1. Ancient China
Mr. Hudson
WHAP

2. Huang He River (Yellow River)
5000 BCE- oldest continuous civilization

3. 12 Dynasties Ruled Over 4000 yrs
BCE- Xia Dynasty
BCE- Shang Dynasty
BCE- Zhou Dynasty
Zhou lost control around 771 BCE, the last 2 centuries were known as the “Era of the Warring States”
Dynasties fought for control

4. China Isolated
There was little known about the Chinese during these times, as no outsiders had traveled there due to the distance from places like Indus Valley and Mesopotamia
Family
Central to Chinese society; respect one’s parents but women inferior
Reverence to ancestors

5. Confucius 551-479BCE Philosopher
His teachings became the basis for Confucianism
Belief system based on ethics
Good conduct, moral judgment

6. Mandate of Heaven Came to be during the Zhou Dynasty
Power to rule came from heavan
A just ruler had divine approval
A foolish ruler would lose the mandate and no longer rule

7. Brainstorm Minute
How can a higher authority persuade the masses to be obedient to a ruler?
How does this authority strengthen or weaken a ruler?

8. Chinese Writing Needed to know 1500 characters to be literate
10,000 characters to be considered a scholar
Helped unify a large land of people
Progression of Chinese written language

9. Technology
China was the leader in technology in the world, creating new items centuries before others
Roads and canals
Coined money
Ride horses
Pottery

10. China through Dynasties
You can remember China through the order of the dynasties in a song
Shang zhou qin han (x2)
Sui Tang Song (x2)
Yuan Ming Quing Republic (x2)
Mao Ze Dong

11. Classical China 1000BCE-500CE
Period after the decline of the River Valley Civs
Connections to today’s world in places like China, India, Greece and Rome
1st great Classical society and most linked to its own past
Dynasties came from tightly-knit, extended, patriarchal families
When one dynasty declined, another family emerged

12. Dynasties before Classical China
Xia Dynasty- little known
Shang Dynasty
Writing developed
Bronze technology
Ancestor worship part of polytheistic religion
Shang kings used human sacrifices to build empire

13. Dynasties in Classical China
There are 3 dynastic cycles that cover Classical China
Zhou Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
Han Dynasty

14. Zhou Dynasty 1029-258 BCE Overtook Shang Dynasty
Mandate of Heaven passed to more worthy Zhou
Expanded empire to Yangtze River

15. Confucianism & Daoism Confucianism
Students composed Confucius’ thoughts in Analects
Centered around duties & proper behavior of society
Order and Stability, not religion
Superior/inferior
Male/female
Husband/wife
Elder/younger

16. Daosim Way of nature Est. around 500 BCE
An individual should find a way to relate to harmony
Yin/Yang
Legalism (Law)
Political theories- authoritarian
Opposing ideas considered foolish

17. 402-201 BCE Era of Warring States Chaos as Zhou dynasty disintegrated
Lords gained power with land
Began warring over land rights with others

18. Brainstorm Minute
What instances do we see of Confucianism and Daoism in today’s society?
What importance does this have for our society as it relates to social order and harmony?

19. Qin Dynasty 221-202 BCE First Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi
Ruled with an iron fist
Included suppressing those who opposed him, first book burning
Crushed any resistance
Created a strong central govt
1st national census- population count
Standardized coins, weights/measurements

20. Great Wall Built to keep out northern invaders 3000 miles long
Used forced labor

21. Qin Downfall Very unpopular because of his political policies
Hatred of Confucians
Wanted an army with him after he died
Enormous army created from Terra Cotta clay
Infantrymen, horses, archers, more

22. Brainstorm Minute
From the information we know about the Qin, what can we infer about the relationship between the government and the people?
Can you make a connection between the Qin Dynasty and how it ruled with governments today? How?

23. Han Dynasty 202 BCE-220 CE Lasted for 400 years
Retained the govt but reduced the oppressive nature
Created civil service exams
Citizens had to pass to work for govt
Expansion into Korea & Indochina
Moved from isolation to trade with India & Rome

24. Territory of Han
The expansion allowed the trade with empires to the West

25. Silk Road
As China began trading with other empires for luxury products, a network of roads was established through Central Asia
Known as the Silk Road

26. Brainstorm Minute
What impact did the Han have in the changes they made during their reign?
How do you believe the Han restored trust/confidence in their people to believe in the govt? What connection do we see today?

27. Other Notables in Han Inventions Reestablished Confucianism
Constant attacks by the Huns/outside invaders led to chaos in China CE

28. Other expansions During Classical period, China expanded other ways
Rice growing
Improved technology for agriculture/manufacturing
Creation of elaborate philosophical/religious systems
Expansion of scientific/mathematical knowledge
Strong political institutions/active economy