Download Chinese Geography/Early Dynasties

Chinese
Geography/Early
Dynasties/ Confucius
River Dynasties
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Two major rivers
flow through the
region; The Huang
He and the
Yangtze.
Mountain ranges
and deserts occupy
two-thirds of
China’s Land.
Civilization Appears
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The Xia Dynasty emerged around 2000 B.C.
Lead by Yu, a mathematician and an engineer. He
tamed the Huang He using irrigation and
flood control projects.
In 1532 BC, the Shang Dynasty rises to power.
Cultural Findings
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Family was
central to
Chinese society.
The men controlled the
property and made
decisions. Women were
treated as inferiors and had
to obey the men of the
family.
Arranged Marriages.
Findings Continued
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Believed that family
ancestors brought good
fortune or disaster.
Paid respect and made
sacrifices in their honor.
Developed Writing
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Earliest form of writing, oracle bones.
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Characters stand for ideas, not sounds.
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Thousands of characters; 1,000 to be literate, 10,000 to be a
scholar. (Yet we have 26 letters in our alphabet)
Noble children learn to write, Peasant children did not.
Technologies and Art
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Bronze Workers
Used in rituals to show
royal power.
Silk
Zhou Brings Changes
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1027 BC, a people called the Zhou overthrow the Shang
dynasty.
Felt the gods took away power from the Shang and gave it to
the Zhou.
Zhou dynasty creates the
Mandate of Heaven.
Mandate of Heaven
Feudalism
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A political system, where nobles, or lords are
granted the use of land belong to the king.
Nobles owe loyalty and military service to the
king.
Later used in Europe and Japan
Nobles fought according to a honorable code
of conduct (sound familiar?)
Zhou Dynasty Declines
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Capital City sacked by Nomads.
Weak control over the nobles, Warlords claimed neighboring
lands.
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Lords/ Nobles were trained militarily.
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Later called “the time of the warring states”.
Confucius
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Most Influential
scholar in China
Born 551 BC
Studied and taught history,
music and moral character.
Believed that social order,
harmony, and a good
government could be
restored in China.
A Code of Proper Conduct
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Ruler and Subject
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Father and Son
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Husband and Wife
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Older Brother and younger Brother
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Friend and Friend
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Children practiced “Filial Piety”, or respect for their parents
and elders.
Ideas on Government
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Created the form of government called, a Bureaucracy; a civil
service or those who run the government.
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Confucianism wasn’t a religion but an ethical system.

Spread beyond China and influenced Eastern Asia

Confucius says “Before you embark on a journey of
revenge, dig two graves.”
Legalists Take Control
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Believed a highly efficient and powerful government was the
key to restoring order.
Government should use the law to end civil disorder and
restore harmony.

Controlled ideas as well as actions.
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Disobedient should be harshly punished.
Qin Comes to Power
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221 BC, Qin ruler assumes the name Shi
Huangdi, means first emperor.
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Followed Legalists ideas.
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Centralized China,
created a highway
network of over 4,000
miles.
Burned books, poor people forced to
the Great Wall.
Great Wall of China created; built to
hold of outside invaders. Invaders
would have to ride halfway to Tibet to
get around it. Viewable from space.