The document summarizes the origins and development of Chinese civilization. It flourished along the banks of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, which provided fertile land for agriculture. Powerful dynasties like the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han ruled China at different points in its history. The Han dynasty brought China's civilization to its peak. Key contributions included the inventions of paper, woodblock printing, gunpowder, the compass, and porcelain. Confucianism and Taoism were the dominant philosophies that shaped Chinese thought and society.

1. Dr.P.SINDHU
CHINESE CIVILIZATION

2. Geographical Background
• Like other civilization Chinese civilization also
flourished on the banks of the two rivers –
Hwang-ho & Yang-tse-kiang.
• These rivers made land – fertile.
• Agricultural prosperity led to the evolution of
Chinese civilization.
• Some times, flood of Hwang-ho caused –
damage to life & property. Thus, it was called
-- “the sorrow of China”.

3. • East – Pacific Ocean
• West – Tibetan Plateu
• North - Mountain ranges of Tine Shan & Altai
and Plateu of Mongolia.
• South – great Himalayan mountains & forests
of Burma.
• These surrounding isolate China & immuned
from all kinds of external influences.

4. Political History
• China consisted of city-states.
• Powerful dynasties emerge & ruled – the
Shang dynasty (1750-1125 BC); the Chu
dynasty (1125-250 BC); The Tsin dynasty; the
Han dynasty & The Sui dynasty.

5. Feudal System
• From 10th cen. to 220 BC – China not
organized under one administration.
• Feudal lords, ruled different parts –
constantly at wars. No peace & order.
• Agriculture – main occupation.
• Women engaged in spinning & weaving and
they were skilled in the art of silk weaving.
• They learnt the use of gold from India.

6. • Besides, silver, iron & bronze were used.
• Peoples also prepared earthen pots & tiles.
• People made trade with Turks & Mongols and
others.
• Coins were in circulation.

7. Emperor Shi-Hwang-ti
• About 220 BC feudal system came to an end
& Shi-Hwang-ti founded the first empire.
• He was the feudal lord & brought all the city-
states under his control.
• He connected whole of his empire – roads.
• He disguised & visited throughout the
country.

8. • Shi-Hwang-ti first constructed – Great Wall of
China.
• It was constructed to prevent – Huna invaders.
• It was built of bricks & 10 years to be
completed.
• 1,800 miles long, from 15 to 20 feet high and 20
feet broad.
• 20,000 towers of 40 feet high constructed – an
interval of 100 yards.

9. Great Wall

10. • Besides, 1,000 small towers – constructed.
• He earned unpopularity – because people to
work without wages & engaged criminals to
work.
• Secondly, caused the destruction of all books –
ancient China – rendered harm to Chinese
Civilization.
• Literature must start afresh from his reign –
cause of destruction – except medicine, fortune-
telling & agriculture books.

11. Han Dynasty
• After Shi-Hwang-ti, his son ruled China from 210
BC.
• The Han dynasty came to power & ruled for 400
years.
• Liu Pang – founded the empire.
• Wang Mang – another important ruler introduced
many socialistic reforms.
• He introduced national university.
• His policy opposed by wealthy people &
murdered him.

12. • Han rulers fought with Tartars, Hunas &
Koreans.
• They had close contact with Persians &
Greeks.
• Chinese civilization reached highest stage –
Han dynasty.
• Next Sui dynasty & then Tang dynasty ruled
upto 907 AD – this period compared with
Elizabethan Era of England.

13. Contributions of Chinese
Civilization
Art of Learning & Literature

14. Art of Writings & Learning
• Chinese developed own art of writing.
• Beginning used pictures to express –
thoughts.
• Later, pictures converted to signs – this way
script developed.
• They wrote on the thin slips of bamboos or
wood with pens made of bamboos.

15. • They wrote in silk cloth
with the camel’s hair
brush & used for art of
painting.
• coloured liquid – ink.

16. Invention of Paper
• 105 AD. – invented
paper – greatest
contribution – Chinese
Civilization.
• Also used bark of trees,
rags, old cloths &
hemp.
• Arabs, Spain & Italy
learnt – preparation of
paper – this the world
is indebted to China.

17. Literature
• Large number of books written – wooden or bamboo
slips.
• Shi-Hwang-ti destroyed many books, but Tang ruler
revived literature & made rapid progress, therefore
this age compared – Elizabethan Age of England.
• Great writers – Lipo & Tufu born this period.
• “Song of the Farmers”, “The Song of the Felictious”, &
“Five Classics” – important books of ancient China.
• Writings of Confucius & Lao-tse enriched – Chinese
philosophy

18. Other Innovation

19. Industrial Art
• They excelled in various art & workers in
gold, silver, iron, bronze, ivory & wood.
• They prepared earthen potteries.
• 6th & 7th cen. Porcelain vessels produced.
• Famous for silk clothes – great demand in
Roman world.
• They also knew – manufacture of glass.

20. Other Innovations
• First invented – Marine Compass for the
sailors.
• The use of gun powder.
• Another discovery – tea as a drink & during
18th cent. Europeans used tea, getting idea
from China.
• A kind of wine (popular drink) – prepared out
of grapes & imported to Europe.

21. • Sun dial – used for measurement of time &
during Han’s it was replaced by water clock.
• They divided a day into twelve & also
prepared calendar to count days & months.

22. Medicine
• There was a progress in the field of medicine.
• They had deep knowledge in many diseases.
• Great invention – Anaesthesia for surgical
operations.
• They had knowledge – arithmetic & geometry.
• For commercial – used metal coins.

23. Art & Architecture
• Important monument –
Great Wall by Shi-Hwang-
ti & a palace on a land of
30 acres.
• Pagodas built – after the
spread of Buddhism.
• Sculptures on stone &
walls – hunting, fishing,
chariot-riding &
procession of animals
were famous.

24. Significance of Chinese Society
• Society divided – four classes.
• The Mandarins or learned class, the
Cultivators, the Artisans & the Merchants.
• One could not become Mandarin by birth –
but, by education.
• There was no place for soldiers in the society.

25. Philosophy
• Confucius -Born in 551
BC. In the Province of Lu.
• Age of 22 – established
school – where taught
sense of discipline &
leadership.
• He edited – classical
scripture of China.
• Died at Lu in 479 BC –
age of 72.

26. Lao-Tse
• Another philosopher influence the people –
Lao-Tse. Contemporary of Confucius.
• Born in 600 BC. – Province of Henan. Early
name – Li.
• He raised the voice against the degeneration
of the people.
• Many protest raised – he wrote "Tao-ti-King”.
• His teachings – Taoism.