Ancient China was shaped by its geography. Civilization developed along two major river systems, the Chang Jiang and Huang He rivers, which provided fertile land for farming. China was also isolated by surrounding deserts and mountains. The first dynasty, the Shang, ruled in the 1700s BC and developed one of the world's earliest forms of writing. The Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang in 1027 BC and introduced new political concepts. During the Warring States period, powerful states battled for dominance as Chinese philosophy developed, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. In 221 BC, the Qin unified China and standardized the written language, but fell shortly after. The long-

1. Chapter 6Ancient China

2. Section 1Geography Shapes Ancient China

3. Geographic Features of ChinaCivilization centered around two rivers which brought water and siltMade farming possibleIsolated by BarriersWater barriers: Yellow Sea, East China Sea, & Pacific OceanDesert barriers: Gobi Desert & Taklimakan DesertMts.: Pamir, Tian Shan, & Himalaya mts.Geographically isolatedMade spread of ideas & goods difficultFew outside influences

4. Two River SystemsChang Jiang a.k.a. Yangtze RiversCentral ChinaHuang He (or Yellow River)North ChinaAncient farmingDone between Chang Jiang & Huang HeSilt made fertile soilCenter of Chinese civilization

5. A Varied ClimateHad varied climateWestern China: dry, mostly deserts & mts.; sparsely populated & usable farmlandNortheast China: cold winters & warm summersSoutheast China: mild winters & hot, rainy summersClimate variety lead to variety of crops producedRice, wheat, soybeans, & millet

6. The Shang DynastyShang Kings1766 B.C. Shang family began to control some citiesSet-up dynasty (a family or group that rules for several generations)Kings: responsible for religious activitiesRuled w/ god’s permissionRuled central North China PlainUsed chariots to defend themselves against nomads

7. Shang FamiliesRespect for parents & ancestors was importantClose tie to religionSpirits of ancestors could bring good fortuneAnimals were sacrificedMen ruled within the family

8. Developing LanguageKings claimed to be able to influence godsReceived messages through oracle bonesAnimal bones that were scratched to question the gods (became early form of writing)Developed pictographsUsed huge # of symbolsCould read Chinese w/o being able to speak itHelped to unify a large varied land

9. The Zhou DynastyZhou moved down from the northwestClashed w/ Shang1027 B.C.Wu Wang led forces & defeated ShangAdopted many Shang waysNew ideas also introduced

10. The Zhou & the Dynastic CycleNew dynasty est.Dynasties rose & fell in a patternDynastic CycleTrouble resulted from rulers losing heaven’s favorClaimed last Shang ruler was bad & god took away Shang right to rule & gave it to ZhouMandate of HeavenBad or foolish ruler = approval of the gods would be taken awayExamples: uprisings, invasions, floods, or earthquakes

11. Zhou GovernmentCentral gov’t was weakPeople w/ family ties or other trusted people were in chargeLocal rulers (lords) owed loyalty & military service to kingKing promised in return to protect their landsLords became more powerful as cities grewMore group under their powerLess dependent on kingLords began to fight with each other & other peoplesAdded lands expanded Chinese territory

12. The Time of the Warring StatesInvasion was a constant theme800 B.C.Nomads from the north & west invaded771 B.C.Invaders destroyed capital city of Hao & king was killedKings were weakLords fought constantlyAs their power grew they claimed to be kings of their own territories (Time of the Warring States)

13. Section 2China’s Ancient Philosophies

14. IntroDuring Time of Warring States Chinese society experienced much disorderKings & Warlords fought over land, while scholars wondered what it would take to bring peace3 ways of thinking developedLegalismConfucianismDaoism

15. LegalismBelief that a powerful, efficient gov’t and a strict legal system are the keys to social orderFeared disorderStrong gov’t & strict laws would restore order

16. Strict Laws & Harsh PunishmentsLegalists believed human nature was wickedPeople do good only when forced toGov’t should pass strict laws to control behavior in peopleNeeded to make people afraid to do wrong

