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Ancient China
First
Civilization
• Along the Yellow
river, isolated from
other early cultures
• Longest lasting in the
world
• Ruled by dynasties –
families of rulers,
headed by emperor
• First was the Shang
dynasty,
• oracle bones and
priests
Mongols Invade
• China taken over by
Mongols —nomadic
warrior horsemen
from Mongolia
• Leader was Genghis
Khan —ruthless
warrior
• Great Wall was later
built to keep them
out
• Mongols also tried to
invade Japan –stopped
by a storm and
samurais
• Eventually driven out
of China
Dynasties Grow
• After Mongols –Ming Dynasty
grows, strong military and takes
over lots of land
• Capital -- Beijing is created,
emperor lives in the Forbidden
City –huge palace, over 800
buildings, 9,999 rooms, gates,
walls, moats –now a
museum/tourist attraction
The Silk Road
• Silk– valuable cloth
made from worms,
loved by Europe &
M.E., process kept
secret=$$
• Silk Road– 4000 mile
route from China to
Europe, many goods
transported, dangerous
(weather, animals,
robbers)
Achievements and Inventions
Porcelain– fine pottery (China), method kept secret
Writing and Calligraphy– 50,000 characters, many combos,
used also in Japan and Korea, decorative and artistic
Paper, kites, gunpowder, fireworks, crossbow, ice cream
Chinese Construction
• The Great Wall– over 4,000miles,
parts built over many years
• Keep out the Mongols to the
North, most places 30ft wide and
50ft tall
• Prisoners, peasants, labors used,
harsh treatment, many died—
bodies in the wall
• Towers, gates, bunk houses, supply
houses
• Grand Canal –
water from river
valleys to villages
• Tomb of Qin Shi
Huang –buried
w/8,000 life size
stone warriors, all
different
Religion and Philosophy
• Confucius– philosopher, good character
and responsibility, famous after death
Before you embark on a journey of
revenge, dig two graves.
– Confucius
• Taoism– Lao Tzu, force that guides the
world, goal to find harmony with the
Tao (force), use yoga, meditation,
martial arts
Be the chief but never the lord.—Lao Tzu
• Buddhism– from N. India (more info to
come)