1. China Dynasties
Cornell Notes

2. Xia Dynasty
A dynasty is a line of rulers who belong to the same family and pass control from one generation to the next.
Legend says that the “Great Engineer” Yu founded the first dynasty, the Xia (shee-uh) Dynasty.

3. Shang Dynasty Chou (Zhou) Dynasty 1700–c. 250 BCE
Shang/Chou Dynasties
Shang Dynasty Chou (Zhou) Dynasty 1700–c. 250 BCE
Two families ruled China for the next 1500 years: first the Shang family ruled, and then the Chou family ruled.
Teacher’s notes: The Chou Dynasty (sometimes spelled Zhou) is pronounced “joe.” For many thousands of years, China was mostly a rural society controlled by a series of powerful warrior-kings.

4. Important contributions of the Shang Dynasty : the use of bronze, a system of writing, ancestor worship, and the invention of chopsticks.
Important contributions of the Chou Dynasty : the introductions of Confucianism and Taoism.

5. Emperor: First Emperor Qin 221–206 BCE
Qin Dynasty
Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty
Emperor: First Emperor Qin 221–206 BCE
Although he ruled for only 15 years, First Emperor Qin accomplished great things. He ruled with absolute control and by extreme punishment.
Teacher’s notes: The Qin Dynasty is also called the Ch’in Dynasty. Both are correct. First Emperor Qin’s name is Qin Shi Huang. The Qin/Ch’in Dynasty marks the beginning of China’s Classical Age.

6. Important contributions of the Qin Dynasty
First dynasty to rule/create “China”
First Emperor of China-Shi Huangdi
United China together
Strong central government
Start of bureaucracy
Military expansion
Starts the construction of the Great Wall

9. The Great Wall
The Great Wall is truly big. Different parts of the wall are from 15 to 50 feet high. The base has a width of between 15 and 30 feet.

10. Han Dynasty About 200 BCE to 200 CE
Life was good for many of the people because of the demand for Chinese silk and the creation of the the Silk Road, a major system of trade routes.
Teacher’s notes: The Han Dynasty is also referred to as “Han times.” Both are correct.

11. Important contributions of the Han Dynasty
Confucian style government
Rise of Scholar Class
Introduce Civil Service Examination
Invent paper and porcelain

12. T’ang Dynasty T’ang Dynasty c. 600–900 CE The Golden Age of China
By 600 CE, in early medieval times, China had become the wonder of the world. It was a time of prosperity, and experimentation
Teacher’s notes: The Tang Dynasty is spelled T’ang and Tang. Both are correct.

13. Important contributions of the Tang Dynasty
Period of peace and stability
Expansion of Silk Road to increase trade
Buddhism
Many new inventions

14. Song Dynasty 960-1279 Period of peace and stability
Buddhism + Confucianism = Neo-Confucianism
Tons of new inventions

15. Yuan Dynasty 1280-1368 China falls to the Mongolians/Khans
Genghis Khan
Government was extremely cruel to the Chinese
Lots of trade with foreigners and the West
Marco Polo – 1st European account of China

16. Ming Dynasty 1369-1644 Expansionist and Isolationist
Fear of foreign influence

17. Inventions
The ancient Chinese invented many things we use today. They invented paper, silk, matches, the wheelbarrow, gunpowder, the decimal system, the waterwheel, porcelain, lacquer, the pottery wheel, fireworks, paper money, the compass, the seismograph, tangrams, medicines, dominoes, jump rope, kites, the tea ceremony, the folding umbrella, ink, the animal harness, playing cards, printing, the abacus, wallpaper, and the crossbow.

18. Conclusion
The ancient Chinese were very clever people. Their culture was complex and made many lasting contributions to the world.
Although outsiders call this land China, after the Ch’in (Qin) empire, the Chinese today call themselves the people of Han.