Download Chapter 4: Ancient Chinese Civilization

Ancient Chinese
Civilization
Geography of China
• Enormous land size: Differing
geography and climate
–West: higher elevations, cooler,
less rainfall = shorter growing
seasons
–East (China Proper): milder
climate, more rainfall = longer
growing seasons
Rivers of China
• Three major rivers:
–Huang (Yellow): Floods fertile
soil (loess)
–Chang (Yangtze): 3rd largest river
in the world
–Xi (Pearl): Important southern
commercial waterway
Geographical Boundaries of China
• Himalayan Mountains/Plateaus: West,
Northwest and Southwest
• Gobi Desert: North
• Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South
China Sea: East
• EXTREMELY ISOLATED!
– Unique culture and language
– Strong sense of identity and superiority
Shang Dynasty
• 1750-1500 BC: The Shang
invaded the Huang River
Valley.
– Introduced simple irrigation
and flood control systems.
– Created China’s first dynasty
• Used a complex government
called a bureaucracy
– Organized government with
different levels and tasks.
Land
under
Shang
Rule
China under the Shang
• Economy: mainly based on agriculture
– Began to raise silkworms to make silk
• Several religions practiced:
– Combined animism (belief that spirits
inhabit everything) with ancestor
worship
– Worshiped the gods of wind, sun, clouds
and moon
– Priests would read oracle bones
Fall of the Shang Dynasty
• 1100’s BC: Shang continuously
battled warlike
neighboring states.
–Weakened the Shang
• The Zhou people
overthrew the Shang
in 1050 BC.
–Claimed the Shang were corrupt
and unfit to rule.
Zhou Dynasty
• Ruled China from 1050-250s BC
– Decentralized government
– Pledged loyalty to Zhou Rulers
– “Mandate of Heaven”: God of Heaven
chose rulers.
• In-fighting begins among local leaders
(700s BC)
– Warring states vying for power
– Qin were victorious
Land gained under the Zhou
Qin Dynasty
• Ruled from 221-206 BC
– Name China is derived from the Qin
• Founded by Cheng: “First Emperor”
– Established in autocracy: held total power
• Great Wall of China built
– 1,500 miles long
– Block invaders from the North
– Used forced labor
Great Wall of China
Legalism
• Chinese political philosophy
– Cheng followed these beliefs
• By nature, people are selfish
and untrustworthy
– Believed that harsh laws and
severe punishments
– Only way to achieve peace
• Cheng executed scholars who disagreed
with the government
• Discontent spread
Execution of Scholars
Han Dynasty
• Overthrew the Qin in 206 BC
– Liu Bang: Founder, King of Han
• The Han ruled for over 400 years (until
220 AD)
– More moderate rulers
– Expanded territory
– Centralized government
– Liu Ch’e: longest ruling emperor
• Brought peace and prosperity to the empire
Land gained under the Han
Han Dynasty
• Developed the civil service system:
–Series of tests to pick the most
qualified candidate to work for the
government
• Trade prospered along
the Silk Road
–Trade route that stretched
to Mediterranean
–Carried luxury goods
Goods Traded Along
the Silk Road
Confucianism
• Most important Chinese philosophy
• Founded by Confucius (551-479 BC)
– Teachings can be found in the Analects
• Taught of the importance of
– Family
– Respect for elders
– Reverence for the past
and ancestors
• Was not a religious prophet,
little with religious ideas
Confucianism
• Encouraged positive behavior from
China’s leaders
– All people should accept their role in society
– All government leaders should be virtuous
• Interest should be the welfare of the
people, NOT wealth and power
• Only educated and moral people should
rule
– Set good examples
– People would be willing to follow
Daoism
• Second most important
Chinese Philosophy
• Founded by Laozi
• Central idea is the Dao
or “The Way”
• Force that governed the universe
• Find balance and harmony in life,
live in peace
• Yin and Yang
–Shows balance in nature between
two forces
• Yin: female, dark and passive
• Yang: male, bright and active
–Must have both to maintain order
Daoism
• Laozi taught that people:
–Should not strive for material wealth
–Should not get involved in politics
–Should work towards harmony with
the Dao through being humble, quiet
and thoughtful
• Appealed to peasants, artists and
poets.
–Valued nature, spontaneity and
expression
Buddhism in China
• Brought by Missionaries from India
• Coincided with Chinese
thought/religious beliefs
• Appealed to Peasants: offered
stability after collapse of the Han
Dynasty
• Mahayana Buddhism most popular