Ancient ChinaDynasties, Philosophers

and Ancient Life

GeographyHuang He (Yellow River)Named for the rich yellow soil it carries Runs from Mongolia to the Pacific OceanChang Jiang (Yangtze River) Runs east across Central China to the Yellow SeaLonger than the Huang He During the Shang Dynasty, China began to grow. The first city was the Anyang (China’s first capital)

Life in Ancient ChinaLandowning aristocrats

Peasant farmers

Merchants

Aristocrats owned large estates. They lived in large houses with courtyards and gardens. They had fine furniture and silk hangings. The houses were surrounded by walls.Farmers lived in simple houses inside village walls. The aristocrats owned the fields outside the walls and the farmers worked the land. They grew wheat, millet, and rice. Merchants included shopkeepers, traders and bankers. They lived in towns and provided services to the landowners. Merchants were not allowed government jobs.

Ancient LifeFilial Piety: Children had to respect their parents, and

older relatives. Family members placed the needs and desires of the head of the family above their own.

For farming, Chinese created terraces for farming and used insects to protect crops.

They used bronze and iron tools such as a hoe, plow blade and shovel.

Ancient China worshiped spirits and ancestors. Oracle Bones: carvings on bones that priests would

read and interpret. Pictographs: characters that represent objects Ideographs: characters that represent ideas

Four Chinese Dynasties

Shang Zhou Qin Han

When 1750-1045 BC 1045-256 BC 221-206 BC 202BC-220 AD

Important Leaders

-Numerous kings with large armies and control over the land.-Ruled from capital city of Anyang.

Wu Qin Shihuangdi Liu Bang

Main Ideas/ Accomplishments

Developed social classes*Fu Hao, first female in China’s history to receive the highest military rank

-Longest dynasty in Chinese history-Established Mandate of HeavenAnd Dao (duty)-Bureaucracy

-Strengthened central government.-Created one monetary system.

-Population and landmass grew under Han-Opened China to trade (built Silk Road)

Influences on Chinese Culture

Influenced Chinese religion and culture-created written language-calendar-musical instruments-Use of bronze

Developed irrigation and flood-control systems.

Introduced use of censors to check on government officials.-Qin built Great Wall

Created government’s civil service exam. -inventions: steel, paper, acupuncture, advanced sea travel.

Ancient China

Chinese Philosophers

Confucianism Daoism Legalism

Founder Confucius Laozi Hanfeize

Main Ideas People should put the needs of their family and community first

People should give up worldly desires in favor of nature and the Dao

Society needs a system of harsh laws and strict punishment

Influence on Modern Life

Many Chinese today accept his idea of duty to family. His ideas helped open up government jobs to people with talent.

Daoism teaches the importance of nature and encourages people to teat nature with respect and reverence.

Legalists developed laws that became an important part of Chinese history.

Ancient China Timeline Overview

Shang dynast

y begins

Wu Wang

creates Zhou

dynasty

Confucius is born

300 BC Laozi’s ideas of Daoism become popular

Qin dynast

y begins

202 BC Liu

Bang founds

Han dynasty

Hanfeizi

develops

Legalism

100 AD Silk

Road Established

190 AD

Rebel armies attack Han

capital

1750BC

1045BC

551 BC

300 BC

221 BC

202 BC

200 BC

100 AD

190 AD