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Ancient China
Objectives
• Analyze the impact of geography on the success of the empire of Ancient China
• Identify the three main dynasties of Ancient China
• Cite and explain each of the key advancements of the three main dynasties of Ancient China
The Geography of China
• Monsoons impact the climate• Isolated from other cultures by:– Gobi Desert in the North– The Himalayan Mountains to the West and
South– Bodies of water to the East:
• Yellow Sea, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean
• Known as the “Middle kingdom”– believed they were in the middle of the world,
surrounded by natural barriers on all sides
The Gobi Desert
Geography of China
• Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and third longest in the world
• Huang or Yellow River is the second longest river in China– Loess – sedimentary soil that is formed
by the accumulation of wind-blown silt (creates yellow-brown soil)
– China’s Sorrow – River brought life, but also destructive floods• To control flooding, the Chinese built dikes
(protective walls to hold back water)
Shanghai
or Yellow
The Dynasties of Ancient China
• 13 dynastic periods, Spanning 4,000 years
• Mandate of Heaven: a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers– Similar to “divine
right of kings”– Heaven would bless
the authority of a just rule
The First Dynasties
• The Shang Dynasty – built China’s first cities– Irrigation and farming– Known for their bronze work– Developed the first Chinese writing
system• Oracle Bones
– Created a social pyramid
Emperor
Military Nobles
Priests
Merchants
Farmers
The Shang Dynasty
The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty
• Prior to the Qin Dynasty, China had broken into 7 warring kingdoms
• Shi Huangdi merged the kingdoms to unify China, and was the first true emperor – To protect China from nomadic invaders along the
northern border, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall of China, but did not complete the project.
– Abided by the philosophy of Legalism• People are evil at their core, and the state is more
important than the individual
– Created a “Terra Cotta Army” at his burial necropolis
Legalism 法家• Legalism is based on three principles:
1. Fa 法 - The law code must be clearly written and made public.
2. Shu 術 - Special tactics and "secrets" are to be employed by the ruler to make sure others don't take over control of the state.
3. Shi 勢 - It is the position of the ruler, not the ruler himself or herself, that holds the power.
Qin Dynasty Ming Dynasty
Hey guys!
The Terra Cotta Army
Terracotta Warriors in un-restored
condition,
Qin Shi Huang Di's Mausoleum Mound. This is the stairway up the mound. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is about 1 mile from here.
Han Dynasty
• Dynasty lasts 400 years• Liu Pang – overthrew the Qin Dynasty and became
emperor (202 BC)– Not a heavy-handed ruler (abandons Legalism for
Confucianism) – Establishes imperial university
• Wu Ti – Liu Pang’s great grandson and Emperor– Ruled from age 15-65 as the “Warrior Emperor”– Expanded the empire – Created a public school system (for boys only)– Silk Road to the west
The Shang Dynasty
Liu Pang
WuTi you looking at
punk?!?
The Silk Road
• Connected Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North Africa
• Extends 4,000 miles long• In addition to silk, many other goods
were traded, as well as various technologies, religions and philosophies
The Silk Road
Tang Dynasty
• China’s Golden Age– Greatest age for Chinese poetry– Buddhism reaches its peak
• Also Taoism and Confucianism
– Men granted equal allotments of land in exchange for taxes
– Did not have to be a noble to hold a high position; government exams
– Borders expand from Korea to central Asia (present day Afghanistan)
Tang Dynasty
• Kingdom eventually dissolves into 10 different kingdoms– Feuds within the government, assassination plots,
etc. leave the empire vulnerable to invasion.
The Shang Dynasty