2. From Isolationist to Worldly Entity
● Due to China's geographical location, it
developed largely apart from the other classical
civilizations at the time, such as Greece and
India.
● Mountain ranges and deserts to the west
prevented China from making contact with
these other civilizations.
● The creation of the Silk Road lead to China's
becoming a major influence in world economics
and the exchange of ideas.
4. The Spread of Culture
● The advent of the Silk Road meant that not only
could goods be exchanged amongst
civilizations, but cultural beliefs and scientific
ideas could as well.
● Buddhism spread out of India all along the Silk
Road. Eventually, the emperor of China himself
would convert to the religion.
● Later, Islam also spread along the Silk Road,
but to a lesser extent than Buddhism.
5. The Spread of Ideas
● Classical China was responsible for many of
the technological advances seen during the
classical period. These innovations spread
throughout the Middle East and into the
Mediterranean.
● Some of China's many technological
advancements include paper, gunpowder, silk,
the abacus astronomy, the compass, boat
rudders, iron plows, and porcelain.
7. Classical Society
● Classical Chinese society was highly
patriarchal and very family-oriented. Even the
society as a whole operated in a similar fashion
to a family.
● Work for the good of your family, work for the
betterment of the society in which you live.
● Three major dynasties ruled over classical
China, each bringing something different to the
nation.
8. Zhou Dynasty
● Ruled from 1029 to 258 B.C.E.
● Really only flourished until about 700 B.C.E.,
after which it began a very lengthy decline
leading to an eventual downfall.
● Never a strong central government – the Zhou
Dynasty ruled through alliances with regional
princes and noble families.
● Political system deteriorated and foreign
invasions beset the country, leading to the
eventual collapse of the Zhou Dynasty.
9. Qin Dynasty
● Took power after the collapse of the Zhou
Dynasty, but only lasted a few decades.
● Qin Shi Huangdi, or First Emperor, ruled China
with an iron fist, consolidating power within the
central government and removing power from
regional princes and nobles.
● Though the period was brutal, the Qin Dynasty
accomplished a number of things, including a
national census, standardized weights,
measurements, and coinage, standardized
writing, and incredible military expansion.
10. Han Dynasty
● Death of Qin Shi Huangdi left China in chaos, and the
Han rose to power amongst the fighting.
● Lasted from 202 B.C.E to 220 C.E.
● Large, bureaucratic government that was capable of
ruling over a much larger expanse of territory than the
Qin Dynasty was able to.
● Bureaucracy and functions of the state improved
under the Han.
● However, eventually deterioration of the central
government coupled with foreign invasions led to the
collapse of the Han Dynasty.
11. Chinese Philosophies
● Confucianism – the basis for Chinese political
structure; more secular rather than religious.
● Individuals put emphasis on personal virtue and a
solid political life would result.
● Respect for social superiors.
● Daoism – a more religious philosophy than
Confuciansim.
● Stressed the harmony and mystery of nature;
nature contains in it a divine impulse that directs all
life.
12. Citations
● China's Flag. 2001. Graphic. EnchantedLearning.comWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/asia/china/flag.shtml>.
● Wild, Oliver. The Silk Road. 1998. Map. The Circle of Ancient Iranian StudiesWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Geography/silk_road.htm>.
● Chinese Inventions. N.d. Graphic. vhinkle.comWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <
http://www.vhinkle.com/china/inventions.html>.
● Sterns, Peter. World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 5th Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007.
38-55. Print.