Golden Ages of ChinaGolden Ages of China

DynastyDynasty

a family of rulers who rule a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long over a country for a long period of timeperiod of time

First Dynasty of ChinaFirst Dynasty of China

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty Built the first cities in ChinaBuilt the first cities in China King- practiced absolute power: King- practiced absolute power:

political, religious, and military political, religious, and military leaderleader

Grew to rule the people of the Grew to rule the people of the Huang He River valleyHuang He River valley

WarlordsWarlords

Kings relied on warlords to Kings relied on warlords to govern conquered territoriesgovern conquered territories

Military leaders, exercised Military leaders, exercised civil power by force in a civil power by force in a limited arealimited area

LifestyleLifestyle King, warlords, and royal officials made up the King, warlords, and royal officials made up the

upper classupper class Aristocrats- people of noble birthAristocrats- people of noble birth Most people were farmers: raised cattle, Most people were farmers: raised cattle,

sheep, chickens, and grew grains millet, sheep, chickens, and grew grains millet, wheat, and ricewheat, and rice

Polytheistic, but the god Shang Ti ruled as Polytheistic, but the god Shang Ti ruled as supreme god; gave offerings of food and giftssupreme god; gave offerings of food and gifts

They also worshipped their ancestors, hoping They also worshipped their ancestors, hoping they’d bring them good luckthey’d bring them good luck

The Zhou: China’s Longest Dynasty The Zhou: China’s Longest Dynasty 1045- 256 B.C.1045- 256 B.C. The last Shang ruler was wicked, so he The last Shang ruler was wicked, so he

was overthrown by rebels led by Wu was overthrown by rebels led by Wu WangWang

Wu Wang began a new dynasty- The Wu Wang began a new dynasty- The ZhouZhou

Dynasty lasted over 800 yearsDynasty lasted over 800 years The king led with the help of a The king led with the help of a

bureaucracybureaucracy Bureaucracy- group of non-elected Bureaucracy- group of non-elected

government officialsgovernment officials

China grew under the Zhou China grew under the Zhou Dynasty- the rule effectively, the Dynasty- the rule effectively, the king divided the kingdom into king divided the kingdom into territoriesterritories

The king’s main duty was to The king’s main duty was to carry out religious ceremonies, carry out religious ceremonies, because they believed that the because they believed that the king represented the people king represented the people before the godsbefore the gods

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven The Zhou Dynasty believed in the Mandate The Zhou Dynasty believed in the Mandate

of Heaven- this was the belief that the of Heaven- this was the belief that the king’s right to rule came from the godsking’s right to rule came from the gods

This changed what the people expected of This changed what the people expected of their king- he must rule by the proper their king- he must rule by the proper “Way”- the Dao“Way”- the Dao

The king’s duty was to honor and please The king’s duty was to honor and please the godsthe gods

Disasters were caused by the king failing Disasters were caused by the king failing to please the godsto please the gods

Period of the Warring StatesPeriod of the Warring States The aristocrats who ruled territories grew in The aristocrats who ruled territories grew in

power; they began ignoring their king’s power; they began ignoring their king’s commands, and took control of their own commands, and took control of their own territories.territories.

These aristocrats began fighting each other for These aristocrats began fighting each other for territory and powerterritory and power

200 years of fighting; forced farmers to fight 200 years of fighting; forced farmers to fight with swords, spears, and crossbowswith swords, spears, and crossbows

Horses were introduced- developed the saddle Horses were introduced- developed the saddle and stirrupand stirrup

Led to a new dynasty…Led to a new dynasty…

Qin DynastyQin Dynasty Strong fighting territory- Qin; strong Strong fighting territory- Qin; strong

leader defeated all the other states: leader defeated all the other states: 221 B.C.221 B.C.

Qin ruler declared himself “the First Qin ruler declared himself “the First Qin Emperor”Qin Emperor”

Wanted to strengthen and unify China, Wanted to strengthen and unify China, so he took control of all the territoriesso he took control of all the territories

Now governors had to be appointed by Now governors had to be appointed by the rulerthe ruler

Qin Shihuangdi Qin Shihuangdi (Chin Shee-(Chin Shee-hwahng-dee)hwahng-dee) Ruled with absolute control and harsh Ruled with absolute control and harsh

punishmentpunishment He punished or killed those who disagreed He punished or killed those who disagreed

with himwith him Created a common currency for all of China Created a common currency for all of China

and simplified and set a standard for rulesand simplified and set a standard for rules Constructed many building projects: Constructed many building projects:

palaces, roads, dams, and huge canal palaces, roads, dams, and huge canal (connected two cities so they could (connected two cities so they could transport supplies)transport supplies)

