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Chinese civilization by Zahida Amin - Pakistan

Ancient Chinese civilization developed along the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers in China between 2070 BC-1912 AD. Key periods included the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties which established early Chinese culture, followed by the Qin Dynasty which first unified China in 221 BC. The long-lasting Han Dynasty which ruled from 206 BC-220 AD saw advancements in agriculture, trade, and bureaucracy which established institutions that shaped China for the next 2,000 years. Imperial China was then governed by a succession of dynasties until 1912.

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Ancient Chinese Civilization  China is one of the world's four ancient civilizations  Lies between Yellow and Yangtze rivers. Zahida Amin
Timeline of Chinese Civilization  The Xia Dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) — Early Bronze Age China  Ancient China (c. 1600–221 BC) 1. The Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC) 2. The Zhou Dynasty (1045-221 BC)  Imperial China (221 BC – 1912 AD)  The Qin and Han Dynasties (221BC –220 AD) Zahida Amin
Inventions and Discoveries  Ancient Chinese Technology include  modern agriculture,  decimal mathematics,  umbrella,  shipping,  astronomical observations,  Coin and paper money  wheelbarrow  the game of chess and even multi-staged rockets. Zahida Amin
The Xia Dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) — Early Bronze Age China  The Xia Dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) — Early Bronze Age China  First Dynasty- founded by Yu the Great  Yu was famous for building canals to help control the flooding of the Yellow River.  It was consisted of several clans which were living alongside the Yellow River  Very less information about it due to unwritten historical record.  But it was evident by the remains of Erlitou culture- early Bronze Age urban society and archaeological culture that existed in the Yellow River valley from approximately 1900 to 1500 BC  Xia ended under the reign of Jie, a very notorious tyrannical emperor in Chinese history. Zahida Amin
Ancient China (c. 1600–221 BC)  Ancient China (c. 1600–221 BC)  1: The Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC)  The Shang Dynasty was the first to have historical records remaining.  Written history of China (c. 1600–1046 BC), over 3,000 years ago.  Bronze objects and jade articles, have been found to support these early archaeological records.  Traditional Chinese philosophies, such as Confucianism and Daoism developed.  Territory and population expanded.  Earliest form of Chinese writing – oracle bones – was found.  It had Pictographic characters.  The Shang Dynasty's capital was Yin (Anyang) Zahida Amin
Ancient China (c. 1600–221 BC)  2: The Zhou Dynasty (1045-221 BC)  After the Shang era, the larger Zhou era started  Territory was divided by a network of feudal states and was ruled over by kings.  The king of Zhou only had direct control over a small portion of the realm  He received tributes from the feudal states.  The first part of the Zhou era was called the Western Zhou (1045–771 BC)- peaceful time  After 770 BC, the Zhou king lost his authority and seven prominent states emerged.  7 warring states: Qin, Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han, Yan, and Qi.  The Warring States Period (475–221 BC) ended with Qin's conquest of the other states.  It was transitional period between ancient China and Imperial China.( tribal society to feudal society) Zahida Amin
Imperial China (221 BC – 1912 AD)  First centralized feudal empire, the Qin Dynasty, which was established in 221 BC and ended 1912  This period is known as the imperial era of China.  Rise and fall of dynasties  The Qin and Han Dynasties (221BC –220 AD)  During this period, a number of institutions were established  Provided foundation for the basic political system for the next 2,000 years.  The short-lived Qin Dynasty was the first to unite China as a country under an emperor  A bureaucratic government was introduced Zahida Amin
The Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)  First and shortest imperial dynasty  Qin Shi Huang was first to use the title of emperor in China.  Qin Shi Huang centralized the power of the empire - Set up a system of laws.  He standardized units of weight and measurements, as well as the writing system.  Great building projects, such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army,  The wall was built to repel nomadic invaders, the Xiongnu. Highways were also built.  When he died, the emperor was buried in an enormous tomb with a terra cotta army.  Liu Bang, a peasant leader, overthrew the unpopular Qin regime and established the Han Dynasty. Zahida Amin
