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ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

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ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA. How it all began-. King Yao, King Shun, and King Yu reflected the values of society. Legends of early China. . Settling Down. Domesticated rice, millet, wheat, and barley beginning around 7000 B.C.E. in the valleys of the Yangzi and Huang-he (Yellow)rivers. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL

CHINA

Page 2: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

How it all began-

– King Yao, King Shun, and King Yu reflected the values of society. Legends of early China.

Page 3: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

Settling Down

– Domesticated rice, millet, wheat, and barley beginning around 7000 B.C.E. in the valleys of the Yangzi and Huang-he (Yellow)rivers.

Page 4: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

ANCIENT CHINA

Page 5: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

XIA DYNASTY• Archeological discovery of the Xia

is still in its preliminary stage • Established about 2200 B.C.E. • Legendary King Yu• Erlitou: possibly the capital city of

the Xia• Some still not convinced it existed.

Page 6: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

THE SHANG DYNASTY: 1766-1122 B.C.E.

Arose in the southern, eastern areas Bronze metallurgy, monopolized by elite Agricultural surpluses supported large troops Vast network of walled towns Shang-kings were warriors Constant struggle with nobles for power Lavish tombs of Shang kings

– Contained chariots, weapons, bronze goods – Sacrificial human victims, dogs, horses

Page 7: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

Oracle BonesRulers, people looked to them for

answers.Primary instruments of fortune-tellers

– Discovery of the "dragon bones" in 1890s – Bones recorded day-to-day concerns

Page 8: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

MANDATE OF HEAVEN The right to rule granted by heaven

– Zhou justified their overthrow of Shang – Ruler called "the son of heaven" – Only given to virtuous, strong rulers– To lose mandate = someone else should rule– Replacement of dynasties = Dynastic Cycle

Signs one had lost mandate– Corruption, heavy taxes, revolts, invasions,

civil wars, crime, natural disasters, etc

Page 9: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

Mandate of Heaven

Page 10: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

THE ZHOU DYNASTY: 1122-256 B.C.E.

– The rise of the Zhou The last Shang king was toppled by the

Zhou. – Political organization

Adopted decentralized administration Used princes and relatives to rule regions

Page 11: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

THE FALL OF THE ZHOU -Iron weapons helped regional authorities to

resist the central power. Territorial princes became more independent.

– Nomadic invasions– Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.E.) – Rise of Qin state

Page 12: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

FAMILY Xia to Zhou ruled through family, kinship Veneration of ancestors

Belief in ancestors' presence, continuing influence Burial of material goods with the dead Only males could perform religious duties

Filial Piety Patriarchal society

During Neolithic times, Chinese society = matrilineal

Rise of states, war due to men's contribution s After Shang, not even queens merited temples

Page 13: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

THE SOCIAL ORDER The ruling elites

Royal family and allied noble families at the top

Most of the land owned by the king, nobles Peasants, the majority of population

Landless peasants provided labor Women’s World

Managing household, raising children

Page 14: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

OTHERS Slaves

Mostly war prisoners Performed hard work Became sacrificial victims

Suspicious towards Foreigners

Page 15: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

CHINESE POPULAR RELIGIONCo-exists well with all major

ideas, philosophiesBelieves gods, spirits (shen)

influence family, worldMaintenance of family shrines,

community temples

Page 16: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

HOUSEHOLD & PUBLIC RITUALSHousehold Rituals

– Always performed by males– Expression of Confucian filial piety

Domestic altarNames of deceased, icons

Public Rituals– Preserve social harmony, local identity

Page 17: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

CONFUCIUS’ SEARCH FOR ORDER Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.)

Sayings compiled in the Analects by disciples

Confucian ideas Fundamentally moral and ethical in

character Restore political and social order; stress

ritual

The key Confucian idea: 5 Relationships and filial piety as basis

of society

Page 18: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

LEGALISM– Legalism

– Promoted a practical and ruthless approach – No concern with ethics and morality

Doctrine used by Qin dynasty – Discouraged commerce, education, and the

arts – Called “carrot and stick” approach in west – Called for harsh penalties even for minor

infractions

Page 19: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

MOHISM Founder Mo Zi

– Lived 470 – 391 BC– Served in military, ideas based on it

Beliefs– Advocates doctrine of universal love and

cooperation– Stress discipline, order, authority – Loyalty to all elders, not family

Page 20: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

DAOISM Prominent critics of Confucianism

Understand natural principles, live in harmony with them

Laozi -founder of Daoism Philosophical Daoism

Dao - The way of nature, the way of the cosmos Opposites in balance, complementary Flourishes when peace prevails

Page 21: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

HAN STATECRAFT Han centralization

– Built an enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire – Continued to build roads and canals – Levied taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft

industries – Established Confucian educational system for

training bureaucrats

Page 22: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

TRADE AND COMMERCE– Iron Farming tools, utensils, and

weapons– State monopolies on liquor, salt and

iron – Silk textiles

High quality Chinese silk became a prized commodity

Traded as far a field as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Rome

– Paper production Invented probably before 100 C.E.

– Silk Road established

Page 23: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

HAN TROUBLES Raised taxes Much of defense consumed on defending

against nomads Social tensions, stratification between

the poor and rich Problems of land distribution

– Early Han supported land redistribution– Economic difficulties forced some small

landowners to sell property – Some sold themselves or their families into

slavery – Lands accumulated in the hands of a few

Page 24: ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL CHINA

LOSS OF THE MANDATE– Collapse of the Han

Factions at court paralyzed the central government

Han empire dissolved China was divided into regional

kingdoms