Chinese Dynastic Cycle

• Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han• Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han

– Sui, Tang, Song– Sui, Tang, Song

Yuan and Ming and Qing

Yuan and Ming and Qing

Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong

or

Mao and Deng, Mao and Deng

Ancient China

• China has high mountains in the west,

its rivers flow east, thus China was isolated from western culture.

• Chinese civilization begins along theHuang He(Yellow) River.

• The religious authority of the king. It was believed that rulers received their authority from the gods. It was called “The Mandate of Heaven.” As dynasties weakened and new leaders arose, the Chinese believed that the gods were removing their mandate and giving it to another.

Hsia dynasty (Xi Dynasty): Ruled 22005B.C.E. - 1722 Earliest rulers of ancient

China

Achievements:1.Developed the potters wheel.2.Developed baked bricks for

houses.3.Harvested silk.4.Developed irrigation systems.

III. Shang Dynasty: First dynasty in China from 1766-1000 B.C.E.

Achievements:• Oracle Bones • Shamanism• Writing System• Bronze ware• Sericulture• Feudal Political System• War Chariots (Diffusion)

The Shang Economy;•Built irrigation canals for crops

•Cowry shells were used as money.

•Long distance trade for copper, tin, lead, and salt

•Farming was based on peasant/serf labor.

IV. Chou (Zhou) Dynasty 1029-258 BCE

• This was a time of Feudalism (Decentralized) government with competing warlords.

• There were few great accomplishments in science, art and literature, but China excelled in philosophy as great Sages (wise men) tried to bring about Unity, Peace & Prosperity.

•551 – 478 Life of Confucius•500 Laozi and Daoism•450 Development of Chinese Calendar

Patterns in Classical ChinaZhou Dynasty (height c. 700 B.C.E.)Yangzi River valley settled"Middle Kingdom"Mandate of HeavenConfucius

402 B.C.E. - 221 B.C.E. Era of the Warring States

221 – 202 B.C.E.Qin Dynasty

•A single emperor rules•Great Wall of China begun•A single basic language is developed

202 B.C.E. - 220 C.E. Han Dynasty

•Horse drawn plow, waterwheel, horse collar•141 – 187: Reign of Han Wu Ti: Increased bureaucracy, examination system begun, spread of Confucianism

Patterns in Classical ChinaShi Huangdi - Qin Dynasty (221–207 )• Great Wall - 3000 miles• census• standardized coinage, weights,

measures• common writing systemHan Dynasty (202 B.C.E.–220 C.E.)• Into Korea, Indochina, central Asia• contact with India, Parthian Empire• Wu Ti (140–87 B.C.E.) support of

Confucianism

III. Religion and Culture

Balanceunifying traditions

Kung Fuzi (ca. 551–478 B.C.E.)respect for superiorsleaders must show moderationrank based on intelligence, merit

Legalismalternative to Confucianismsupport authoritarian statebelief in evil nature of humankind

Daoismmore religiousLaozi (5th century B.C.E.)

force of natureethical code

Five ClassicsArt

calligraphyScience

365.5 day year

Mencius (372-289 B.C.E.) Principal spokesman for

the Confucian school

Believed in the goodness of human nature

Government by benevolence, humanity

Xunzi (298-238 B.C.E.) Served as a

governmental administrator

Cast doubt on the goodness of human nature

Harsh social discipline to order to society

Stress moral education, good public behavior

V. How Chinese Civilization Fits Together

Isolation

Confucianism & bureaucracy

Political stability & economic growth

DivisionsConfucianism v. Daoism

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang ErasWendi

NoblemanLeads nomadic leaders to control northern China589, defeat of Chen kingdom

Established Sui dynasty

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

A. Sui Excesses and CollapseYangdi

Son of WendiLegal reformReorganized Confucian educationScholar-gentry reestablishedLoyang

New capitalBuilding projects

Canals built across empireAttacked KoreaDefeated by Turks, 615Assassinated, 618

Anarchy in ChinaThree Kingdoms 220-280

Shu Han 221 – 263Wei 220 - 265

Most powerful, eventually conquered ShuBuilt an army of Chinese infantry and nomadic cavalry as mounted bowmenThese assimilated nomads later overthrew Wei and founded own dynasties

Wu 222 – 280

Period Resembled Western European history after the collapse of the Romans

Disunity and civil war between nomads and Chinese warlords Rival states, dynasties, each controlling a part of the old Han

state

Aristocrats, provincial nobles held land and real influence Many of the northern dynasties were nomadic, both Turkish

and Mongol

Confucianism in decline, Buddhism in ascendancy due to its relationship with the nomads

Confucian trained bureaucrats still held much influence

Common Chinese subject to taxes, warfare, drafting into army, frequent invasions, bandits

After fall of the Han, turmoil lasted for more than 350 years Three major states contended for rule; further fragmentationNomads constantly invaded, created their own states, dynasties

