Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Social structures in ancient china
1. Great Wall of China Social Structures in Ancient China
2. Hierarchy Emperor Nobles Scholars and religious leaders. Farmers Guards Bandits Merchants Slaves
3. Dynasties This is the map of Ancient China during the different Dynasties
4. Important jobs Merchants were vital to China’s economy but were usually poor. Silk was the main export. How it was made was a secret to the rest of the world.
9. How did Social Structures help to develop Ancient China? It helped China by making an economy but this only helped the people with the skills that made the way to the higher class. But it was interesting to know that the hierarchy and honor was so important to the Chinese.
10. What have we gained today by studying Social Structures in Ancient China? We have learned a lot from the Chinese about that we are all equal but we also learned about how to make stuff like silk or paper. Form Social structures we have gained to know that everyone should be able to decide who is in power.
I have been working and researching into the social structures in ancient china. The Ancient Chinese were around from 1766BC to 1280. For 7,000 years the Ancient Chinese had ups and downs but were very successful civilization.
The Hierarchy in China was ruled by one emperor who was usually a wise man or a military speacialist who took the throne by force.Next in the line were the Nobles and religious leaders who were respected and rich and usually owned slaves. Next are the warriors and the middle class who are the shop keepers and the last are the farmers, slaves and peasants who work for the Upper class.
China was ruled by rich and powerful families, these families were called dynasties and they fought for power many times and different dynasties were born. One of the most powerful dynasties was the Qin dynasty Emperor Qin was the one who built the Great wall and the Terracotta Army in his tomb. Even though he built these wonders he was unpopular and was soon beaten into Mongol rule .China then became part of the Mongol empire. After the Empire fell the Manchu, rebels during the Mongol rule rode into Xian to take back China.
The most important jobs in china were the silk weavers and the merchants who traded and made China a rich and powerful country. Silk was the main trading item that everyone wanted so it was sold at very high prices or for lots of expensive goods. So silk weavers were kept close to the emperor so they could not escape or tell secrets to anyone or they would be killed or if they were lucky put in prison for life. Merchants were not necessarily rich, they were usually poor.
Emperors were the top of the class and ruled the land and controlled the trade. If anyone opposed them they would be killed, most emperors were hated by the people, but liked by the rich people and nobles. But some Emperors believed it was better to have the peoples support even though these dynasties were liked they were ended quickly because of other rich and powerful nobles took power by force because of the superior military.
The Nobles were the second most important people in Ancient China they usually owned large pieces of the country. They were rich and had bands of mercenaries at their disposal. They were loyal the emperor but sometimes they turned on them and took over the country, this is how new dynasties were born.
The Middle class were the people who owned businesses or were scholars but most middle class people served in the city guard or the army. During a successful rebellion they would get paid well and was given rewards of their gratitude. Scholars were vital to important people who need letters and speeches to be written for them. Businesses would be part of the economy. Farmers were also middle class citizens because they brought all the food in to the cities.
Lower class people would be un-honored, poor, un-educated people, who were usually slaves they were treated harshly and had to pay a lot of taxes. As slaves they get given a place to stay by their owner but they had to buy their own food and water so most poor people lived in the country or were bandits. Who ambushed Merchants for their goods. Bandits used simple weapons but as they got more money they brought weapons from Europe and the Middle East.
It helped China by making an economy but this only helped the people with the skills that made the way to the higher class. But it was interesting to know that the hierarchy and honor was so important to the Chinese.
We have learned a lot from the Chinese about that we are all equal but we also learned about how to make stuff like silk or paper. Form Social structures we have gained to know that everyone should be able to decide who is in power.
