement
“The Longest Cemetery on Earth” – 1 million laborers, 300,000 of them died
Original wall = 3,100
Later additions = 5,500
Possibly as many as 31,070 miles of other walls (could wrap around the Earth 1 ½ times), though no one knows for sure
CANNOT be seen from the moon.
Deconstructing History
Misconceptions

10. Shi Huangdi
Known for his brutality. He jailed, tortured, and killed those who opposed his rule, particularly the nobility.
In order to prevent people from having other ideas, he ordered all books that did not agree with his beliefs burned. A group of scholars protested, so he had them buried alive.
Obsessed with the idea of living forever. Had chemists concoct potions which would make him immortal. Most contained mercury and likely contributed to his death (age 49) instead of preventing it.

11. Terracotta Warriors
In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well uncovered a life-size terracotta soldier.
Archaeologists estimate there may be as many as 8,000.
Each one is unique and had real weapons.

12. Terracotta Warriors
Also found hundreds of figures of horses, chariots, and cavalry.

13. Shi Huangdi’s Tomb Mt. Li
Information we have comes from Chinese historian writing a century later.
700,000 workers constructing the tomb, all of whom were supposedly killed to maintain secrecy.
Miniature map of his empire the size of a football pitch, complete with rivers of mercury and jewels set in the ceiling to represent the sky.
Mausoleum reat-wall-of-china/videos/tomb- of-chinas-first-emperor