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Early Chinese Civilizations The Indian Subcontinent The First Chinese Civilizations • Huang He Valley – flooded yearly with destructive results – Too much water rushed the dikes and caused it to soar over the land – Thousands of people and animals drowned – Houses, tools, and crops were destroyed – The river was given the nickname the “river of sorrows” The First Dynasties: Xia and Shang • Xia – earliest Chinese dynasty – Agricultural based economy but people still lived in cities • Shang – overtook the Xia dynasty – Developed a writing system for the Chinese language The Zhou Dynasty and the Mandate of Heaven • Zhou rebelled against the Shang • Mandate of Heaven – Deities in heaven ordered the Zhou to replace the Shang – Emperors ruled by divine right – power came from the gods – Gave people the right to rebel against an unjust ruler The Importance of the Family in China • Family is the basic unit of Chinese Society • Filial Piety – Governs relationships among family members – Sons and Daughters were to obey their parents – Parents were to obey their parents • All family members were to obey the oldest male of the family Early Chinese Civilizations CHINESE PHILOSOPHIES Chinese Philosophies • Philosophy is the search for knowledge about the world • Religion is the belief in and worship of a divine or superhuman power • Philosophy and Religion are NOT the same The Teachings of Confucius • Confucianism is based on the teachings of Confucius • Confucius wanted to bring harmony to the world • Taught that duty to the family and the community is more important than a person’s own needs and wants The Teachings of Confucius • Older people are considered superior to younger people • Men are always on a higher level than women The Teachings of Confucius • Influence – Rulers are responsible to heaven for the well being of their subjects – if the ruler failed the subjects could overthrow him – Believed public officials should be moral and well educated Daoism and Legalism • Daoism comes from the word Dao meaning “the way” – The way to happiness is to live in harmony with nature – A good ruler was one who did little Daoism and Legalism • Legalism – All people are naturally bad – Strong rulers, long list of laws, and harsh punishments are vital to bringing order to society Early Chinese Civilizations THE RISE AND FALL OF DYNASTIES The Rise and Fall of Dynasties • Qin Dynasty – Qin declared himself China’s first emperor – Centralized Government – Bureaucrats were appointed to oversee the new regions – Army to keep order and protect China – Authorized the building of the Great Wall to keep fierce fighters and warring nations away • Built with forced labor Han Dynasty • Liu Bang – peasant revolt leader – Took the name Han and declared a new dynasty – Replaced harsh laws and punishments – Adopted Confucianism Han Dynasty • Lasting Impacts – Population tripled – Empire grew in land area – Towards the end of 170 AD peasants were revolting over their living conditions The Silk Road and Sea Routes • Merchants traded along land and sea routes • The land route became known as the Silk Road – China’s most important good that was transported on this route was silk • Spices, tea, porcelain, ivory, cotton, pepper, and gems