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Time-Life Series China: Dynasties of Power 1600 BCE – Chinese culture emerged; the concepts of yin/yang formed early, along with the idea of the Dao (Tao) or “the way” River Valley Civilization Shang Dynasty – Bronze Age Human sacrifice was practiced Capital city in Anyang Oracle Bones represented early writing in China Additionally tortoise shells were found covered with inscriptions These led to modern Chinese writing The Shang elevated bronze casting to an art form Classical Period Zhou Dynasty – 1029 BCE – 258 BCE China’s feudal period – regional disloyalties; decentralized government system Extended territory to encompass the “Middle Kingdom” or China’s core area Mandate of Heaven concept arises here – emperors became known as “sons of heaven Mandarin Chinese arose as the standard spoken language Confucianism (Ku Fu or Confucius) and Daoism (Laozi) arose in this period Wheat was grown in the north, rice in southern regions. Crossbow introduced Psychological warfare also arose Warring States Period – 402 BCE – 221 BCE saw the introduction of the compass Qin Dynasty – 221 BCE – 202 BCE Emperor Qin gave his name to China and proclaimed himself Shi Huangdi – “the first emperor” Qin unified China o Started building of the Great Wall to protect from the northern tribes – the completed wall would eventually reach 2,600 miles. Conscripted labor used to create the wall. o Imposed order; centralized the government o 5,000 miles of roads o Standardized written language o Issued passports and started a national census o Standardized weights and measures o Refined cultivation of rice and millet o Expanded the empire’s territory to the north, to Hong Kong, and south to influence Vietnam Followed Legalism and tried to destroy Confucianism o Buried royal scholars o Burned books associated with Confucius Qin ruled harshly and died accidentally Massive peasant revolts and discontent led to 15 years of chaos His massive tomb contained Terracotta Warriors – life-sized replicas of his massive army that was six times the size of the Roman army! Han Dynasty – 202 BCE – 220 CE Rounded out the basic intellectual and political structure of the classical period Refined civilization and expanded further into Korea, Indochina, and Central Asia Wudi (Wu Ti) was the fifth emperor (141 – 87) o Introduced peace treaties and this was much like the Pax Romana (Roman Peace) o One of his nobles “Zhang Qian” made it to Afghanistan and “discovered” the existence of the Silk Route where he found Chinese goods for sale. Many technological innovations in this time included: o the ox drawn plow o Horse collar o Water mill o Paper and ink o Maps **note that much of the technology was agriculturally oriented because the Han Dynasty returned to Confucianism. Bureaucracy increased in this period – a new class of “scholar-gentry” arose The “civil service exam” was introduced Confucianism spread