1. Early Dynasties of China

2. Shang Dynasty Earliest accepted Dynasty. 1700 – 1027 BC.
Ancestor worship.
Developed the earliest forms of Chinese writing. (Oracle Bones)

3. Zhou Dynasty
Over threw the Shang Dynasty around 1040 B.C. and lasted till 256 B.C.
Introduced the “Mandate of Heaven”
Longest Dynasty in Chinese history
Society extremely Feudalistic and aristocratic.
Strong Family Ties
Patriarchal
Ancestor Worship

4. Zhou Continued… This was the period of the philosophical schools.
Confucianism
Taoism
Legalism
Confucius
Lao Tzu
Legalism

5. Qin Dynasty
221 – 202 BC
Unified China and created the first Chinese “Empire”
Very legalist & Centralized.
Shi Haungdi: First Emperor
Anti-Scholar

6. The Tomb of the First Emperor
Is famous for the hundreds of
Terra Cotta soldier buried with the
Emperor

7. The Qin added to the construction of the Great Wall

8. Han Dynasty
206 BC – 200ish AD
Combined Both Legalism & returned to Confucian ideals.
Scholarship & the Arts flourish under the Han