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Ancient China The Yellow River Valley Ancient River Valley Cultures Source: Bronze Age Empires Source: Geography Modern China China vs. the U. S. in Size China 3.7 mil sq miles 0 250 500 1,000 1,500 United States 3.6 mil sq miles SOURCE: Topic 5: “The Awakening Giant” by Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University. Miles 2,000 Satellite View of China Percentages of Different Landforms Arable Land Population Density 2012 520 people per.sq. mile How would you characterize the geography of China? In what way is the geography of China similar to the other innovative sites? In what significant way(s) is it different? What predictions can you make about the development of China? What features will be most significant in the development of Ancient China? Tarim Basin endorheic basin (350,000 sq mi). Gobi Desert Huang He Himalaya Mountains Yangzi Pacific Ocean Southeast Asian Jungle Monsoon Precipitation Patterns Prehistory: China Peking Man 700,000yrs old? Where did Chinese culture begin? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qie8SekyM1E&feature=related Yangshao Yangshao Yangshao Period 5000BCE? Matriclan Painted Pottery Culture Longshan Pottery Longshan Longshan Period 2500BCE? Black Pottery Period Bronze Patriarchy Cultural Origins of later Chinese Dynasties Development of a Complex Society and State Urban Revolution China’s Innovative Civilization? What we Know… Yellow River – Millet (grain) Shang Civilization – Oracle Bones – Burial – Religious beliefs Zhou Civilization – Sima Qian (Han Records) What we don’t know… Did Qian’s ‘mythological kings’ exist?? Was the Xia Dynasty the forerunner of the Shang? How early did Chinese Civilization take root? The XSZ Project Chinese Antiquity? Xia Archeological Dig? Shang Dynasty Shang Dynasty 1750 BCE – 1050BCE •Eastern Yellow River : Anyang & Zhengzhou •7 different successive capitals (30 Kings) •Cities: •ruler’s palace in center •surrounded by houses of artisans Archeological Evidence Suggests… Bronze Age (weapons, fittings for chariots & harness) Tools were of stone & wood (No ploughs – hoes, sickles) Massive public works projects (walls- 27 ft high) Sacrifice – including human Oracle Bones – divination (turtle shells) Earliest writing – bamboo strips too Veneration of Ancestors- Highly ritualized Shang-Ti (Supreme god over lesser gods) Historians’ conclusions Shang King – considerable power – Clans – warrior families – Civilization held together by force – Noble Families – Noblewomen exercised power – Merchant & artisan class – jade, silk, pottery Little diffusion of culture beyond Shang cities Deterioration gave way to Zhou dominance http://www.world-heritage-site.com/2011/10/30/yin-xuvideo-gallery/ "Oh! of old the former kings of Xia cultivated earnestly their virtue, and then there were no calamities from Heaven. The spirits of the hills and rivers alike were all in tranquility; and the birds and beasts, the fishes and tortoises, all enjoyed their existence according to their nature. But their descendant did not follow their example, and great Heaven sent down calamities, employing the agency of our ruler- who was in possession of its favoring appointment.” ZHOU Zhou Dynasty: 1050-256 originally Semi-nomadic West of Shang Gained allegiance of discontented states – Feudal System with vassal states Zhong Guo “Middle Kingdom” T’ien Ming “Mandate of Heaven” Western Zhou (1050 – 771BC) Western Zhou (1050 – 771BC) at Xi’an Adopted much of Shang civilization (writing, ritual, artisans, gods) Assimilation as opposed to force Capital – Banned sacrifice – Promoted diffusion in and around the cities – except for living quarters remained separate Later Periods: Eastern Zhou Capital at Loyang Spring and Autumn Period (771-401 BC) Warring States Period (401-256 BC) "The Period of The Hundred Schools" (551-233 BC) – Creative Period… Creative Period unprecedented era of cultural prosperity – reform and new ideas - attributed to the struggle for survival – skilled, literate officials and teachers increasing economic production to ensure a broader base for tax collection – commerce was stimulated through the introduction of coinage and technological improvements Zhou Dynasties’ Innovation Advances in farming/food production – Ox-drawn ploughs – large scale water projects for flood control and irrigation, canals Continued advances in weaponry/artisanry – Cross-bows – Iron metallurgy – Lacquer-ware Prose, poetry, literature – (I Ching, Book of Songs) Law and Government – Codified law – Shi – men of service (bureaucracy) money economy – facilitate exchange and economic growth Hundred Schools Period School of the Literati (Confucianism) – Confucius, Mencius School of Law (Legalism) – Xun Zi, Han Feizi Daoism (Taoism - Daoism) – Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi Sun Tzu The Art of War What does the language of these texts tell us about early Chinese beliefs and values? Confucius, The Analects What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others. By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart. To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar. Lao-tzu, The Way Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. He who knows others is wise; He who know himself is enlightened. To have little is to possess. To have plenty is to be perplexed. People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge. Cultural Impact of Geography??? Material force moves and flows in all directions and in all manners. Its two elements unite and give rise to the concrete. Thus the multiplicity of things and human beings is produced. In their ceaseless successions the two elements of yin and yang constitute the great principles of the universe. Source : Chang Tsai, Cheng-meng, Ch.1, in Wing-Tsit Chan, Chinese Philosophy, Chapter 30 “When the sun goes the moon comes; when the moon goes the sun comes. The sun and moon give way to each other and their brightness is produced. When the cold goes the heat comes; when the heat goes the cold comes. The cold and heat give way to each other and the round of the year is completed. That which goes wanes, and that which comes waxes. The waning and waxing affect each other and benefits are produced.” -Ti Ching Sun Tzu, The Art of War All war is deception. He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. What is significant??? How did the Ancient River Valley sites of China work to develop the roots of Chinese Culture?