Download ANCIENT CHINA

CLASSICAL CHINA
Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties
and Confucianism, Daoism, and
Legalism in Chinese Society
Zhou Dynasty (Chou)
 Longest dynasty in Chinese history
 Leader claimed he ruled under the
Mandate of Heaven
 Patriarchal society
 Filial piety was important
 Traded silk
 Complex language and writing system 1,000
characters
 Developed three major philosophies to explain
the nature of humans and the universe
 Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism
 Traded with India and Mesopotamia but
developed mostly in isolation
 Contributions:
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Rode horses
Developed very organized state
Pottery and bronze
Iron
Use of ideographic symbols
CONFUCIANISM
 Contemporary of Buddha
 Upset by the violence and moral
decay of his era
 His teachings were recorded in the
Analects
 He was appointed as the Minister of
Crime
 Teachings of Confucious
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Political and ethical, not spiritual
Social order was important
Leaders should set a good example
Government service should be open to all men of
superior talent
 Duty and humanity were central
Daoist Temple
DAOISM
 Based on ideas of Laozi
 Teachings
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Not concerned with the meaning of the universe
Sets forth proper forms of human behavior
Concerned with the natural order
The way to follow the will of Heaven is not
through action but inaction by not interfering
with the natural order
Daoist Ritual for
the Dead
LEGALISM
 Teachings
 Human beings were evil by nature
 A strong ruler was needed to create an orderly
society
 Only harsh laws and stiff punishments for bad
behavior and rich rewards for good behavior
would cause the common people to serve the
interests of the ruler
 Rulers should control ideas, as well as actions
 Fall of the empire
 Zhou rulers declined in quality
 Several of the kingdom’s territories became
powerful states that challenged the ruler
 Civil war broke out
QIN (CH’IN) DYNASTY
 Emerged after the civil war following the Zhou dynasty
 Qin Shihuangdi was a powerful leader and the First
Emperor
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Created a single monetary system
Built roads throughout the empire
Aggressive in foreign affairs
Destroyed outside rival armies and interior resistance
Gave himself a title that had been used for gods
EMPEROR’S (OR
TERRACOTTA) ARMY
The Great Wall
 Political changes
 Legalism was adopted as the regime’s
ideology
 People who opposed the regime were
punished or executed
 Created a highly centralized state
Qin Crossbow
 Fall of the Qin Dynasty
 Qin was the only ruler
 Contributing factors
 Censorship
 Harsh taxes
 Forced labor projects
 Followed by a period of civil war
HAN DYNASTY
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Seen as a period of glory, unity, and peace
Discarded the harsh policies of the Qin
Renewal of learning
Chose officials based on merit, rather than by birth
 Created a civil service exam
Expanded the empire
Silk Road linked China with Persia and other nations
Peaceful
Peasants suffered
Bronze mirror
 Contributions of the Han dynasty
 Iron casting technology, which led to
invention of steel
 Paper
 Rudder
 Fore-and-aft rigging
 China gained exposure to Buddhism from
travelers on the Silk Road
Bronze lamp that depicts a
phoenix
Silk Road
 Han encouraged trade
along with Silk Road with
the west
 Improved roads
encouraged trade
 There was demand for
silk in India,
Mesopotamia, Islamic
empire, and
Mediterranean
 Most trade was carried
out by nomads
 Provided initial
framework for later
global trading patterns
Bronze lamp
Model of funeral
tomb
 Fall of the empire
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Nobles filled the gap
Leaders were corrupt
Raids continued in the north
Rebel armies sacked the Han capital
 China plunged into civil war
 The next dynasty didn’t come to power
for 400 years