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Differences of Classical Civilizations from
Early River Valleys
• Size and political strength
• Larger land areas meant need for larger
governments and stronger militaries
• More complex cultures
• Great religions emerged: Hinduism, Buddhism,
Judaism, Christianity & Confucianism
philosophy
• Many civilizations produced art and literature
considered classics today
Differences of Classical Civilizations from
Early River Valleys
• More numerous and better written records
• More knowledge gained about classical
civilizations because of better record keeping
• All civilizations had writing and some developed
alphabets
• More complex long-distance trade
• Great trade routes developed: Silk road trade
and Indian Ocean trade
• Trade systems increased prosperity, introduced
new material goods, & spread ideas
Differences of Classical Civilizations from
Early River Valleys
• More contact between nomads and
sedentary people
• Urban areas came in contact with areas
on the periphery
• Central Asian nomads took over transport
of goods across the vast plains (settled
into some areas, as well)
• Attacks of nomads on civilization centers
grew
Differences of Classical Civilizations from
Early River Valleys
• More direct influence on modern
civilizations
• Many modern beliefs and practices are
traceable to Classical Period (more than
to early river valleys)
• Modern law codes are similar to Roman
law, not Hammurabi’s Code
• Religious beliefs of Classical Period are in
practice today
5
Broad Trends and Themes
• New belief systems emerged
• They spread beyond political boundaries, so
that societies organized on the basis of religious
and cultural traditions
• Universalizing religions—such as Christianity
and Buddhism appeared for the first time
6
Broad Trends and Themes
• Number and size of empires grew
dramatically
• Large empires began encompassing smaller
empires
• Cites grew and became centers of political,
economic, and religious power
• Social structures became increasingly
hierarchal
7
Broad Trends and Themes
• Volume of long-distance trade,
communication, and exchange increased
substantially
• Occurred through networks such as the Silk
Road, Trans-Saharan caravan routes, & Indian
Ocean Trade sea lanes
• Separate networks connected societies of the
Americas, but did not connect to networks in the
Eastern Hemispere
Chapter 2
Classical China
University High School
Chinese Dynasty Song
• Using the tune Frere Jacques
Shang, Zhou (“Joe”), Qin (“chin”), Han
Shang, Zhou (“Joe”), Qin (“chin”), Han
Sui (“swee”), Tang, Song
Sui (“swee”), Tang, Song
Yuan, Ming, Qing (“ching”), Republic
Yuan, Ming, Qing (“ching”), Republic
Mao and Deng, Mao and Deng
Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE)
• First documented rule in China (after Xia dynasty?)
• Extension of the Huang He River Valley civilization
• Views itself (China) as center of the world
• Isolated; little trade with outside
• New dynasties
usually emerged
from a family of
a successful
general, or even
from a peasant
rebellion.
• Over time,
dynasties grew
weak
• When one
dynasty
declines,
another emerges
Dynasty Cycle
Zhou Dynasty
1029-258 BCE
• Wu Wang displaced the Shang Dynasty
• Extended territory south into the Yangtze
River valley
• Cultural changes:
• Promoted one standard spoken language
(Mandarin Chinese)
• Human sacrificed banned
Zhou Dynasty
1029-258 BCE
• Zhou credited with Creating “Mandate of
Heaven”
• Used to justify dynastic rule based on the idea that
Heaven transferred power of the dynasties and
legitimized the current dynasty
• Heaven would also be displeased with a poor leader
and would cause that dynasty’s overthrow
14
15
Confucius’ Homeland
Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism
• Governed using feudal kingdoms (Feudalism)
• Rulers gave land to family members, other noble
families, and regional princes
• In exchange for land, tax revenues and military
troops were provided to the dynasty
• Empire is so large (transportation/communication
hard), feudalism seemed logical
• Problems? Feudalism is unstable; depends on
loyalty
Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism
• Era of the Warring States (402-201 BCE)
• Eventually, regional rulers who were frustrated
with Zhou emperors formed independent
armies and broke away from Zhou China
• Great philosophers tried to restore order
and create political/social harmony
through education
• Confucius and Confucianism
• Zhou declined because of 1) weakness of
feudalism and 2) nomadic invasions
QUICK REVIEW
What kind of political system did the Zhou use? Was it
effective or ineffective, ultimately?
