Ancient China

Ancient China The Middle Kingdom

Geography
Civilization developed in the Huang He (Yellow River) and Yangtzi River valleys
China was mostly isolated from other civilizations because of geographic barriers
The Himalaya Mts. and Tibetan Plateau, Gobi Desert, and Pacific Ocean
Population is clustered along the river valleys of eastern China and the coastal areas

Geographic Barriers of China

Population Density of China

Effects of Geography on Development
Middle Kingdom – Because of isolation, the Chinese believed they were the center of the earth
Ethnocentrism – The Chinese were not exposed to any other cultures, therefore they believed that their culture could not be matched by any others that possibly existed

Shang Dynasty
A dynasty is a ruling family
The Shang set up the first dynasty in China
Social Structure: Nobility, Warriors, Merchants / Artisans, Peasants
Religion – Prayed to many gods and spirits, believed in the two forces of nature – Yin and Yang
First Chinese written communication develops in the form of pictographs and ideographs

Zhou Dynasty
Around 1100 BC, the Zhou overthrew the Shang
Their dynasty lasted nearly 800 years
Mandate of Heaven – divine right to rule
Feudal Government – local lords controlled their own regions but pledged military allegiance to the ruling family
Began using iron to make tools
Roads, canals, irrigation systems are built
Contributions: First books are written, Calendar is developed, Learned how to make silk, Confucianism develops

Qin Dynasty
Established around 220 BC
Shi Huangdi – First Emperor of China, creates a centralized government ending the feudal system
China is divided into military districts run by appointed officials
System of standardized weights and measures is created, roads and canals are improved
The Wall of China is built, greatest achievement of the Qin. The wall was built to keep out invaders
Terracotta Army is also constructed to be buried in the tomb with Shi Huangdi – the First Emperor

Great Wall and Terracotta Army
Great Wall – Stretches across northern China, reaches heights of 35 feet, symbolizes power of the Han Dynasty
Terracotta Army – Over 8,000 life size warriors buried in the tomb of Qin Emperor Shi Huangdi, Emperor believed he would still have troops at his command

Great Wall of China

Danny Way Jumps Over the Great Wall of China
Skateboarding over the Great Wall

Han Dynasty
Developed after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty
Liu Bang, a peasant, took control of the empire
He reduced taxes, expanded the Great Wall, established a complex system of roads
Civil Service Exams – based on the teachings of Confucius, determined who would get government jobs based on expertise and skill
Contributions – Made paper out of pulp, invented the wheelbarrow, the fishing reel, and the rudder

Tang and Song Dynasties
Tang Dynasty ruled China from 619-907
Song Dynasty ruled from 960 – 1280
Tang and Song Dynasties represent a golden age in Chinese history
Social Structure: Gentry (wealthy landowners and government officials), peasants, and merchants
Revised the civil service exam
Rulers set up schools to create a highly educated ruling class

Achievements of the Tang and Song
Land Reform – land distributed to peasants
Trade – merchants trade with India, Persia, and the Middle East
Shipbuilding – China emerges as a naval power
Money – issued the worlds first paper money
Canals – built to improve trade and transportation (Grand Canal)
Literature and Art – writers wrote short and poems, calligraphy, porcelain

Empires of Ancient China

The Silk Road – strategic trade and cultural transmission route that linked China to the rest of Asia, Africa and Europe

Mongol Invasion
Song Dynasty will come to an end with the Mongol invasion of China beginning in 1279
Kublai Khan will conquer China and establish his own dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty

Mongol Empire

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Ancient China

by rhalter on Mar 26, 2008

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