Ancient ChinaK. Roberts

CHINA

Around Huang He (Yellow) River and Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River

flow to the East China Sea10% of land is farmable

mountainsterraced farming

CHINA

DynastyXia

first dynasty of China’s history

considered to be folklore due to lack of written artifacts

CHINA

DynastyShang

aristocracythe kings had warlords to run cities/statesmuch like Mesopotamia & Egypt - buried leaders with servantsReligion: supernatural forces

oracles would read cracks in bonesancestral worship

REALLY good at bronze castingDecline - revolt of Zhou

CHINA

DynastyZhou

longest-lasting dynastyGovernment: Same as Shang

claimed to rule due to Mandate of Heavenkings required to follow the Dao

family was highly regarded due to farming communitiesfilial piety

CHINA

DynastyZhou

Accomplishments

irrigation/large scale water projects

iron weapons/tools

wrote in pictographs (picture symbols) and ideographs (combined pictographs)

Decline - Period of the Warring States

CHINA

PhilosophyConfucianism

Kongfuzi (Confucius) tried to persuade political leaders to follow ideas

sayings recorded in AnalectsTwo elements:

Duty Humanity

became key for the runnings of Chinese culture (i.e. education and civil service exams)

CHINA

PhilosophyDaoism

based on teachings of LaoziTao Te Ching (The Way of the Dao)best way to act in harmony with the

universe, not to interfere with the natural order

CHINA

PhilosophyLegalism

human beings evil by naturestrong ruler was required to

create an orderly societyharsh laws and stiff punishments

would cause the common people to follow the rules

CHINA

DynastyQin

Qin Shihuangdisingle monetary systemsystem of roads throughout empirehad an underground burial mound filled with terra-cotta warriors

to guide him into his next lifeexpanded China south, only fear was to the North

Xiongnu, residing in the Gobi desertparts of the Great Wall were built

Terracotta Warriors

CHINA

DynastyQin

adopted Legalismliterature opposing this view - burned

ruled a centralized state administrators were appointed and dismissed at willQin Shi. took over taxing the people and the land

elimination of rivalsDecline - death of Qin Shi., civil war breaks out four years later

CHINA

DynastyHan

Liu PangConfucian policies back in

introduction of civil service examinationsexpanded into modern-day northern Vietnampushed back the Xiongnupeasants forced to work for government and military for one month

a year

CHINA

DynastyHan

Achievements:Iron Casting - led to steel inventiondeveloped paperships enhanced - leading to more trade

Decline - several things led to decline, but lack of effective leadership and peasant uprisings are the biggest