Terra cotta army for protection Zahida Amin
Zahida Amin
Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China Zahida Amin
Terracotta army -Some important facts  It was constructed over 2,200 years ago.  It was discovered by local farmers. while digging a well in 1974 in Xi’an.  Describes as eighth ancient wonder  Experts estimate there are more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 670 horses.  Every soldier is unique, no two are alike and each has unique and realistic features.  700,000 laborers constructed and took 40 years to finish Zahida Amin
The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)  Peasant Revolt -Liu Bang, a peasant leader, overthrew the unpopular Qin regime and established the Han Dynasty.  The Han Dynasty was one of the most powerful and important dynasties in China's history.  The longest imperial dynasty, the Han Dynasty, was known for starting the Silk Road trade and connecting China with Central Asia and Europe.  Bureaucratic system introduced in which promotion was based on merit  Confucianism was adopted by the state for national governance.  agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce developed rapidly.  The multiethnic country became more united during the Han regime. Zahida Amin
Three competing belief systems • These three philosophies influenced early Chinese empires; some even became official state ideologies. • Confucianism is an ethic of moral uprightness, social order, and moral responsibility. • Legalism is a theory of autocratic, centralized rule and harsh penalties. • King Zheng later known as Qin Shi Huangdi, formed Qin dynasty which is often credited as the first dynasty to unify China adopted this philosophy. • Daoism was a philosophy of universal harmony that urged its practitioners not to get too involved in worldly affairs. • The Dao is meant to represent the natural order of the universe, and Daoism stipulates that human beings are the only species that disobeys the Dao. Zahida Amin
Government  King/ Emperors  the early rulers, of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, styled themselves “kings”  the monarchs of the Qin and Han dynasties ruled over a united China, and as a result they styled themselves “emperors”  The Mandate of Heaven (Qin Dynasty)  Divine authority to rule.  Chinese rulers bore the title “Son of Heaven”.  Emperors were viewed as sacred figures: to disobey them was like to disobey Heaven.  It was believed that if emperors ruled badly or unjustly, their dynasty was liable to lose this mandate  It provoked rebels attempt to replace the dynasty Zahida Amin
The Court  Emperors were surrounded by courts.  Nobles of society: Royal family, ministers and officials responsible for helping the emperor in governing the huge country.  The court was housed in the royal palace, located in the capital.  Capital was political center of the state Zahida Amin
The Civil Service  Emergence of one of the most impressive governing institutions in world history, the Chinese civil service.  Examining candidates for public posts.  One of the most revered institutions in Chinese history.  Origin of Institution- Zhou dynasty, when the territorial princes were centralizing the government of their states  Institution maturity came under the Han dynasty.  During Han times, the civil service became a huge organization, employing many thousands of officials.  Key Responsibilities of civil servants 1. keeping law and order, 2. collecting taxes, 3. maintaining irrigation systems and flood defenses, 4. and a host of other tasks to do with keeping China governed effectively. Zahida Amin
Defence System  Ancient China saw the transformation of armed forces from feudal forces in Shang and early Zhou times,  late Zhou, Qin and Han periods- mass armies composed largely of infantry troops.  Composition of Army: different kinds of recruits:  long service, professional soldiers, peasant conscripts, and non- Chinese tribesmen.  The Great Wall 0f China  In the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the northern and western border states most exposed to raids by steppe nomads.  These walls were the ancestors of the famous Great wall of China  Refurbished into its present form under the Ming dynasty, in the 15th century CE. Zahida Amin
Economy in Ancient China  Ancient China’s economy and society was based on agriculture.  Social position and economic condition of farmers has been different at different time  During Shang and early Zhou, they were serfs, semi-servile bondsmen tied to their particular lords.  From middle Zhou times, as the old feudal aristocracy disappeared, more of them became free owners of their small farms.  Han times, their status declined again.  Chinese agriculture became more and more productive.  New crops and the spread of iron tools and new techniques led to more intensive farming.  later Zhou times, government became active in promoting agriculture, especially by bringing new land under irrigation, Zahida Amin