The rule of the Sui Reunification by Yang Jian in 589Constructions of palaces and granaries, repairing the Great Wall Military expeditions in central Asia and Korea High taxes and compulsory labor services

The Grand Canal One of the world's largest waterworks before modern times Purpose: bring abundant food supplies of the south to the northLinked the Yangtze and the Huang-Hi The canal integrated the economies of the south and north

The fall of the Sui High taxes and forced labor generated hostility among the people Military reverses in Korea Rebellions broke out in north China beginning in 610 Sui Yangdi was assassinated in 618, the end of the dynasty

Sui Dynasty

Founding of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE) A rebel leader seized Chang'an, proclaimed a new dynasty, the Tang

Extensive networks of transportationAdopted the equal-field system Bureaucracy of merit

Recruited government officials through civil service examinations Career bureaucrats relied on central government, loyal to the dynastyRestored Confucianism as state ideology, training for bureaucrats

Foreign relations Tributary system became diplomatic policy

Tang decline Casual and careless leadership led to dynastic crisis The Uighurs became de facto rulers The equal-field system deteriorated A large scale peasant rebellion led by Huang Chao lasted from 875 to 884 Regional commanders gained power, beyond control of the emperor The last Tang emperor abdicated his throne in 907

Song Taizu Reigned 960-976 C.E.Founder of the Song dynasty

Song weaknessesSong never had military, diplomatic strength of Sui, Tang Financial problems

Enormous bureaucracy with high salary devoured surplusForced to pay large tribute to nomads to avoid war

Military problemsCivil bureaucrats in charge of military forcesMilitary was largely foot soldiers at war with cavalry nomads

External pressuresSemi-nomadic Khitan, nomadic Jurchen attacked in northConstant drain on treasury to pay tribute to nomads

The Song moved to the south, ruled south China until 1279Nomads invaded, overran northern Song landsSong retreated to the South along Yangtze, moved capitalAfter defeat, constantly forced to pay tribute

SONG DYNASTY (960-1279 C.E.)

Porcelain Technology diffused to other societies, especially to Abbasid

Arabia Exported vast quantities to southeast Asia, India, Persia, and

Africa Metallurgy

Improvement: used coke instead of coal in furnaces to make iron, steel

Gunpowder Bamboo "fire lances," a kind of flame thrower, and primitive

bombs Gunpowder chemistry diffused throughout Eurasia

Printing From block-printing to movable type Books became widespread

Naval technology"South-pointing needle" - the magnetic compassDouble hulled junks with rudder, water-tight compartments

Industry and Technology

Merchants in ChargeOnly period in China where merchants socially superior to aristocratsMerchants attempted to intermarry with aristocrats, become landownersMerchants attempted to have sons admitted as Confucian bureaucratsMerchants tended to espouse Confucianism as way into traditional elitesMost large cities had large merchant communities

Financial instrumentsBanking and credit institution“Flying money " were letters of creditPaper money backed by state, treasury

A cosmopolitan societyForeign merchants in large cities of ChinaMostly Arab (Muslim), Indian, S.E. AsianChinese merchants journeyed throughout region

Economic surge in China An economic revolution in ChinaMade China the wealthiest nation in the world at timePromoted economic growth in the eastern hemisphere

A Market Economy

Drove the Mongols out of ChinaConstantly faced threats of new nomad invasionsRebuilt Great Wall to prevent northern invasions

Centralized government control Restored Chinese cultural traditionsRestored Confucian bureaucracy, civil service examinationsEunuchs given impressive role in Forbidden City as bureaucrats

Ming attempted to recreate the past, not improve upon itMoved capital to Beijing

Ming decline Centralized government ran poorly under weak emperorsWeak emperors isolated by eunuchs, advisorsPublic works fell into disrepairCoastal cities, trade disrupted by pirates, 1520 – 1560 Government corruption and inefficiency

Caused by powerful eunuchsOvershadowed by inability of bureaucrats to reform, innovate

Famines and peasant rebellions: 1630s and 1640s Rebellion by army units opens door to nomadic invasionNomadic Manchu invaders led to final Ming collapse, 1644

Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644

Manchus (1644-1911)Nomadic invaders

Originated in ManchuriaLast of the steppe invaders, dynasties Overwhelmed Chinese forcesProclaimed Qing dynastyOriginally pastoral nomadsMilitary force called banner armies Captured Mongolia first, then China

Remained an isolated ethnic eliteForbade intermarriage with ChineseForbade Chinese immigration to Manchuria, MongoliaPermitted Confucian scholars to run governmentMaintained Confucian system

Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) Confucian scholar; effective, enlightened ruler Conquered TaiwanExtended control to Central Asia, Tibet, Sinkjiang

Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) A sophisticated and learned ruler, poet, and artist Vietnam, Burma, Nepal made vassal states of China China was peaceful, prosperous, and powerful

Qing Dynasty