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Ancient China Chapter 6 Section 1: Geography Shapes Ancient China Geographic Features of China Isolated by Barriers The huge mountain chains, vast deserts, and large bodies of water acted as barriers between China and other lands making the spread of ideas and goods difficult Two River System Two major rivers flow to the Pacific, the Yangtze River and the Huang He River Between these two rivers is where most ancient Chinese farming was done A Varied Climate Just like in the United States, the climate varies Western China is dry, Northeast China has cold winters and warm summers, and Southern China has mild winters and hot, rainy summers Section 1: Geography Shapes Ancient China The Shang Dynasty Shang Kings The Shang family took control and set up a dynasty around 1766 BC and claimed to rule with the gods’ permission Shang Families Believed the spirits of ancestors could bring good fortune, and respect for family and ancestors was important Developing Language Began by scratches on oracle bones which were used to ask questions of the gods Eventually developed their own pictographs Pros: People could read the language without being able to speak it Cons: There were over 10,000 characters Section 1: Geography Shapes Ancient China The Zhou Dynasty The Zhou and the Dynastic Cycle Came from the northwest, and adopted many Shang ways They introduced the idea that the ruler had to have approval from the gods, and if the ruler was bad his rule would be taken away (Mandate of Heaven) Zhou Government There was no strong central government, and regions were ruled by lords who were loyal to the king As the lords’ power grew, they began fighting amongst themselves The Time of the Warring States In 771 BC, invaders destroyed the capital, killed the king, and took control The lords were still fighting amongst themselves in their own territories in a time that came to be known as the Time of Warring States Section 2: China’s Ancient Philosophies Legalism Belief that a powerful, efficient government and a strict legal system are the keys to social order Strict Laws and Harsh Punishments Human nature is wicked and people only do good when forced Government should pass strict laws to control the way people behaved An Increase in Government Control Taught that rulers should reward people who carried out their duties well, but they stressed punishments more than rewards Example: Legalists thought that people who did not report lawbreakers should be executed Legalists did not want people to complain about or question government and wanted those people arrested Wanted to burn books that contained different ideas Section 2: China’s Ancient Philosophies Confucianism Developed by a man named Confucius whose teachings were collected into a book called the Analects The Five Relationships Each had its own duties and its own code of proper conduct Father and son, elder brother and younger brother, husband and wife, friend and friend, ruler and subject Proper Conduct Began at home; parents should be treated with respect (filial piety) Rulers should live correctly and treat his subjects with respect The Impact of Confucianism Helped people find ways to avoid conflict and live peacefully Laid the groundwork for fair and skilled government leaders Section 2: China’s Ancient Philosophies Daoism Created by Laozi in the 500s BC The Way The Way, or Dao, guides all things, but humans do not live in harmony with this force Each person should learn to live in harmony with nature & his/her inner feelings More concerned with natural order than social order Following the Way Accepted things as they were, did not try to change things Tried to understand nature and live in harmony with its rhythms Yin and Yang: represents natural rhythms of life Black = cold, dark, mysterious White = warm, bright, and light Complement each other Pursued scientific studies in astronomy and medicine Section 3: The Qin and the Han The Qin Unified China A Legalistic Ruler Ruler Shi Huangdi began ending battles between warring states in 221 BC He believed in Legalism and tried to wipe out Confucianism, killing his critics and burning books that contained ideas he disliked Uniting China Strong central government and weakened China’s noble families Built highways and irrigation projects; standard weights, measures, coins, and writing Forced peasants to work and set high taxes The Great Wall Built by peasants and criminals; meant to keep out nomadic invaders from the north The Qin Dynasty Ends Shi Huangdi died in 210 BC and was buried in an elaborate tomb that contained an army of terra cotta soldiers Section 3: The Qin and the Han The Han Dynasty Founded by Liu Bang, who overthrew the son of Shi Huangdi Han Government Kept strong central government but lowered taxes and lessened punishments Set up a bureaucracy where people were tested and chosen to run various government offices Empress Rules Liu Bang’s widow, Empress Lu, retained power through her children after the death of her husband Expanding and Unifying an Empire Wudi came to power after Empress Lu and expanded China through warfare Encouraged conquered people to assimilate to Chinese culture, and sent farmers to tend the land and marry conquered people Maintained a strong, unified government despite rebellions, peasant revolts, floods, famines, and economic disasters Section 3: The Qin and the Han Life in Han China Daily Life in Han China Most worked on farms and lived in villages nearby in oneor two-story mud houses Rich farmers had oxen to pull their plows, poor farmers pulled their own plows; both had simple tools Simple clothing and sandals, which could be stuffed like a quilt in colder months City Living Centers of trade, education, and government Merchants, craftspeople, and government officials lived there Section 4: The Legacy of Ancient China The Silk Roads A Trans-Eurasian Link Overland trade routes were called Silk Roads, and because they connected two continents they were considered trans-Eurasian Traders would travel for years carrying silk, paper, jade, and pottery to trade for sesame seeds, oil, metals, precious stones, and horses Cultural Diffusion Ideas and cultural customs were also shared on the Silk Roads; this spread of ideas and customs is called cultural diffusion The Spread of Buddhism Buddhist missionaries entered China along the Silk Road and introduced the religion to the Chinese people Buddhism was adapted to fit better with Chinese traditions Section 4: The Legacy of Ancient China Influential Ideas and Beliefs Standards set by Confucianism are still significant in China today and spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam Daoism became a religion in China, but did not spread to other areas Together, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism make up the major religions or ethical systems that have influenced Chinese life. Most people’s beliefs included elements of all three Section 4: The Legacy of Ancient China Chinese Inventions and Discoveries Agricultural Improvements Made life easier for farmers and made more grain available Improved plow, iron tools, collar harness for horses, wheelbarrow, and water mills Paper Made from a mixture of old rags, mulberry tree bark, and fibers from the hemp plant Prior to the invention of paper, writing took place on silk or on wood Silk Beautiful and long lasting, for about 3,000 years only the Chinese knew how to make silk Silk allowed the Chinese to get gold and silver from western lands
