1. DO NOW: If you were to overthrow a ruler, how would you do it?
AIM: What characteristics defined the civilizations that developed in China under its early rulers?
DO NOW: If you were to overthrow a ruler, how would you do it?

2. Shang Dynasty - 1766-1122 BCE 1st Chinese Dynasty
Clans – groups of families who claim a common ancestor
Social Classes develop
Royal Family
Shang – northern China, emerged to drive off nomads from the northern steppes and deserts
Noble Warriors
Artisans/Merchants
Peasants

3. Important Vocabulary Dynastic Cycle – the rise and fall of dynasties
Mandate of Heaven - a ruler’s divine right to rule
What does divine mean?
Why do you think ruler’s needed God’s approval to rule effectively?

4. The Zhou Dynasty BCE
Promoted idea of Mandate of Heaven to justify rebellion against Shang dynasty
China developed into a feudal state
China’s economy grew
Decline: too weak to control feudal lords
Economy grew = iron working -> more food produced. Commerce expanded, used money for 1st time.
Economic expansion leads to increase in china’s population.
Feudalism: system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other forms of support to the ruler

5. *After the fall of the Zhou dynasty, China entered into a period of warring feudal states.
Animated file retrieved from

6. Dynastic Cycles Sequencing
LOOK AT YOUR SET OF CRITERIA.
GROUP FACILITATOR
WITH YOUR GROUP – SEQUENCE THE CRITERIA FROM THE START TO FALL OF A DYNASTY.
STOP – GET APPROVAL FROM MS. R / MS MELTZ TO CONTINUE
ONCE THE PATTERN IS CORRECT, PROVIDE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE/EXAMPLES FOR EACH CRITERIA
Make sure everyone is participating
Call us over when it’s time to check your work

7. Geography Influences Civilization
Geographic Barriers set China apart: desert, high mountain ranges, thick rainforests, Pacific Ocean
China includes varied regions: River Valley, outlying regions (ex: Mongolia)
“River of Sorrows”
Loess: fine windblown yellow soil
Formidable barriers – China DID have contact with outside world through trade.
Outsiders were mostly nomadic invaders, but most conquerors were usually absorbed into the advanced Chinese civilization

8. Religious Beliefs Develop
Early Chinese prayed to many gods and nature spirits
Shang Di – supreme god; king seen as link between people and Shang Di
Ancestry – called on ancestor’s to bring good fortune to the family
Offered them sacrifices of food and other necessities

9. Achievements in Early China
Silk-making is discovered around 2640 BCE
Complex Writing Systems – Oracle Bones with characters (written symbols)
Calligraphy – elegant art of writing
First Chinese Books under Zhou

10. DO NOW: what IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CIVILIZATION AND AN EMPIRE?
AIM: In what ways did the empires of China lay long-lasting social and political foundations?
DO NOW: what IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CIVILIZATION AND AN EMPIRE?

11. The Qin Dynasty – 221-206 BCE Major Achievements: United China
First Empire
Great Wall of China
Terracotta Soldiers

12. The First Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi
Image retrieved from
The First Emperor
Qin Shi Huangdi

13. Legalism – Chinese philosophy created to help strengthen a state
Legalism – Chinese philosophy created to help strengthen a state. Strength, not goodness was a ruler’s greatest virtue.
“Punishment should not be other than severe and definite, thus making the people fear them; and laws should not be other than uniform and steadfast, thus making the people comprehend them the enlightened [ruler] uses his men's strength but does not listen to their words, rewards them for their meritorious services but always eliminates the useless.”
– Han Fei ( BCE)
Source: Han Fei ( BCE), “Five Vermin: A Pathological Analysis of Politics.”

14. The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E – 220 C.E.)
China’s boundaries were expanded
Remembered as a time of glory, unity, and peace because:
Revoked hated laws of Qin emperors.
China was rarely threatened by barbarians.
Confucianism spread during this period.
Civil Service Examinations
Creation of Silk Road
-Boundaries: westward to central Asia, south to Vietnam, and east into what is now Korea.
-These boundaries have more or less defined the nation of China up to the present day.

15. The Silk Road 4,000 miles long - connected China with Persia.
Silk was carried along this route by caravans
Traded in the markets of Syria & Asia Minor.
Buddhism became very popular in the late years of the Han dynasty.
Came to China with traders
China’s prosperity declined after Emperor Wudi’s reign came to an end.
The later years of the Han dynasty were characterized by disorder.
Peasants struggled financially from debts and taxes, and endured bad harvests, famine and plague. As a result, many peasants revolted.
Selfish and corrupt government officials and military leaders gained power and contributed to the ruin of Han rule.

16. Gallery Walk Directions
1. Ms. Rappoccio/Ms. Meltz will split you into groups with each having a leader.
2. You will get 8 minutes at each station – there are 6! When you hear the timer go off, rotate to the next station following your map.
3. Once in your groups, if you have a question as you are circulating, first check with your group members for clarification and if not, call over Ms. Rappoccio.

17. DO NOW: Does religion have a place in government?
AIM: What did ancient Chinese philosophers think was the ideal form of government?
DO NOW: Does religion have a place in government?

18. Confucianism
A philosophy that originated in China around 520 B.C.E by Kong Fuzi (Confucius)
The Analects - Confucius’ teachings were gathered together by his students into a book called The Analects, which means “The selected sayings”
The book is a list of morals, wise statements, and questions that Confucius was asked by his followers with the answers he gave.
Questions: What is the difference between a belief system and religion?
-If students are stuck – have them start with what they know about religion and then work backwards.

19. The Tenets of Confucianism
People should try to act with…
Ren: Selflessness and Love Li: Propriety and Respect
Yi: Rightness and Goodness
And these can only be achieved through education.
People should also practice…
Hsaiao (Filial Piety):
Respect for one’s rulers, parents, elders, and spouse.
*If people practice these things, order will prevail
The Five Relationships - The key to maintaining society is through traditional social relationship.
RULER
HUSBAND
FATHER
OLDER SIBLING
Human beings are teachable and can improve both individually and through interactions with the community.
subject
wife
son
younger sibling
FRIEND
FRIEND

20. Spread of Confucianism
All regions of China were influenced by Confucius.
Created a very traditional society
Confucianism spread to Korea, Vietnam and Japan

21. TAOISM (DAOISM)
Chinese philosophy created to help restore harmony & peace during the fall of the Zhou Dynasty.
LAOZI - Founder of Daoism, founded in 6th – 5th century.

22. The Tenets of Daoism
Dao – “the way”. All things in the universe are connected through this.
Wu Wei – living in harmony and letting things take their natural course
YIN & YANG- opposites fit together and depend on each other for harmony
SAGE- a person who gains wisdom and shares it with others.
ACUPUNCTURE- treating disease using fine needles inserted into specific points in the body. According to Taoists, these needles help to restore the balance of Ying and Yang in the body. (restores health)