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1.
China’s Huang He (Yellow) River Valley is
home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Geography Hints
Archaeologists have identified people who
settled there around 3,000 BCE, about 5,000
years ago.
2.
Chinese civilizations developed along the
Yellow River because the soil was fertile, and
the river helped with transportation and trade.
3.
The Yangtze River was another important
river that was ideal for agriculture.
4.
The Chinese civilization was isolated from the
rest of the world by deserts, such as the Gobi
Desert, and mountains, such as the
Himalayan Mountains.
5.
The first dynasty in China was the Shang
Dynasty, which existed during the Bronze
Age.
Political Hints
1.
Confucius worked for the Chinese government as the Zhou Dynasty began to collapse. He saw first-hand saw the problems of the time period:
○
Greed: Government officials took bribes to do favors for the rich
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Cruelty: Rulers taxed their people to pay for war, while peasants starved; neighboring civilizations were constantly battling for control.
2.
Confucius believed the cause for the disorder was that the Chinese had turned away from the traditional roles and values of the Zhou Dynasty.
3.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the leader of the Qin Dynasty. He considered to be the first emperor of China. He is well-known for:
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Uniting warring Chinese provinces
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Instituting legalism in Chinese bureaucracy
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Creating standardized weights, measures, currency (money), roads, and writing
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Building the terracotta army to protect his tomb after his death
○
Beginning the building of the Great Wall of China along the northern border of the Qin territory
4.
The Han Dynasty built on the success of the Qin dynasty to create one of the longest lasting dynasties in Chinese history (206 BCE- 220 CE).
5.
The first Han emperor, Liu Bang, surrounded himself with trusted advisors. They pointed out that the Qin lost power because of their cruel policies.
Therefore, the Han Dynasty encouraged learning, lowered taxes, and ended many of the Qin’s harsh rules.
6.
The Han Dynasty’s accomplishments include:
○
The Han expanded China’s territory.
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Created a strong,central government.
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Civil service exams to award positions based on capability instead of hereditary
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The Silk Road.
Cultural/Economic Hints
1.
Confucius believed the cause for the disorder was that the Chinese had turned away from the traditional roles and values of the
Zhou Dynasty.
2.
He made his life mission to restore those values. His teachings were collected in the Analects.
3.
The heart of Confucianism lay in the vision of a stable, orderly society based on Five Relationships.
4.
His teachings became known as Confucianism, which is one of the most important philosophies that developed in China.
Silk Road
1.
WHAT: The Silk Road was an extensive trade route that went from China to Eastern Europe.
2.
WHERE: The Silk Road went along the
borders of China, India and Persia and ended up in Eastern
near today’s Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea
3.
WHY: The Silk Road is an incredibly important development in world history because it helped generate trade between different
kingdoms and empires. It help spread ideas, religions, innovations, and unique goods across a large portion of the world.
4.
HOW: Merchants and tradesmen traveled in large caravans. They had guards with them to serve as protection.
5.
WHEN: Trade on the Silk Road was significantly expanded during the Han Dynasty, which lasted from 206 BC- 220 AD.
6.
WHAT?: Silk, Paper, Bronze, Iron, Ceramics, Oranges, Gunpowder, Confucianism