ANCIENT CHINAEARLY CIVILIZATION

GEOGRAPHY HAS SHAPED CHINAThe “Middle Kingdom”-between heaven and

earthIsolated and protected by geographic

barriers: -Himalayas and Hindu Kush-west -Gobi and Takla Makan deserts- north -Pacific Ocean-east - jungles-south Great Wall of China-attempted to plug “gap”

GEOGRAPHY OF CHINA (CON)2 MAIN REGIONS OF CHINA: -THE “Heartland”- region of rivers in the

east -OUTLYING REGIONS: -Xinjiang (Sinkiang) -Manchuria-main source of minerals -Mongolia-desert -Tibet-”the roof of the world”

3MAIN RIVERS OF CHINA1. YANGZI- 5TH LONGEST IN WORLD-ends at

Shanghai2. HWANG HE (YELLOW)-THE “RIVER OF

SORROWS”-overflows, leaving a yellow silt(loess)

3. SI- southeast trade route- ends at Canton and Hong Kong

EARLIEST CHINESE DYNASTIES1.SHANG:1650-1027BC- -CAPITAL CITY: ANYANG -RULED BY KINGS AND LOCAL

WARLORDS -MOST PEOPLE WERE PEASANTS

MAIN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: ANCESTOR VENERATION- offering

sacrifices to ancestors to have them speak to gods.

DYNASTIES (CON)--”yin and yang”-balance of good and

evil/positive and negative/male and female

EARLY CHINESE WRITING: SHANG DYNASTY--first found on “oracle bones”--pictographs:must memorize thousands-- calligraphy- only rich could read and write--a force of unity in China

DYNASTIES (CON)2.THE ZHOU DYNASTY-1027-256BC --promoted the MANDATE OF HEAVEN to

justify their overthrow of the Shang. -MAIN IDEA: the gods decide who should

rule. When a dynasty loses the god’s favor,floods, famine and natural disasters occur. A new dynasty takes over, and the DYNASTIC CYCLE begins again.

DYNASTIES(CON)ZHOU DYNASTY CREATED FEUDALISM: a

system of ranking society and keeping people in social groups

- OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS SILKMAKING- ONLY WORN BY NOBLES-FIRST BOOKS-RICE PAPER AND BAMBOO

COVERS

PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION IN ANCIENT CHINA1. CONFUCIANISM: founded by Confucius -born 551BC-a contemporary of Buddha

and Socrates -did not write anything down (later

recorded in “The Analects” -a philosophy, not a religion

MAIN IDEAS OF CONFUCIANISM1. THE FIVE

RELATIONSHIPS;father-son/older brother-younger brother/husband-wife/ruler-subject/friend-friend. RULES ALL SOCIETY

2. FILIAL PIETY: unconditional respect and honor towards elders and ancestors

3. GOLDEN RULE-”do unto others….”4. RIGHT OF REBELLION-people can

overthrow an unjust ruler

OTHER CHINESE BELIEF SYSTEMS2.LEGALISM: teachings of Hanfeizi - greed is the greatest motivator -only way to keep order is through strict and

harsh rules and punishments3. DAOISM- “The way of Virtue”-created

byLaozi -rejected conflict and strife promoted yielding (like water) as a powerful

force. (non-violence?)

STRONG DYNASTIES UNITE CHINA1. QIN DYNASTY (The Ch’in)-221-206BC - ruled by SHI HUANGDI-the “first

emperor” -united China into military districts -abolished feudalism -nobles forced to live in the capital -gave land to peasants (from nobles) -standard weights and measures and coins -built roads and canals

--cracked down on dissent --built GREAT WALL –more symbolic than

practical..Combined several separate walls.

After Shi Huangdhi died in 210BC, the dynasty was conquered by the HAN

2. HAN DYNASTY—206bc-220ad-GOLDEN AGE --EMPEROR WUDI --expanded China to its present size --created CIVIL SERVICE EXAM to fill

government jobs with competent people --OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS: acupuncture,

seismograph,paper out of wood, wheelbarrow, suspension bridge,rudder,