Ancient China
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Transcript of Ancient China
Ancient China
Objectives• Analyze the impact of geography on the
success of the empire of Ancient China • Identify the three main dynasties of
Ancient China• Cite and explain each of the key
advancements of the three main dynasties of Ancient China
The Geography of China• Monsoons impact the climate• Isolated from other cultures by:– Gobi Desert in the North– The Himalayan Mountains to the West and
South– Bodies of water to the East:
• Yellow Sea, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean• Known as the “Middle kingdom”
– believed they were in the middle of the world, surrounded by natural barriers on all sides
The Gobi Desert
Geography of China• Yangtze River is the longest river in
Asia and third longest in the world• Huang or Yellow River is the second
longest river in China– Loess – sedimentary soil that is formed
by the accumulation of wind-blown silt (creates yellow-brown soil)
– China’s Sorrow – River brought life, but also destructive floods• To control flooding, the Chinese built dikes
(protective walls to hold back water)
Shanghai
or Yellow
The Dynasties of Ancient China
• 13 dynastic periods, Spanning 4,000 years
• Mandate of Heaven: a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers– Similar to “divine
right of kings”– Heaven would bless
the authority of a just rule
The First Dynasties• The Shang Dynasty – built China’s first cities– Irrigation and farming– Known for their bronze work– Developed the first Chinese writing
system• Oracle Bones
– Created a social pyramid
EmperorMilitary
Nobles
Priests
Merchants
Farmers
The Shang Dynasty
The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty• Prior to the Qin Dynasty, China had broken into
7 warring kingdoms• Shi Huangdi merged the kingdoms to unify
China, and was the first true emperor – To protect China from nomadic invaders along the
northern border, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall of China, but did not complete the project.
– Abided by the philosophy of Legalism• People are evil at their core, and the state is more
important than the individual– Created a “Terra Cotta Army” at his burial
necropolis
Legalism 法家• Legalism is based on three principles:
1. Fa 法 - The law code must be clearly written and made public.
2. Shu 術 - Special tactics and "secrets" are to be employed by the ruler to make sure others don't take over control of the state.
3. Shi 勢 - It is the position of the ruler, not the ruler himself or herself, that holds the power.
Qin Dynasty Ming Dynasty
Hey guys!
The Terra Cotta Army
Terracotta Warriors in un-restored
condition,
Qin Shi Huang Di's Mausoleum Mound. This is the stairway up the mound. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is about 1 mile from here.
Han Dynasty• Dynasty lasts 400 years• Liu Pang – overthrew the Qin Dynasty and became
emperor (202 BC)– Not a heavy-handed ruler (abandons Legalism for
Confucianism) – Establishes imperial university
• Wu Ti – Liu Pang’s great grandson and Emperor– Ruled from age 15-65 as the “Warrior Emperor”– Expanded the empire – Created a public school system (for boys only)– Silk Road to the west
The Shang Dynasty
Liu Pang
WuTi you looking at
punk?!?
The Silk Road• Connected Asia with the
Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North Africa
• Extends 4,000 miles long• In addition to silk, many other goods
were traded, as well as various technologies, religions and philosophies
The Silk Road
Tang Dynasty• China’s Golden Age– Greatest age for Chinese poetry– Buddhism reaches its peak
• Also Taoism and Confucianism – Men granted equal allotments of land in
exchange for taxes– Did not have to be a noble to hold a high position;
government exams– Borders expand from Korea to central Asia
(present day Afghanistan)
Tang Dynasty• Kingdom eventually dissolves into 10
different kingdoms– Feuds within the government, assassination plots,
etc. leave the empire vulnerable to invasion.
The Shang Dynasty