Qin Dynasty (221-201 BCE)
• Qin Shi Huangdi – first and
main emperor of Qin China
Shi Huangdi
20
Qin Shi Huangdi
First and main emperor of Qin China
• Intelligent ruler: knew Zhou’s weakness was
feudalism
• Centralized power and ended feudalism by
capturing feudal estates controlled by Chinese
aristocrats
• Created non-aristocratic officials to oversee
provinces; no conflict of interest
• Brutal ruler; powerful army crushed uprisings;
used Legalism
Qin Dynasty, cont.
• Shi Huangdi began Great
Wall of China
• Now over 3,000 miles long
• Built to protect from outside
invasion
• Largest construction project in
human history; built by forced
labor (corvée: no
compensation, required labor)
• Created national census
• Calculate tax revenues and
organize labor services more
efficiently
Shi Huangdi
Qin Dynasty, cont.
• Standardized coinage,
weights and measurements
• Created uniform written
Mandarin Chinese
• Supported peasants with new
irrigation projects
• Ultimately, Shi Huangdi was
unpopular
• Burned books; taxed
heavily; military
conscription
Shi Huangdi
Terracotta Army
• Created around 210 BCE
• Purpose: defend Shi
Huangdi’s tomb, help him
rule in the afterlife
• Over 8,000 individual
soldiers, 130 chariots, 520
horses buried in four pits
around the tomb
• Terracotta: clay-based
unglazed ceramic
Han Dynasty (201 BCE-220 CE)
• After Qin collapse, Liu Bang
took control of China, using
able to bureaucrats to organize
the new dynasty
• Period of stability, prosperity,
peace
• Maintain centralized
government from Qin
Emperor Wu Ti
Han Dynasty (201 BCE-220 CE)
• Examination system developed:
process for selecting civil servants to
work in government
• Emperor Wu Ti: 1) created civil
service exam; 2) required civil
servants to have formal training in
Confucianism which would be a
large part of the exam
• Departed from Qin Legalism
• Created scholar bureaucrats that
did not have hereditary positions
• Contributes to Han stability
Emperor Wu Ti
26
Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty (201 BCE-220 CE)
• Extensive expansion of territory into central Asia
• Han Wudi (140-87 BCE) decreed that nobles must
divide their land among their songs  result:
large estates are broken up
• Trade routes led to contact with India, Parthian
Empire, Roman Empire
• Emperor Wu Ti began construction of Silk
Roads…but no weapons trade allowed
• Buddhism spread
Han Dynasty (201 BCE-220 CE)
• Decline
• Heavy taxes on peasants; poor harvests
• Weak emperors and influence of army generals
• Invasions by the Huns (Xiognu)
• 184 CE: Yellow Turban Rebellion
• Daoist revolutionaries and peasants rebel; frustrated by
corruption of government and emperor; promise Daoist
utopia
• Three Kingdoms Period (220-589 CE): China
was in a state of chaos
Zhou, Qin, Han Expansion
QUICK REVIEW
What kind of government system did the
Qin use? What did the Han add to this
system?
Political Institutions in Classical China
• In Classical China, the belief in the
desirability of central government is created.
