Overview of three Classical Chinese Dynasties

1. Three Early Chinese Dynasties
Zhou, Qin, Han

2. I. The Zhou Dynasty – 1028 B.C. – 256 B.C.
A. The Zhou conquered the last Shang king around 1028 B.C.
1. Zhou rulers claimed the Mandate of Heaven (heaven’s approval)
2. They established a feudal system (feudalism)
a. Kings gave land to nobles in exchange for loyalty
b. peasants worked land in exchange for protection

3. Chinese feudal system developed under the Zhou dynasty
King
Grants use of land to
nobles in exchange for
loyalty
Nobles
Give loyalty and
armies to the king
Peasants
Work the land for the
nobles in exchange for
shelter, protection, and
food
Merchants
Lower status than peasants because
riches come from other’s work

4. B. Zhou technological advances
1. Major advancement = use of iron
2. cast iron = stronger weapons & farming tools; increased production
3. invented crossbow
4. invented silk cloth – becomes major trade item

5. C. Zhou dynasty crumbles
1. Zhou lose power & enters Era of the Warring States
2. regional kings fighting each other for land and power
3. The Qin eventually win and unite China

6. Critical Intro:
Explain why you think the feudal government
of the Zhou Dynasty failed. In other words
what are some of the inherent weaknesses of a
centralized feudal government?

7. II. Two Chinese Philosophies Emerge
Why do you think there was an effort to find a new governing style?
Confucianism
“The Analects”
Teachings of Confucius
“Respect yourself and
others will respect you.”
Daoism
Balance/Harmony with Nature

8. II. Two Chinese Philosophies Emerge
A. Confucianism
1. Impact of Confucianism in forming the social order in
China
a. Belief that humans are good, not bad
b. Respect for elders – Filial Piety - http://www.stanford.edu/group/confucian/cgi-bin/blog/?p=149
c. Code of Politeness (still use in Chinese society today)
d. Emphasis on education
e. Ancestor worship
Respect link

9. II. Two Chinese Philosophies Emerge
A. Confucianism
2. Five Primary Relationships
a. ruler and subject
b. father and son
c. elder brother and younger brother
d. husband and wife
e. friend and friend
Respect link

10. II. Two Chinese Philosophies Emerge
A. Confucianism
3. the Analects
a. teachings of Confucius
b. Provide guidelines for Confucianism
Respect link

12. Confucianism
- Filial Piety – Respect/obey elders/family
- Every member of society has duty.
- Role model or follower or both
He who exercises government by means of his virtue
may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps
its place and all the stars turn towards it.
-Confucious
What Chinese
concept is Confucius
reinforcing?
Writing and
teachings of
Confucius =
Analects

13. II. Two Chinese Philosophies Emerge
B. Taoism
1. Impact of Taoism in forming Chinese culture and
values
a. Humility – low view of one’s own importance
b. Simple life & inner peace
c. Harmony/balance with nature
Lao Zi - founder
Yin and Yang represent
opposites for
Confucianism and Taoism.

15. Critical Intro:
Are you Yin or Yang?

16. Critical Intro:
Write two Confucian style
quotes, and 2 Daoist style
quotes.

17. III. The Qin Dynasty – 221 B.C. – 210 B.C.
A. Around 221 B.C., the Qin defeat rival kingdoms & unite much of China
1. strong centralized gov’t formed
2. military districts allowed emperor to maintain control
3. Qin Shihuangdi = 1st emperor of China
4. China gets its name from Qin

18. B. Qin Shihuangdi – his achievements
1. standardized weights and measures and coinage
2. created uniform writing system
3. constructed Great Wall of China

19. C. The Great Wall of China
1. Invaders raided Chinese settlements from the North.
2. Qin built the Great Wall to guard against these invasions
3. Wall extended over 4,000 miles
4. built with forced labor – many died during construction

23. Great Wall “ Not always so Great”?

24. D. Qin’s Shihuangdi’s Strict Rule
1. Imposed censorship (burned books) to control information
2. took power from local lords
3. many forced-labor projects
4. legalistic philosophy – strict laws + harsh punishments

25. D. The End of the Qin Dynasty
1. Qin Shihuangdi dies in 210 B.C.
2. He is buried with an army of terra cotta (clay) soldiers and horses
3. The dynasty weakens; loses control of country
4. 206 B.C. Han Dynasty comes to power

26. IV. The Han Dynasty – 206 B.C. – A.D. 220
A. Wudi – The greatest Han ruler
1. He greatly expanded the empire
2. He expanded trade routes to the west known
as the Silk Roads
a. Silk Roads = Series of trade routes
linking China and the Mediterranean
cultures & Roman Empire

27. 3. He established the Civil Service System – system/tests
for selecting most able person for gov’t jobs.
4. The Han Dynasty rivaled the Roman Empire in:
a. Size
b. Population
c. government
Taking the Civil Service Exam

29. Silk Roads – Connect China to Mediterranean Sea and Roman Empire

30. Silk Roads

32. Silk Roads
Indian Ocean
trade routes

33. B. Fall of the Han Dynasty
1. After Wudi died the dynasty weakened.
2. The Huns eventually overthrew the Han Dynasty

34. C. Other contributions of Classical China
1. invented paper
2. porcelain
3. gun powder
4. wheelbarrow