Download Ancient Chinese Civilization

Huang River Valley
The Cradle of Chinese Civilization
I.
Geography and Climate
A. China is very large with lots of variety
1.
2.
3.
4.
Mountains in the west
Desert in the north
Open Plain in the southeast
Coastline in east and southeast
B. Climate
1.
Northern China
a.
b.
2.
Main crop was wheat
More extreme temperatures, shorter growing season
Southern China
a.
b.
Main crop was rice
Milder temperatures
C. Main River Systems
1.
Huang – called Yellow River because of its
loess
a. Loess is a rich soil that has a yellow tint
b. Also called China’s sorrow because of devastating
floods
2.
3.
Chang- over 3,400 miles long
Xi- Southern China
II.
Culture
A. Geographically isolated- very little cultural
diffusion
B. Thought everyone else was uncivilized.
C. Referred to themselves as Zhongguo or
Middle Kingdom
III. The Shang Dynasty
A. Ancient China started on the Huang River
1.
Called the Xia dynasty, they were invaded by
the Shang.
B.
Government and Culture
1. The Shang moved their capital several times
2. Created a Bureaucracy– government with
different levels and responsibilities
3. Had an advanced military
a.
b.
Chariots
Bronze weapons
C.
Economy and handicrafts
1. Economy based mainly on agriculture
a.
Rice
2. Made silk from silkworms
3. Bone crafts, ivory and jade
4. Ceramic art
a.
Glazing and firing clay to make strong
pottery
D.
Astronomy and calendars
1. Used two calendars
a.
b.
Solar used for planting
Lunar used for personal events
E.
Religion
1.
2.
3.
4.
Believed in animism and ancestor worship
Also worshipped the sun, wind, clouds and moon
One main god, Shangdi, controlled everything
Priest used oracle bones to interpret dreams
F.
Language and Writing
1. Spoke many dialects
2. Early text was pictographs, later became
calligraphy
G.
Fall of the Shang
1. Shang had to defend its borders against
invaders
2. Zhou people overthrew the Shang
a.
Claimed Shang were corrupt to gain support
IV.
Zhou Dynasty
A.
No centralized government, gave control to members
of royal family
B.
Believed in Mandate of Heaven
1.
C.
D.
E.
Gods determine who would rule China
Leaders fought, were losing control
Attacks from outside invaders
Capital destroyed in 771 B.C. – became warring states
V. Qin Dynasty
A.
One of the Warring States won power
1.
Cheng declared himself 1st emperor
2.
Lasted only 15 Years, but many changes
3.
Name for China came from Qin
4.
Built walls to protect themselves, once
connected would be Great Wall of China
B.
Liu Bang would eventually conquer the
emperor and start the Han Dynasty
VI. Han Dynasty
A.
Chinese have called themselves Han ever
since
B.
Civil Service System
1. Created to govern China (day to day business)
2. Had an extensive system of exams to select the best
C.
Other Accomplishments
1.
2.
3.
4.
Expanded area through military outpost cities
Developed Silk Road for trade
Population grew to 50 million
Lasted until 220 A.D.
VII.
A.
Philosophies
Confucianism
1.
Teachings of Confucius are called the Analects
a.
b.
c.
d.
Respect your family, elders, and ancestors
Not concerned with life or death
Concerned with political and social ideas
Stressed responsibility and virtue
B. Daoism
1.
Founded by Laozi
2.
Dao = the way; a force that governs the
universe
3.
Shunned politics
C. Legalism
1. Stressed obedience to law system
2. Did not address meaning of life
D. Buddhism
1. Reached China via missionaries sent by Indian
ruler Asoka
VIII.
A.
Chinese Life and Culture
Family and Social Life
1. Many generations lived in same house
2. Respect, honor, and family name were
important
3. Women had very few rights, but were very
well respected
B.
Economy
1. Agricultural, very little trade
C.
Arts and Sciences
1. “Five Classics” were used to train civil servants
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Book of History – government
Book of Changes – predicting future
Book of Rites – ceremonies and manners
Spring and Autumn Annals – history
Book of Poems
D.
Science and Technology
1. Discovered the year was slightly longer than 365 days
a.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Began Leap Year
Developed a system to track planet movements
Invented paper
Learned how to glaze pots
Developed herbal and mineral medicines