17. An Increase in Government ControlLegalists believed rulers should reward those who carried out their duties wellPunishment was, however, stressed more than rewardsShang Yang (Legalist)Wanted people to report lawbreakersThose who didn’t should be executedLegalistsDid not want people ? or complain about the gov’tArrested those that didBurned books that contained different philosophies or ideas

18. ConfucianismConfuciusLived from 551-479 B.C. during time of unrest in ChinaWanted to restore orderBelieved more in peace to end conflictRespect for others was absolutely necessary for peace and orderGov’t leaders should set good example for people to seeIdeas were collected in a book called the AnalectsBecame belief system of Confucianism

19. The Five RelationshipsCode of proper conduct/behavior for people5 basic relationships in Confucianism each with its own duties and its own codeFather and sonElder brother and younger brotherHusband and wifeFriend and friendRuler and subject*Two basic categories: proper conduct in the family & proper conduct in society

20. Proper ConductConfuciusGood conduct & respect began at homeHusband good to wives, wives obeyed husbands, brothers kind to brothers, younger had to follow wishes of olderMost important teachingFilial piety: treating parents w/ respectBehavior in societyAuthority should be respectedRuler was to live correctly & respect subjectsSubjects should obey if they didPeace in society would come if followed

21. The Impact of ConfucianismChinese found ways to avoid conflict and live peacefullyMany rulers tried to live up to Confucius’s model for a good rulerGroundwork was laid for fair and skilled gov’t officials

22. DaoismLaozi500s B.C.Book of his teachings was DaodejingThe WayBelieved a universal force called the Dao (or Way) guides thingsAll creatures, except humans, live in harmony w/ this forceHumans argue about right and wrong (arguments are pointless)To relate to nature humans had to find individual was to followEach should learn to live in harmony w/ nature & their inner feelingsNatural order was more important than social orderSocial order would follow if everyone learned to live in their own individual harmony

23. Following the WayDaoistsDidn’t not argue about good and bad & didn’t try to change thingsAccepted things as they wereDidn’t want to be involved with gov’tThought gov’t should leave people aloneYin and YangTwo things that interact w/ each other and represent the natural rhythms of lifeYin (black): all that is cold, dark, & mysteriousYang (white): all that is warm, bright, and lightForces complement each other; forces always change and evolveHelps people understand how they fit into the worldDaoists pursued scientific studiesAstronomy & medicine

24. Section 3The Qin & the Han

25. The Qin Unified ChinaNew rulers of ChinaNew Emperor: Shi HuangdiUnified & expanded China

26. A Legalistic Ruler221 B.C.Shi Huangdi began to end internal battles between warring statesBelieved in legalism (killed 460 critics & Confucianists)Also burned books w/ ideas he disliked

27. Uniting ChinaHuangdi wanted strong central gov’tTo gain controlTried to weaken China’s noble familiesTook their land & forced them to live at the capitalThis strengthened emperor’s powerLinked lands togetherBuilt highways & irrigation projectsForced peasants to work & set taxes high to pay for projectsSet gov’t standards for weights, measures, coins, & writingMade business easier everywhere in China

28. The Great WallWall along northern boarder to keep out nomadic invadersGreat Wall linked together other walls built during Warring States periodPeasants & criminals were forced to build the wallMany died from hard laborGreat resentment among people

29. The Qin Dynasty Ends210 B.C.Shi Huangdi diedBuried in an elaborate tomb guarded by army of clay soldiers

30. The Han DynastyShi Huangi’s son was not an effective rulerRebellion & civil war broke outMilitary leader Liu Bang ended civil war & reunited China (started Han Dynasty)

31. Han GovernmentLiu Bang kept Qin policies of strong central gov’t, but lowered taxesMade punishments less harshPeasants owed 1 month labor on emperor’s public projectsBuilt roads, canals, & irrigation projectsBureaucracy was set upSystem of departments to carry out the work of the gov’tOfficials chosen by ruler ran officesHelped enforce emperor’s ruleHan put family members & trusted people in local gov’tLater skills of people determined appointmentSet up system to find most educated & ethical peopleTested people on their knowledge of Confucianism

