Download Chapter Four Power Point

CHAPTER 4 –
ANCIENT CHINESE
CIVILIZATION
Section 1: Geographic and Cultural Influences
Ancient Chinese civilization flourished from
1500 BC to AD 589
 Four major dynasties existed during this time:
 Shang
 Zhou
 Qin
 Han

Three major rivers:
Yellow River
 Yangtze River
 Xi River

Geography:
The Yellow River has been nicknamed “China’s
Sorrow” because of many devastating floods
 China developed isolated from India and the
West:
 Farther away, rugged mountains, and harsh
deserts
 Influenced by fewer other cultures than any
other ancient civilization

Considered nomads to the north and west to
be culturally inferior
 Called themselves the “Middle Kingdom”
 Thought they were the center of world
 Strong sense of identity and superiority
 Believed people were only fully civilized if
they learned Chinese language and adopted
Chinese customs
 Invaders eventually lost identities and were
absorbed into China’s population

Chinese Writing
• Chinese writing has been found
dating back to the Shang Dynasty,
around 1200 BC. Writing was
originally done on oracle bones,
usually turtle shells or ox scapulae.
Bones with writing were put in the
fire and the cracks formed were used
to answer questions as a form of
“fortune telling.”
• Writing was eventually done on
bronze and later paper.
• Writing was standardized during the
Qin dynasty (221 BC).
• Today, educated Chinese people know
about 4000 characters.
The Xia

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Chinese legend tells of Yu, a mythological figure
who drained away floodwaters so people could live
in China
Yu established a line of kings called the Xia
The Xia rule over the region starting in about 2200
BC
The developed agriculture and used written symbols
They lacked methods to control irrigation and floods
Shang Dynasty
Swept into Yellow River valley between 1750
– 1500 BC
 First dynasty
 Strengthened their rule by introducing
irrigation and flood control systems
 Used war chariots and bronze weapons to
defend kingdom’s borders
 Economy based on agriculture

Continuously battled warlike neighboring states
 Military was finally exhausted
 Overthrown by Zhou dynasty in 1050 BC

Zhou Dynasty
Longest-lasting dynasty
 No centralized government
 Believed in “Mandate of Heaven”
 God chose rulers
 Local leaders fought amongst themselves
 One of the Warring States, the Qin, took over
as rulers

Qin Dynasty
Came to power through military force, around
221 BC
 Lasted only 15 years
 Name “China” comes from Qin
 Established autocracy – emperor held total
power
 Forced people to build Great Wall of China
 Discontent caused a rebel army to overthrow
the empire – founded Han dynasty

Great Wall of China
Terracotta Army

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The terracotta army is located in the tomb of the
first Qin Dynasty ruler Shihuangdi
It represents the emperor’s ability to control the
resources of the newly unified China.
It also shows his attempt to recreate and maintain
that empire in the afterlife.
The Terra-Cotta Warriors - YouTube
Han Dynasty
In power for 400 years
 Many Chinese today call themselves “People of
Han”
 Empire larger than the Roman Empire
 Established a civil service system to run
government

The Han Empire

Trade prospered along Silk Road
 Stretched
from China across central Asia to
Mediterranean region
 Camel caravans carried jade, silk, and paper to
Greeks and Romans
 Caravans returned to China with gold, silver, and wool
Fell to nomadic people around AD 220
 A Chinese general reunified China in AD 581

The Silk Road
Crash Course – Silk Road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfe-eNq-Qyg
Culture:
Mostly small village farmers
 Inventions include:
SEISMOGRAPH
PRINTING
PAPER
ACUPUNCTURE
SUNDIAL
COMPASS
GUNPOWDER
PORCELAIN
SILK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmHkOHs0
0Bo
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