2000 BCE – 220 CE

Satellite View of ChinaSatellite View of ChinaSatellite View of ChinaSatellite View of China

China’s ProvincesChina’s ProvincesChina’s ProvincesChina’s Provinces

China—Asia’s SuperpowerChina—Asia’s SuperpowerChina—Asia’s SuperpowerChina—Asia’s Superpower

China vs. the U. S. in SizeChina vs. the U. S. in SizeChina vs. the U. S. in SizeChina vs. the U. S. in Size

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000250Miles

China

United States

Comparing China & Comparing China & the U. S.the U. S.

Comparing China & Comparing China & the U. S.the U. S.ChinaChina United United

StatesStates

SizeSize 3.7 million 3.7 million square milessquare miles

3.6 million 3.6 million square milessquare miles

Main physical Main physical barrierbarrier

HimalayasHimalayas RockiesRockies

Main RiverMain River Yangtze / Yangtze / East - WestEast - West

Mississippi / Mississippi / North – SouthNorth – South

PopulationPopulation East CoastEast Coast East CoastEast Coast

Connectivity Connectivity problemsproblems

North - SouthNorth - South East - WestEast - West

Pacific “Rim of Fire”Pacific “Rim of Fire”Pacific “Rim of Fire”Pacific “Rim of Fire”

Bodies of WaterBodies of WaterBodies of WaterBodies of Water

Huang-He

River

Yellow Sea

Yangtze River

Pacific Ocean

Amur River

Xi River

SouthChinaSea

Sea of

Japan

The Polluted Yellow River!The Polluted Yellow River!The Polluted Yellow River!The Polluted Yellow River!

VOCABULARY

Loess

The Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze River

China’s Climate ZonesChina’s Climate ZonesChina’s Climate ZonesChina’s Climate Zones

Precipitation in ChinaPrecipitation in ChinaPrecipitation in ChinaPrecipitation in China

Arable LandArable LandArable LandArable Land

““Brown” China vs. “Green” Brown” China vs. “Green” ChinaChina

““Brown” China vs. “Green” Brown” China vs. “Green” ChinaChina

Rice DominantW

heat

Dom

inan

t

Pasture and Oasis

Double-crop rice

China as % of World China as % of World PopulationPopulation

China as % of World China as % of World PopulationPopulation

The Population of The Population of ChinaChina

The Population of The Population of ChinaChina

105 755 10831210

1381 15621650 1753

18121851

18871911

19491953

1970

1981

1995

2000

2050

2

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

0 500 1000 1500 2000

thousands

““Chung Kuo”Chung Kuo”(The (The “Middle Kingdom”“Middle Kingdom”))

““Chung Kuo”Chung Kuo”(The (The “Middle Kingdom”“Middle Kingdom”))

Bronze Age EmpiresBronze Age EmpiresBronze Age EmpiresBronze Age Empires

Shang Religion Animism – The belief that spirits inhabit

everything. Ancestor Worship Shang Di – A god who controlled the

forces of nature Oracle Bones

Oracle BonesOracle BonesOracle BonesOracle Bones

The Evolution of Chinese The Evolution of Chinese Writing DuringWriting During

The Evolution of Chinese The Evolution of Chinese Writing DuringWriting During

PictograpPictographshs

Semantic-Semantic-PhoneticsPhonetics

Axe Scepter – Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE1100 BCE - Jade - JadeAxe Scepter – Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE1100 BCE - Jade - Jade

Ceremonial Dagger – Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE1028 BCECeremonial Dagger – Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE1028 BCE

ShangShangUrnUrn

ShangShangUrnUrn

Shang BronzesShang BronzesShang BronzesShang Bronzes

Ritual Wine Ritual Wine Vessel – Bronze, Vessel – Bronze,

13c BCE13c BCE

Ritual Wine Ritual Wine Vessel – Bronze, Vessel – Bronze,

13c BCE13c BCE

Western Zhou:Western Zhou:1027-771 BCE1027-771 BCEWestern Zhou:Western Zhou:1027-771 BCE1027-771 BCE

Zhou Coins - BronzeZhou Coins - BronzeZhou Coins - BronzeZhou Coins - Bronze

““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”The Mandate of HeavenThe Mandate of HeavenThe Mandate of HeavenThe Mandate of Heaven

1.1.The leader must lead by ability The leader must lead by ability and and virtue. virtue.

2.2.The dynasty's leadership must The dynasty's leadership must be be justified by succeeding justified by succeeding generations.generations.

3.3.The mandate could be revoked The mandate could be revoked by by negligence and abuse; the will negligence and abuse; the will of of the people was important. the people was important.

The Dynastic

Cycle

The Dynastic

Cycle

A new dynasty

comes to power.

A new dynasty

comes to power.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Emperor isdefeated !!

Emperor isdefeated !!

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

Start here

Early Ideology

Yin and Yang Yin: female, dark, weak, wet, passive Yang: male, bright, strong, dry, active balance of opposites

Zhou Contributions

Feudalism– Kings > Local Lords > Peasants

• Feudal Lords Gain Power

Iron Age The First Bound Books Astronomers Study Planets & Eclipses

Silk Worms

* 551 – 479 B.C.E.

* Born in the feudal state of Liu.

* Became a teacher and editor of books.

* Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)

* Social Order / Education

1. Ruler

Subject

2. Father

Son

3. Husband

Wife

4. Older Brother

YoungerBrother

5. Older Friend

YoungerFriend

* Status

* Age

* Gender

* The single most important Confucian work.

* In Chinese, it means “conversation.”

* Focus on practicalities of interpersonal relationships and the relationship of the role of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government.

INDIA 1. Brahmin

CHINA 1. Scholar-

Gentry 2. Kshatriyas

2. Peasants 3. Vaishyas

4. Shudras

3. Artisans 4.

Merchants Untouchab

les Soldiers Imperial

Nobility Domestic Slaves

*His name means “Old Master”

* Contemporary of Confucius

* The Dao De Ching,The Classic in the Way and Its Power

1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning.

2. Relying on the senses and instincts.

3. Discovering the nature and “rhythm” of the universe.

4. Ignoring political and social laws.

To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:

* Masculine

* Active

* Light

* Warmth

* Strong

* Heaven; Sun

* Feminine

* Passive

* Darkness

* Cold

* Weak

* Earth; Moon

How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity??

Confucianism --> Moral order in society.

Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order.

Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less govt. to avoid uniformity and conformity.

Qin Dynasty221 BCE – 206

BCE

China under the Qin dynasty, 221-207 B.C.E.

Emperor Shi Huangdi

Means “First Emperor” Ruled by the Legalist theory Autocracy Standardization: Coins, Measurements,

Writing Massive conscription for labor

– His Necropolis– Great Wall of China Begun

1. Human nature is naturally selfish.

2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged.

3. Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality.

4. The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand.

5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.

The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.

The Great Wall of The Great Wall of ChinaChina

The Great Wall of The Great Wall of ChinaChina

Han Dynasty206 BCE – 220 CE

The Han Dynasty & Tributary States

Han Achievements

Civil Service Exam founded by Emperor Wudi Paper The Rudder Astronomers observe sunspots Acupuncture Silk Road Buddhism spreads after the Han fall

The Silk Road in the 1st Century

Reasons for the Han Dynasty’s Fall

Political – Emperors after Wudi unable to control powerful warlords

Economic – Canals and roads fell into disrepair, destroying commerce. High taxes led to revolt

Military – Warlords overthrew and divided. Invaders pass the Great Wall. Leads to 400 years of disunity.