32. Empress Rules195 B.C. Liu Bang diedWife Empress Lu ruled for their young sonActually outlived her son & continued to place infants on the throne (allowed her to retain power because infants were too young to rule)When she died those loyal to Liu Bang executed every member of Empress Lu’s family

33. Expanding & Unifying the Empire141 – 87 B.C.Wudi ruled China (descendant of Liu Bang)Called Martial Emperor because he used war to expand ChinaBrought southern Chinese provinces, northern Vietnam, & northern Korea under his controlChased nomadic invaders out of northern ChinaTo unify:Encouraged conquered people to assimilated (adopt China’s culture)Chinese farmers sent out to settle newly colonized areasEncouraged to marry conquered people to spread Chinese cultureSchools were set up to teach about ConfucianismAppointed local scholars to gov’t officesHan faced rebellions, peasant revolts, floods, famine, & economic disasters but strong gov’t & unified population helped them stay in power

34. Life in Han ChinaHan were industrious people whose civilization prospered for many decadesDaily Life in Han ChinaMost worked on farmsFarmers lived in villages near the land they workedLived in 1-2 story housesRich farmers had ox to pull plow, but poor had to pull plow themselvesFarmers had a few simple tools to make farming easierThey wore simple clothing & sandalsGrew wheat & millet in the north & rice in the southVegetable gardens were kept for additional foodFish and meat were available, but expensive

35. City livingCities were centers of trade, education, and gov’tMerchants, craftspeople, & gov’t officials lived hereCities were crowded & had many kinds of entertainmentMusicians, jugglers, & acrobatsAlso had street gangs

36. Section 4The Legacy of Ancient China

37. The Silk RoadHan DynastyOnly Chinese knew how to make silkit was important in opening trading routes to the west

38. A Trans-Eurasian LinkSilk Road: overland trade routeTraders carried silk & other goods on caravan trailsFrom China-Asia-Mesopotamia-EuropeCalled trans-Eurasian because they stretched across two continents100 B.CSilk Roads were well est.Traders made fortunes carrying goodsTrips could take several yearsCities along the road provided food, water, shelter & goods for tradeGoods traded: silk, paper, jade, pottery, sesame seeds, oil, metals, precious stones, & horses

39. Cultural DiffusionIdeas & cultural customs also moved on the Silk RoadsKnown as cultural diffusionCan occur whenever one group of people comes in contact w/ another group of peopleNew goods, ideas, & customs began to enter Chinai.e. military techniques, Buddhist teachings, western cultural styleChinese art, silks, & pottery influenced the west

40. The Spread of BuddhismBuddhist missionaries entered China during Han DynastyFew followers at firstAfter fall of Han Dynasty China sufferedThe Buddhist promise of escape from suffering attracted many ChineseBuddhism was modified by Chinese to better fit w/ their own traditions

41. Influential Ideas & BeliefsPhilosophies continued to influence China & the worldStandards of Confucianism remained significant in Chinese gov’t & educationSpread to Japan, Korea, & VietnamDaoism had lasting influence in ChinaBecame religion w/ priests, rituals, & volumes of writingsRemained primarily a Chinese belief system

42. Chinese Inventions & DiscoveriesPopulation of China was growingFarming was the most important & honored professionAgricultural ImprovementsPerfected a two blade plowBetter iron farm toolsBoth helped increase crop productionCollar harness for horsesHorses could pull heavier loadsWheelbarrowWater mills

43. PaperA.D. 105Paper was inventedMade from mixture of old rags, mulberry tree bark, & fibers from the hemp plantInexpensive paper made book more availablePaper also affected the gov’tNow gov’t documents were not recorded on wood, but paper; more convenient

44. SilkAllowed Chinese to get silver and gold from lands to the westWas important because China did not have rich deposits of either mineral