 As agriculture became more productive and population increased, trade and industry also grew.  The introduction of coinage in later Zhou times facilitated trade,  Technological innovations such as the development of steel- making contributed to industrial expansion.  Another major factor was state intervention.  Under the Qin and Han, the standardization in such things as weights and measures and road building would have had a major impact on economy Zahida Amin
International trade  International trade first gained prominence under the Han dynasty.  Silk Road: By gaining control over the eastern steppes of central Asia, the Han enabled the Silk Road, that great trade route across Asia to the Middle East and Europe, to become established.  At the same time, the conquest of south China opened up the maritime trade to south east Asia.  Craftsmen must have formed a privileged class in early China.  It was in this period that Canton began its long history as a center of international commerce  In middle and later Zhou times, merchants became more influential as a class,  Economic expansion under the Han dynasty especially benefitted the urban classes. Zahida Amin
Social structure in ancient China Zahida Amin
Writing System  Origin of writing in China dates from 3500 years ago  China is among the first societies that adopted a formal writing language.  Ancient Chinese writing on oracle bones is called Jiaguwen shell bone writing  Earliest form was Pictographic.  They were used for divination.  Divination was a process whereby the bones were heated and the cracks thus formed was studied to find solutions to one’s questions.  The bones were then inscribed with details of the questions and the answers. Zahida Amin
 Dazhuan represents the next stage of Chinese writing. script on Bronze. It may be the same as the Jiaguwen.  By 500 B.C. the angular script that characterizes modern Chinese writing had developed in the form called Xiaozhuan.  Bureaucrats of the Qin Dynasty used Lishu, a script still sometimes used.  Kaishu appeared towards the end of Han dynasty was very similar to Lishu.  Xingshu was a cursive version of Lishu  Caoshu script appeared during the Qin dynasty Zahida Amin
Jiaguwen Zahida Amin
Zahida Amin
Literature  Literature in Ancient China really got going in mid-Zhou times – the time of Confucius and other philosophers.  A number of works, dating to Zhou and Han times, gained the status of “Classics“ (5 Books)  Works of history  The Han historian Sima Qian (c. 145-87 BC) set the standard for historical writing for the next two thousand years.  History would be a major feature of Chinese literature.  Poetry: Han period Zahida Amin
Religion  Three main philosophies provided basis to ancient China religion  Taoism,  Confucianism  and Buddhism  People worshipped a supreme god who was king of many other lesser deities as early as c. 2200 BCE.  By the time of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) religious beliefs recognized existence a definite "king of the gods" named Shangdi Zahida Amin
Taoism  6th centaury by Lao tzu  His book Tao Te Ching explains his philosophy  People should be one with nature  Taoists believe in spiritual immortality, where the spirit of the body joins the universe after death  It did not believe on government and rulers-Government is unnatural because it tries to change the nature which usually makes things worse  The Idea of Ying and Yang- nature has two balancing power- opposing forces are always equal  Ying- Negative, female, night , passive , moon, intuitive, soft, cold,  Yang- Positive, male , day, Active, sun logical, hard, hot  Dragon is important symbol of Yang , it represents power, Sega and saint Zahida Amin
Confucianism  Confucius (Philosopher and thinker) was born on 551 Bc  He describes the ways of living and behavioure  Treating other with respect, politeness and fairness  Honor and morality are very important qualities  Family is very important institution  Believe on strong centralized government (Opposite to Taoism)  Famous saying of Confucius depicts concept of kindness “Forget injuries never forget kindness” Zahida Amin
Buddhism  Based on teachingof Buddah  Born in Nepal in 553 Bc  Budism Spread in India and China  Belive on rebirth  Cycle of rebirth. Rebirth is complete once a person lives proper life –then person soul would enter Nirvana  Concept of Karma: All Actions have conscequences Zahida Amin