Download Chapter 7: Early China

• You have 5 minutes after the bell to
complete. Turn in all bell ringers on
stool.
• Write questions and answers, as always.
• 1. What was one important trade item for
the Ancient Chinese?
• 2. What does Dao mean?
• 3. What is a bureaucracy?
Chapter 7: Early China
Section 2: Life in Ancient China
(pages 232-239)
Did You Know???
• Taoists believe the only
acceptable time to inflict
harm on another living
creature is in selfdefense.
I.
Life in Ancient China
(pages 233-235)
A. A social class includes
people who share a
similar position in
society. Chinese had
three main social
classes: aristocrats,
farmers, and merchants.
B. Aristocrats grew rich
from farmers who grew
crops on the land the
aristocrats owned.
C. Most Chinese people
were farmers. Farmers
paid aristocrats with part
of their crops.
D. Merchants were in the
lowest class. They grew
rich but were still looked
down on by aristocrats
and farmers.
E. Chinese families were
large, and children were
expected to work on
farms.
F. Filial piety means
children had to respect
their parents and elders.
G. Men were considered
more important than
women in Chinese
society. Men went to
school, ran the
government, and fought
wars. Women raised
children and managed
households.
II.
Chinese Thinkers
(pages 235-239)
A. Three major theories—
Confucianism, Daoism,
and Legalism—were
developed to reinstate
peace after the Period
of Warring States.
B. Confucius was a great
thinker and teacher,
who believed that
people needed some
sense of duty.
C. Confucianism taught
that all men with a talent
for government should
take part in government.
The Golden rule- Do unto
others as you would have
others do unto you.
D. Daoism teaches that
people should give up
worldly desires and
encourages the
importance of nature.
Daoism was created by
the scholar and teacher
Laozi.(Lowd Zoo)
E. Legalism is the belief
that society needs a
system of harsh laws
and punishments. The
scholar Hanfeizi
developed Legalism.
People are naturally bad
and need harsh rules.
• What are the differences betwenn legalism
and Daoism?
• What is the Golden Rule?
• How did farmers pay the aristocrats?
• Which group was on the lowest social
class?
• What is filial piety?