Download Ancient Chinese Civilizations - Judson Independent School District

1.What do you know about the Declaration of
Independence?
2. After watching the video what is one thing you’ve
learned about the declaration?
GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES
 Mountains cut off China from the west
 Isolated, China developed its own distinctive
culture.
 Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang
Jiang (Yangtze River)
 Only 10% of China could be farmed
 One of the greatest food-producing areas of
the ancient world
 Had an established bureaucracy- system of
departments/agencies formed to carry out
work of government
 Introduced simple irrigation and flood control
systems
 Believed in animism-spirits are present in
animals, plants and other natural object, and
ancestor worship
 Used oracle bones
 Overthrew Shang Dynasty about 1050 B.C.
 No centralized form of government
 granted territories
 Believed in the Mandate of Heaven – “God
of Heaven determines who should rule”
 Came to power through military might
 Ruled by Cheng – ‘1st Emperor’
 Word China comes from Cheng
 Autocracy – emperor had total power
 Began a 1,500 mile long section of what is
now the Great Wall of China
 Lasted only 15 years
 Liu Bang, peasant who became general, led
overthrow of Qin Dynasty
 Lasted 400 years
 Created civil service
 System of exams to
select most qualified
person
 Leveling – govt price
controls to balance
economy
 Silk Road – trade
route across Asia
Wu
1750 B.C.
Xia
 Confucianism – taught
importance of family,
respect for one’s elders,
and reverence for the
past and one’s ancestors
 Ideas were political and
ethical, not spiritual
 Civil service was born
out of Confucianism
 Daoism – people should
withdraw from world & live
in harmony
 Do not strive for material
wealth & should not seek
power
 The way to follow the Dao is
inaction, not action
 People should act
spontaneously and let nature
take its course
 Legalism – believed in power, not virtue
and in harsh laws
 People are selfish and untrustworthy
 Social order requires a strong ruler and harsh,
impersonal laws, both of which made people
obedient through fear