1. China

2. Dragons Dragon gods believed to be responsible for the rains that made the fields fertile ◦ Dragon rain ceremonies Saw them as respected spirits that brought good luck Described their rivers as dragons ◦ Limbs were small streams ◦ Body was the main river ◦ Mouth was the delta

3. Geography Huge country with multiple climates ◦ North China Plain  Brief intense summer rainy season caused by monsoon winds  Very dry climate for the rest of the months ◦ South China  Monsoons bring heavy rains from March to September  Light rainfall the rest of the year Towns rose up around fertile rivers

5. Middle Kingdom Mountains and seas acted as geographic barriers ◦ Isolated China from other civilizations ◦ Little knowledge of one another Middle Kingdom ◦ Chinese thought they lived at the middle of the world

6. Huang River Second longest river in China Muddiest river in the world ◦ “Yellow River”  Due to Loess (yellow-brown soil) in the river Fertile soil around the river ◦ Chinese grew a grain called millet “China’s Sorrow” ◦ Floods could come without warning  Drowned people or crops  Such force that they might redirect the riverbed ◦ Dikes built to hold back flood waters

7. Shang Dynasty Shang Dynasty was first civilization in China ◦ 1760 BC ◦ Built first cities Fine bronze work First writing system

8. Zhou Dynasty Appeared 600 years after founding of Shang Lived in Wei Valley to west of Shang People ◦ Sometimes peace, sometimes fighting ◦ Zhou conquered Shang around 1122BC Ruled China for almost 1,000 years Earlier Western Zhou dynasty and later Eastern Zhou dynasty ◦ Period of the Warring States began at end of Eastern Zhou dynasty ◦ Qin Dynasty emerged

9. Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven was the gods’ blessing upon a particular ruler’s right to rule ◦ If a dynasty was struggling, it appeared to the people that the gods were removing their mandate ◦ Also gave the father authority over his family

10. Importance of the Family Family was center of Chinese society ◦ More important than the individual or the nation ◦ Family was the source of each person’s wellbeing Households might have 5 generations ◦ Status in the household depended upon age and gender Oldest man with the most power ◦ Decided who his children and grandchildren should marry ◦ He was in charge of discipline ◦ Lands divided among his sons when he died

11. Women in China Women considered to be lower status Bound by three obediences ◦ Obey fathers in youth ◦ Obey husbands after their marriage ◦ Obey sons in widowhood Four virtues ◦ Morality ◦ Modesty ◦ Proper speech ◦ Domestic skills Left her family and joined her husband’s ◦ Expected to obey husband and mother-in-law

12. Family Names Inherited family names along with personal names ◦ Inherited name passed father to child ◦ i.e. Mao, Chan, Lu Family name comes first ◦ i.e. Reuwer Daniel

13. Confucius and the Lady Confucius was walking and heard a crying woman She was crying because a tiger had killed her whole family (multiple generations) He asked why she hadn’t left ◦ Said she hadn’t left because there were no cruel rulers in that area Confucius: “Remember this. A cruel ruler is fiercer and more feared than a tiger.” ◦ Confucius told great stories with lessons

14. Confucius Most important of Chinese thinkers Kong Fu Zi ◦ “Master Kong” ◦ Confucius is Latinized version Born in 551 to poor but noble family ◦ North China ◦ Taught himself Wanted to work for a government job ◦ Didn’t get it, so he went to teaching  China’s first professional teacher  Charged his students to take classes  Taught his views of life and government Wanted to find a ruler to follow his teachings ◦ Failed ◦ Died at age 73 believing his life a failure

15. Confucianism Confucius believed his role was to pass along forgotten wise teachings His students wrote down his teachings ◦ Philosophy, not religion  Goal of the society was to bring peace and order ◦ His teachings are recorded in the analects People should know their place in family and society ◦ Treat others with respect and justice

16. 5 Human Relationships 5 Relationships all people fall under ◦ Ruler and Ruled ◦ Father and Son ◦ Husband and Wife ◦ Older Brother and Younger Brother ◦ Friend and Friend People in higher position should set good examples and treat others fairly ◦ Similar to Golden Rule

17. Confucianism and Religion Teachings of Confucius guided people’s lives Practiced Confucianism alongside other religions ◦ Believed in harmony with nature and the honoring of gods, ancestors, and spirits Taoism ◦ Happiness comes from living a balanced life ◦ Based on writings of Laozi  Chinese thinker of 500s BC ◦ Loved nature and simplicity ◦ Rivaled Confucianism for popularity  Confucianism eventually had a stronger following

18. Civil Service Exam Civil Service is the group of people who carry out the government’s work Civil Service Exam assigned people to government posts ◦ Replaced a system where sons of powerful people got jobs ◦ Based upon a test  Calligraphy  Memorization of the analects of Confucius  Application of the analects