Ancient China

Early Chinese CivilizationsAncient ChinaConfucius wanted to promote a good environmentIf the people be led by laws, and uniformity be imposed on them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but will have no sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity be provided for them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame and will become good.Let the ruler be filial and kind to all the people; then they will be faithful to him. Let him advance the good and teach the incompetent; then they will eagerly seek to be virtuous.Chinas GeographyThe Two Rivers where China first began were the Yellow (Huang He) River and the Yangtze River

Chinas GeographyChina is mostly cover by mountains called the Himalayas separate China from India. Creating very different cultures.

Chinas first dynastyThe Xia Dynasty was the first Chinese Dynasty (4,000 years ago!) however little is known about them.

The Shang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty was the 2nd Ruled by an aristocracy

Aristocracy: an upper class of people whose wealth is based on land and whose power is passed on to the next generation of the family

The Shang king would appoint different aristocratic warlords to rule various territories

Shang kings were buried with their servants, much like pharaohs in Egypt.sucks to be a servant!Shang CultureUsed ORACLE BONES to communicate with the godsThey would ask the bones Will the king be victorious in battle? Will the king recover from his illness?Priests would then break the bones and interpret the answer

Polytheistic

Belief in After-lifeAncestor Worship- belief ancestors could bring good or evil fortune on family. Would burn objects to sacrifice to ancestors.

Shang Dynasty also had major advances in bronze metal working

The Zhou DynastyZhou conquered the Shang dynasty and rose to powerRuled for 800 years, longest lasting in Chinese history (1045-256 BC)

Claimed power based on the Mandate of Heaven

Mandate of Heaven says the ruler gets his power from Heaven however he must rule with goodness and efficiency. If he fails the people have the right to over throw him.

The proper Way of ruling was known as the Dao

Why are the conditions of the Mandate of Heaven considered forward thinking?Sets a precedent for the idea that people could overthrow an evil ruler; Shows the ruler was not divine himself, but rather granted power from a divine being

Mandate of Heaven causes Dynastic CycleZhou did not realize they were essentially giving the Chinese people an excuse to overthrow them some day

Chinese Improvements during the ZhouRapid farming improvement thanks to irrigation

Increase in metal working using Iron instead of bronze

Increase trade thanks to value of Silk

The Silk Road (China=Silk)Name for trade routes from China to EuropeLed to CULTURAL DIFFUSION & exchange of goods, increased wealth

Chinese WritingChinese today still use a writing system very similar to the writing developed during this ancient time period

The importance of FamilyIdea of Filial Piety

Filial Piety- every person in the family knows their place in the family, strict obedience to older members of family you better do your chores

Patriarchal Men were valued more, held more power in the family

Based on what we know about the Neolithic Revolution, hypothesize why men might have had more power in the family?Men controlled food supply worked in fields, protected landThe Chinese PhilosophiesConfucianism, Daoism and Legalism

ConfucianismTHE MOST IMPORTANT and STRON INFLUENCE ON CHINESE CULTURE STILL TODAY

Based on teachings of ConfuciusTeachings recorded in the AnalectsSought to answer the question of How to restore order to Chinese society?\

Confucianism2 key elements to follow the Dao: Duty & HumanityDuty: KNOW YOUR PLACE!Five Constant Relationships: parent::child; husband::wife; older sibling:: younger sibling; older friend::younger friend; ruler:: subjectThe older should be kind, the younger should be obedient (Work ethic)Humanity: Do not unto others what you would not wish done to yourself how does this differ from the Christian code: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you?

ConfucianismTeaching people should follow a CODE (laws) of Moral Conduct

Greatest influence on Chinese political and social organization

Individuals should know what is expected of them in society

Focused on human behavior

Government should be ruled by those with superior talent; not based on birth

DaoismBased on teachings of LaoziThe Old MasterBook: The Way of the Dao

It is best to not interfere with natureThe way to follow the will of Heaven is through inaction not action (differs from Confucianism who says hard work is necessary)

DaoismThe universe is sacred.You cannot improve it.If you try to change it, you will ruin it.If you try to hold it, you will lose it.

Yin & YangOpposites form a wholeMale::femaleHot::ColdLight Dark High::Low

LegalismFounder: Han Fei

Human beings are EVIL by nature

People will only follow the correct path of behavior by the creation of harsh laws and stiff punishments

Reject Confucius idea that superior talented men could rule; needed strong laws

Confucius said people would behave if it became in good taste to behave and that rulers should be compassionate.

Legalists DISAGREED; said ruler did not need to be compassionate; should be harsh

The 3 Philosophies

Summary of Religion

Qin Dynasty Rules for a short time (about 15 years)Practices LegalismOfficials in government were chosen based on merit instead of birthright (ending aristocracy somewhat)Unified more of ChinaUsed one form of currency(money)Build Great Wall of China

Qin DynastyGreat Wall of China was designed to keep invaders out in the north (especially from Mongolia)Why do you think there was not one built in the South?

The Wall required thousands of workers, many died and were buried in the wall

Qin Dynasty and the terra cotta armyThe army that was supposed to go with Qin Shihuangdi to the afterlife

QuestionHow was the Qin Dynasty and other Chinese dynasties similar to the ancient Egyptians?Belief in the afterlife and a return to earthly form

Hold On were about to die.BRB. Totally dude. Same-sys.The Han Dynasty (202 BC- 220 AD)Considered one of the greatest dynasties in Chinese historyGreatly expanded territory

The Han DynastyBrought China back to Confucianism after the Qin

Introduced a civil service examination; basically a test you had to take in order to become a government official

Population tripled (20 million to 60 million)

Experienced a long period of peace

The Han DynastyFor a long time great prosperity

Inventions of the water wheel, paper, clothes manufacturing

But overexpansion and increases in taxes hurt this and more peasants became upset rulers

Also weak rulers began to lose their grip on control in 220 AD the Dynasty was overthrown, and China would not see another Dynasty take power for 400 years

What can the USA learn from Han China?Why do you think overexpansion would lead to the downfall of an empire?Trying to control too much unfamiliar territory is expensive; dealing with rebellions

Why do you think high taxes could cause the downfall of a great empire?Eventually the government runs out off money to tax away from people; Unhappy citizens

How can we apply this to our politics in the United States?Reduce taxes; scale back foreign conquestsor else will yield same result