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China
Mr. Dodson
China Overview
• China acts as a cultural
hearth* in East Asia.
• Most of the region’s nations
have, at one time, been
controlled by China or
influenced by its culture.
• China is the world’s most
populous country.
* a hearth is a starting place, an origination point
China Part 1
Pre-Revolution
Construction of the
Great Wall of was
started by the Qin
Dynasty to repel
nomadic invaders.
Hundreds of
thousands of peasants
were forced to
construct the wall.
Early Civilization and
the Dynasties
• Oldest continuous civilization; a
settled society for 4,000 years
• Stone Age cultures later ruled
by dynasties—series of family
rulers
The First Emperor of China:
Qinshi Huang Di
(221-210 B.C.).
– First is Shang in 1700s B.C.;
overthrown in 1100s by Zhou
Dynasty
– Qin Dynasty unites small states in
221 B.C. Great Wall construction
starts
– Han Dynasty rulers push empire
into central Asia
– In 1644, Manchu begin Qing
Dynasty; ended by 1911 revolution
Religious and Ethical
Traditions
• Chinese philosopher
Confucius (551–479 B.C.)
inspires Confucianism
• Confucianism orderly,
educated society has respect
for past ancestors
– children obey parents; parents
obey government, emperor
– this was needed to help control
such a large population
Religious and
Ethical Traditions
• Taoism—from Tao-te
Ching - book of Lao-tzu
teachings (500s B.C.)
The Symbol of
Taoism Yin and Yang
Taoism/Daoism –
literally the “way or
path” is about
keeping a balance in
one’s life.
– preserve, restore
harmony in individual,
universe
• Indian Buddhism grows
in China, influenced by
Confucianism, Taoism
A Rich and Complex
Culture
From Pottery to Painting
• Early pottery, bronzes, jade
disks, wall paintings found in
tombs
• artists used clay, bronze,
jade, ivory, lacquer
Chinese Inventions
• Paper, printing, gunpowder,
compass, porcelain, silk cloth
Chinese Writing
• Chinese calligraphy (lettering)
is both a form of writing and an
art form.
• It is the basis of both Chinese
and Japanese writing.
• Every word has a character
(symbol) for it. The average
person knows (and uses)
more than 4,000 characters
Europeans Arrive
*The Boxer Rebellion
got its name from the
Secret Society which
in Chinese meant
“Fists of Righteous
Fury.” Europeans just
called them “Boxers”
for ease.
• China isolated until Europeans arrive in
1200s
• In 1800s, European powers seek
access to Chinese markets
• Treaties force a weak China to give
Europeans trade privileges
• Spheres of influence - territory
awarded to European nations & Japan
• Chinese anger over outside control
leads to 1900 Boxer Rebellion*
– Chinese militants kill Europeans, Chinese
Christians
– stopped by multinational European force