AP World HistoryChapter 2

Classical Civilization China

Zhou dynasty • Revolt so fierce that the

blood in the streets of the capital was deep enough to float blocks of wood.

Zhou Mandate of Heaven • Mandate of heaven– Government receives it right to govern by heaven approval.– The responsibility of people to overthrow governments when

ruler loses the approval of the Gods.– Governments lose approval if they are unjust and ineffective.

Zhou dynasty:1100-750 B.C. • Zhou (Pronounced like “Joe”)• Zhou acquired most of the Shang Culture and Technology• Last Shang King was said to be a physical giant and monster of

depravity among his cruelties was that he made drinking cups of the skulls of his vanquished enemies.

• Slaves and Zhou vassals revolted against Shang cruelties. (1050 B.C.)

Heaven Commands Me• The Justification of the political change of these tough

frontiersman barbarian was that the iniquity of Shang is full “Heaven commands me to destroy it.”

Zhou Economic Growth • Iron tools like axes and ox drawn iron plows replaced wooden farm

tools.– Made farming better because farmers could produce more food.

• First time coin money began to be used.– Made trade better because a merchant could carry money a lot easier then a

herd of cows.

Zhou Political System • Political system like feudal Europe– Serfdom and Hereditary Lords• Land is endowed for oaths of military service.

– Local Lords were culturally and linguistically different.

Zhou Destruction • 771 Wei Valley capital of Zhou is sacked – Vassals become rival states.• Qui in the west • Jin in the north• Yan to north east• Chu to the south• Qi to east

– No dominant Chinese culture or National identity

Class Divisions

• A Sharp class division existed between the landowning aristocracy, educated bureaucrats and laboring masses.

Warring States 400-225 B.C.E

Chaos and War• War becomes larger in

scale and more ruthless• Stronger states

conquered and absorbed weaker ones.

• In response to crisis schools of thought were introduced – Confucianism– Daoism– Legalism

Confucianism• Confucianism– People could live together peacefully by recognizing

their roles in networks of relationships– The family is an example of how relationships linked

people together.

Five Great Relationships• Confucianism– The five great relationships are those between

• Ruler and subject• Father and son• Husband and wife• Elder and younger brother• Friend and friend

Confucianism and Government • Confucianism– Each of the five involved both hierarchy and reciprocity.– In each pair, one role was superior and one, inferior; one role led

and the other followed.– Yet each involved mutual obligations and responsibilities. – Failure to properly fulfill one’s role could lead to the abrogation of

the relationship

Effects of Confucianism• Confucianism– People not fulfilling their

roles undermined Zhou regime.

– People should engage in learning both to develop his personal moral character and to gain knowledge that is useful in serving others.

Daoism• Goal was to live in harmony

with nature.• Rejection of conflict and

strife.– Stressed yielding.– Water does not resist

but yields.• Government the cause of

many problems.• Eventually turned into a

religion.

Legalism

• Legalism was introduced by the Qin to gain power and Stability.

• Rewards and Punishments to produce conformity to the rule of clear and well developed laws.

Legalism (Continued)• Laws were strict, everyone understood their duties and

knew the penalties for failing to fulfill them. • Some believed human nature was essentially blank and

that people needed careful guidance by strong rulers to live in an orderly way.

Qin Dynasty: 221-206 B.C.

• Qin with legalism as its ideology succeeded in ending the Warring states era.

• Qin defeated all it rivals to unite China • 221 Chu kingdom fell and the King of Qin took the

title of Qin shihuangdi or first Emperor.

Qin Economics• Qin laid the basis for an enduring imperial order.• Created unified Administrative system– Standardized

• Weight & measures system• Cart axle width• Coinage• Writing

Qin, Construction• Standardize people’s thoughts– Buried hundreds of scholars alive– Burned books and scholars to eliminate unorthodox ideas.

• Imposed Taxes.• Massive Terracotta tomb.

Qin,Great Wall• Great wall of China– Protected north steppe boarder– Reportedly 1 million died in the building of the wall

Classical Age China

Han Dynasty 202 B.C to 220 A.D

• Traded with Rome and Indian Empires.

• Excepted Confucianism and the Han Dynasty was less cruel.

Han, Sciences

• History records begin to be kept.– History of the elite.

• Math, Science, Geography, and Astronomy.– Sternpost Ruder.– Magnetic Compass.– Paper from wood pulp.– 5th century wood block

printing.

Han, Medicine

• Acupuncture.• Figured out the function of internal organs.• Figured out the circulation of blood.• Metallic and Ceramic luxury items.

Han, Art

• Silk manufacturing.• Bronze, Jade, and

Ceramics used for art.• Poetry.• Landscape art.• Instrumental music.

Han, Economics• Canals Built.• Road System.• Markets.– Scales.

• Iron.– Plows, Horse harnesses

increase horse power.• Fertilizer.– Animal wastes.

Han, Government

• Functioned through complex Bureaucracy.• Confucius Ideas.• Tests to be in Bureaucracy.– Meritocracy, the best regardless of social class.

Han, Foreign Affairs

• Groups that were assimilated by China.– White Huns.– Toba.

• Developed trade contacts with India.– Trade Commission sent to

Rome.– Nothing of interest in Rome.

• Diffusion of Buddhism.

Han, Problems

• Peasant Rebellions.• Disloyal Bureaucracy.• Over Taxation.• Warlords gained more

power.