Download Chapter 7 part 1: China`s First Civilizations

Chapter 7 part 1: China’s First Civilizations
I.China’s Geography
-Huang He- flows more than 2900 miles across
China
-Chang Jiang- 3400 miles long and flows across
central China
-Very little farmland- mountains and deserts
-Middle Kingdom established
II. The Shang Dynasty
-Belief that Huang He valley was the center of
Chinese civilization
-First rulers were probably part of the Xia dynasty
-Shang kings- 1750 B.C. to 1122 B.C.
-Anyang- China’s first capital
-People were divided into groups- King and family
were the most powerful group- Warlords and
other royal officials were below the kingTraders and artisans were Next- FarmersSlaves
-Belief in many spirits and gods
-Early Chinese weriting- pictographs and
ideographs
-Bronze
III. The Zhou Dynasty
-Wu Wang- creation of the Zhou Dynasty
-Ruled longer than any other dynasty in Chinese
history
-Kings- head of government
-Bureaucracy- responsible for different areas of
government- served under king
-Mandate of Heaven- heavenly law that gave Zhou
kings the power to rule
-Dao- proper way kings were to rule their people
-Irrigation and flood control systems were
developed
-Importance of silk
-Warring States
Chapter 7 Part 2: Life in Ancient China
I. Life in Ancient China
-Three main social classes- aristocrats, farmers,
and
merchants
-Aristocrats- rich from farmers who used their
land
to grow crops
-Most of Chinese people were farmers
-Merchants were the lowest class. Aristocrats
and
farmers looked down on them
-Families were large. Children were expected to
work on farms
-Filial piety- children had to respect elders and
parents
-Men considered more important than women.
Men
went to school, ran the gov’t, and fought
wars.
Women raised children and managed
households.
II. Chinese Thinkers
-3 major theories- Confucianism, Daoism, and
Legalism
-Confucius- great thinker and teacher
-Confucianism taught that all men with a talent for
gov’t should take part
-Daoism teaches that people should give up
worldly desires and encourages the importance
of nature. Created by Laozi.
-Legalism- society needs a system of harsh laws
and punishments. Developed by Hanfeizi.
Chapter 7 part 3: The Qin and Han Dynasties
I. Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
-Qin Shihuangdi- First Qin Emperor
-Rule based on legalism
-Abolished the officials’ authority to pass their
posts on to their sons. Qin was the only
person authorized to fill posts.
-United China- created one type of currencyordered building of roads- and connected
Chang Jiang to central China by canal
-Great Wall of China was built
-Dynasty was overthrown after Qin’s death
II. The Han Dynasty
-Liu Bang- founded the Han dynasty in 202 B.C.
-Civil service examinations begin
-population triples
-new inventions- waterwheel, rudder, drill bits,
steel, and paper
-acupuncture- practice of easing pain
III. The Silk Road
-Silk- most valuable trade product
-Silk Road- overland trade route
IV. Major Changes in China
-Buddhism spread from India to China
-Han dynasty falls and civil war begins
-Buddhism helped people cope with chaotic times