Geography of China

Himalayas

Tien Shan Gobi Desert

Thick Rainforest

Pacific Ocean

China’s many physical barriers helped to form a unique society.

Despite this physical

isolation, China traded with civilizations

thousands of miles to the east.

From the Himalayas and

the Tibetan Plateau in the

East flow two of the world’s

largest rivers: The Huang He

and the Yangtze.

Chinese civilization began along the banks of the Huang He River (also known as the yellow river). It later spread south to the Yangtze River.

Ancient Chinese History

1600 B.C. 1029B.C. 551 B.C. 500 B.C.771B.C. 475 B.C. 350 B.C.

Please draw the following timeline in your notebook.

221 B.C. 206 B.C. 50 A.D. 220 A.D.

1600 B.C.The Shang Dynasty is founded.

1600 B.C.

1029 B.C.Zhou Dynasty

overthrows the Shang Dynasty to

take control of China. In order to

justify their takeover, they

claim to have the “mandate of

heaven”.

1029B.C.

771 B.C.The Zhou dynasty begins a period

of decline. Although Zhou emperors still maintain ritual importance, they hold little

authority. The political instability of the next four hundred years

leads to the golden age of Chinese philosophy. Many different schools

of though emerge about how to best solve China’s instability.

771B.C.

551 B.C.Confucius is born. His

teachings will eventually influence Chinese society

more than any other thinker.

551 B.C.

The Five Relationships1. Ruler to Ruled

2. Father to Son

3. Husband to Wife

4. Elder Brother to Younger Brother

5. Friend to Friend

Confucianism is based on harmony and each person in any given relationship is expected to

live up to their side of the bargain. If everyone does this, the whole society will function

smoothly.

500 B.C.China enters an

Iron Age.

Chinese smelters developed a “Blast Furnace” which allowed them to heat Iron to a temperature of 1130°C. At that temperature, Iron melts and can be poured into molds and casts which is much more efficient than forging each individual piece.

500 B.C.

475 B.C.The Warring States Period

begins.

7 different Feudal states

battled for dominance in

China for more than 250 years.

475 B.C.

350 B.C.The Tao Te

Ching is Written by Lao Tzu. This text becomes the basis for

Taoism (Daoism) which has enormous influence on

Chinese culture.

350 B.C.

221 B.C.The Qin

Dynasty is established when the

seven warring states of

China were unified by

Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried in 210 B.C. with over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. This “Terracotta Army” was discovered by local farmers in 1974.

221 B.C.

This map shows the

area of the Qin Dynasty at

its greatest extent. The Qin formed the first real

Empire in China by

ruling over other states as

well as their own.

206 B.C.The Han Dynasty

is founded. The Han were one of

the 7 warring states and rebelled against the Qin to gain control in China.

Chinese culture and civilization flourished under the Han who ruled for 400

years. Today, 92% of China’s population is of Han

descent.

206 B.C.

50 A.D.Buddhism spreads to

China.

This is one of more than 51,000 statues of Buddha carved into the base of the Wuzhou Shan mountains. These carvings are known as the “Yungang Grottoes” and were made in the 5th and 6th Centuries.

50 A.D.

220 A.D.The Han Empire is

divided and the Three Kingdoms

Period begins. The three Kingdoms

are: • Wei (魏 ) • Shu (蜀 )• Wu (吳 )

220 A.D.

Looking Ahead in Chinese History. • The Dynastic Cycle Continued in China until

1911 when the Xinhai Revolution led to the establishment of the Republic of China.

• In 1949, Mao Zedong and his communist party

proclaimed the establishment of the

People's Republic of China which still rules over China

today.

581- 618 A.D.The Sui Dynasty

618- 907 A.D.

The Tang Dynasty

960-1271 A.D.

The Song Dynasty

1271-1368 A.D.

The Yuan Dynasty

1368- 1644 A.D.

The Ming Dynasty

1644- 1911 A.D.

The Qing Dynasty