• Why? The government was seen as
providing services for the people
• Expansion of state functions allowed
government to reach the common people
(ex: regulation of agricultural production to
control costs)
Political Institutions in Classical China
• Power of the emperor developed in Qin and
Han
• Central authority and strong government that
supports emperor
• Development of a educated, professional
bureaucracy (civil servants)
• Han create civil service tests to standardized
selection process
• Little emphasis on military since China did
not depend on expansion to maintain its
stability
Religion and Culture in China
• Religion
• Rulers in the Zhou
dynasty maintained a
belief in gods and stressed
the importance of a
harmonious earthly life
• Ancestor worship
• Philosophies/Ideologies
1) Confucianism
2) Legalism
3) Daoism/Taoism
Confucius handing the Buddha to Laozi
Confucianism
• Chinese ethical and philosophical
system
• Developed from the teachings of
Confucius (551-478 BCE) on the eve
of the Era of the Warring States
(recorded in Analects of Confucius)
• His students became disciples who
elaborated his texts
• Confucianism spread throughout
Classical China; predominant
philosophy
Confucius
Confucianism
• Confucianism is incorporated into
government teachings with Wu Ti
• Supports loyalty to the state
• Uses father/son :: emperor/subject
analogy
• Confucian beliefs:
• Education; Self-regulation; proper
exercise of power; propriety and
etiquette; familial love and respect for
parents; righteousness; honesty and
trustworthiness; loyalty to the state;
humaneness; respect elders/superiors
Confucius
Confucian Relationships
• Five Relationships
• Ruler :: Subject
• Care, protection vs. loyalty
• Parent :: Child
• Care, educate vs. obedience,
devotion
• Elderly :: Youth
• Kindness, counseling vs. respect, care
• Husband :: Wife
• Care, protection vs. loyalty, devotion
• Friend :: Friend
• Trust and reliability; an equal
relationship
Confucian Relationships
• If all major relationships were
handled with respect,
kindness, and honor, then
there would be peace and
harmony
• Notice that rulers have
behavior guidelines, as well.
Mandate of Heaven is
revoked if they do not
uphold Confucian values.
Legalism
• Qin and early Han periods
• Strict system of obedience to
government and law
• Favors authoritarian state ruled
by force (army to control people)
• Human nature is evil and
requires constant discipline
• People’s responsibility to work
for the government
• Not successful in China overall,
but influenced some policies and
ideologies
Shi Huangdi admired
Legalist thinkers
Daoism/Taoism
• Founded by Lao Tzu (Laozi)
(5th c. BCE)
• Promoted humility, frugal
living, simplicity
• Human harmony with nature
would naturally lead to
balance in the Chinese political
system
• Yin and Yang
Lao Tzu
Daoism/Taoism
• Practices: Secret rituals,
ceremonies, mystery, magic,
astrology
• People should follow personal
paths to self-knowledge;
departs from Confucian formal
education
• Little influence politically
(Confucianism was more
successful) but large influence
on Chinese medicine, art, and
poetry
Lao Tzu
QUICK REVIEW
What are the three philosophical systems
of Classical China?
Economy in China
• Standardization of weights and
measures by Qin facilitated
trade
• Extensive and regular internal
trade using copper coins
• Trade focused on luxury items:
silk, jewelry, leather, furniture
• Trade was not highly valued in
Classical Chinese society
(Confucian value of learning
emphasized; merchants viewed
poorly)
Economy in China
• Focused on agriculture;
virtues of peasants
• Expansion into Yangtze
River Valley
• Wheat grown in north, rice
in south
• Result: population growth
• Traded food between wheat
and rice growing regions
Society in China
• Social classes were hereditary
• Not permanent; could move up
• 1st Class: Landowning aristocracy and
•
•
•
•
educated bureaucrats (2%)
• 2nd Class: Laboring masses: peasants and
urban artisans
• 3rd Class: Unskilled jobs; performing artists,
merchants, household slaves
• Punished more harshly than other groups
Importance of unity and extended families
Patriarchy based on Confucianism
• Women: power through sons, as mother-inlaw
• Property rights: oldest male inherited
Power of parents
• Children punished severely for
disobedience
Ancestor worship
Science and Technology in China
• Accurate calendar (444
BCE): 365.25 days
• Observed movements of
Saturn and Jupiter
• Developed early
seismograph to measure
earthquake strength
• Medical research
(principles of hygiene
and anatomical
knowledge)
Science and Technology in China
• Ox-drawn plows (300 BCE)
• Iron mining
• Pulleys brought material
to surface
• Improved tools and
weapons
• Water-powered mills
• Aided manufacturing
• Paper
• Allowed government to
keep records
Chinese Art
• Highly decorative, often
representing nature
• Chinese calligraphy is considered an
art (especially according to
Confucius)
• Artwork found on bronze, pottery,
carved jade, ivory, woven silk
screens
• No monumental buildings or large
monuments
• No major religion for which buildings
are needed
• Many palaces and tombs