ANCIENT CHINA

Vocabulary and review

China’s origins

Huang He River ValleyXIA dynasty legend only no artifacts to prove it

existed. Legends that support it might have existed are: Yu the Great flood, Pan Gu, creation and Xilingshi, story of silk.

Shang was the first dynasty that can be proven.

Shang Dynasty

First provable dynasty artifacts and written records.

Shang people are remembered for: bronze, silk, oracle bones diviner answered questions by cracking tortoise shell,

writing 3,000 symbols represent words and religion polytheist, nature gods, ancestor worship.

The Shang lost their Mandate of Heaven when King Zhouxin was cruel to the people.

Conquered by the Zhou.

Zhou Dynasty

longest lasting dynasty political system was feudalism king, nobles, peasants

last 150 years known as the Warring states period because nobles were fighting each other for power.

Confucius lived during the Warring states period.

ConfuciusPhilosopher who gives

advice in the form of proverbs

Believed that children should respect, honor and obey parents.

Believed that rulers should treat subjects as parents would their children.

Filial piety

The Qin Dynasty

After collapse of Zhou dynasty three kingdoms fought for control.

Qin king unites China under one rules and calls himself Shi Huangdi meaning “First Emperor.”

Shi Huangdi follows the government system know as legalism system of rewards and punishments.

People obey mostly out of fear, not respect.

The good and the bad about Shi Huangdi and the Qin Dynasty.

Formed a strong central government standardizing coins, weights, and writing

Organized many building projects including the “Great Wall” and Terra Cotta Warriors”

Developed a bureaucracy a network of appointed government officials.

Depended on way of government known as Legalism and could be harsh and cruel.

Burned any books that he did not approve of

Taxed people heavily and forced them to work on his building projects.

The Han DynastyChinese people still call themselves children of the Han.

Government/political systemCentral government

with a civil service.Combined

Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism

AchievementsPaperSeismograph Importance of

educationTrade along the silk

road

Talk a Mile a Minute

1. filial piety2. legalism3. civil service4. peasant5.feudalism

1.Ancestor2.Oracle bone3.Standardize4.Mandate of Heaven5.loess

Talk a Mile a Minute

1.Huang He River2.virtue3.dynasty4.proverb5.diviner

1.philosopher2.Confucianism3.legend4.Daoism5.Silk Road