Ancient Chinese Civilizations

Mountains cut off China from the west Isolated, China developed its own

distinctive culture.

GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)Only 10% of China could be farmedOne of the greatest food-producing

areas of the ancient world

Geography (cont)

Had an established bureaucracyIntroduced simple irrigation and

flood control systemsBelieved in animism and ancestor

worshipUsed oracle bones

Shang Dynasty

Overthrew Shang Dynasty about 1050 B.C.

No centralized form of governmentgranted territories

Believed in the Mandate of Heaven – “God of Heaven determines who should rule”

Zhou (joh) Dynasty

Came to power through military might

Ruled by Cheng – ‘1st Emperor’Word China comes from Cheng

Qin (chin) Dynasty

Autocracy – emperor had total power

Began a 1,500 mile long section of what is now the Great Wall of China

Lasted only 15 years

Qin (cont)

Liu Bang, peasant who became general, led overthrow of Qin Dynasty

Lasted 400 years

Han Dynasty

Created civil serviceSystem of exams

to select most qualified person

Leveling – govt price controls to balance economy

Silk Road – trade route across Asia

Han (cont)

Wu 1750 B.C.Xia

Confucianism – taught importance of family, respect for one’s elders, and reverence for the past and one’s ancestorsIdeas were political and

ethical, not spiritualCivil service was born

out of Confucianism

Philosophies

Daoism – people should withdraw from world & live in harmony Do not strive for material

wealth & should not seek power

The way to follow the Dao is inaction, not action

People should act spontaneously and let nature take its course

Philosophies (cont)

Legalism – believed in power, not virtue and in harsh laws People are selfish and untrustworthySocial order requires a strong ruler and

harsh, impersonal laws, both of which made people obedient through fear

Philosophies (cont)