Great WallGreat Wall

To protect China from the skilled To protect China from the skilled warrior nomads of the Gobi desert, warrior nomads of the Gobi desert, he connected already existent wallshe connected already existent walls

http://www.history.com/topics/great-http://www.history.com/topics/great-wall-of-chinawall-of-china

End of Qin DynastyEnd of Qin Dynasty

After the death of Qin, aristocrats After the death of Qin, aristocrats and farmers rebelled against his and farmers rebelled against his harsh rule – fighting broke out harsh rule – fighting broke out throughout Chinathroughout China

206 B.C. the Qin Dynasty was no 206 B.C. the Qin Dynasty was no more…more…

The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D 220) A.D 220) One of the longest of China’s major One of the longest of China’s major

dynasties. dynasties. It rivaled the Roman Empire in the West.It rivaled the Roman Empire in the West. With only minor interruptions it lasted a span With only minor interruptions it lasted a span

of over four centuries and is considered a of over four centuries and is considered a “Golden Age” in Chinese history especially in “Golden Age” in Chinese history especially in arts, politics and technology.arts, politics and technology.

Han Wudi- first strong emperor; took great Han Wudi- first strong emperor; took great steps to improve China’s governmentsteps to improve China’s government

Han’s GovernmentHan’s Government

Wanted to end the practice of putting Wanted to end the practice of putting family members in important roles, family members in important roles, so he chose educated, dedicated, and so he chose educated, dedicated, and skilled men for civil serviceskilled men for civil service

Government workers were chosen on Government workers were chosen on the basis of competitive tests the basis of competitive tests

EducationEducation

Students were educated to prepare for Students were educated to prepare for future civil servicefuture civil service

Boys studied law, history, and ideas of Boys studied law, history, and ideas of ConfuciusConfucius

60 million60 million They needed more food, but farms were smaller They needed more food, but farms were smaller

due to families dividing land among sonsdue to families dividing land among sons Families had to sell their farms, and they became Families had to sell their farms, and they became

tenant farmerstenant farmers Tenant Farmers- Tenant Farmers- men who work land own by men who work land own by

someone else, very poorsomeone else, very poor China expanded north, including Korea, Southeast, China expanded north, including Korea, Southeast,

and west into northern Indiaand west into northern India Eventually had 150 years of peaceEventually had 150 years of peace

Han CultureHan Culture During time of peace, literature and During time of peace, literature and

arts flourishedarts flourished Ideas of Confucius and filial piety Ideas of Confucius and filial piety

became strongbecame strong Inventions: cast-iron plow, techniques Inventions: cast-iron plow, techniques

to drain fields and direct water, to drain fields and direct water, waterwheels to grind grain, waterwheels to grind grain, wheelbarrow, silk manufacturing, paper wheelbarrow, silk manufacturing, paper (written records), rudders in ships(written records), rudders in ships

Medical AdvancementsMedical Advancements Acupuncture- practice of inserting Acupuncture- practice of inserting

needles through the skin at specific needles through the skin at specific points to treat disease and relieve points to treat disease and relieve painpain

Herbs to treat illnessesHerbs to treat illnesses

Silk RoadSilk Road They grew rich by sending expensive They grew rich by sending expensive

goods all over the world.goods all over the world. Encouraged trade with other places in Encouraged trade with other places in

the worldthe world A network of trade routes: 4,000 miles A network of trade routes: 4,000 miles

W. China to the MediterraneanW. China to the Mediterranean Main link between Asia and EuropeMain link between Asia and Europe Spread knowledge, culture, and Spread knowledge, culture, and

religions- Buddhismreligions- Buddhism

Fall of Han DynastyFall of Han Dynasty Corrupt officials Corrupt officials

and weak , and weak , dishonest leaders dishonest leaders caused people to caused people to rise up and rebelrise up and rebel

After the Han After the Han Dynasty collapsed Dynasty collapsed in 220, Civil wars in 220, Civil wars divided China into divided China into North and South.North and South.

Social UnrestSocial Unrest 300 years of no central government- lost 300 years of no central government- lost

many conquered lands, including Korea, many conquered lands, including Korea, Warlords fought each otherWarlords fought each other

A.D. 581 Sui (Sway) Dynasty tried to A.D. 581 Sui (Sway) Dynasty tried to create stabilitycreate stability Rebuilt and added to the Great WallRebuilt and added to the Great Wall Constructed a Grand Canal to connect riversConstructed a Grand Canal to connect rivers Higher taxes, made farmers mad, so they Higher taxes, made farmers mad, so they

revoltedrevolted

Chapter 17Chapter 17

Restored uniform Restored uniform government throughout government throughout China and enlarged the China and enlarged the civil service- brought back civil service- brought back exams.exams.

China conquered many China conquered many lands, like Korea, Tibet, lands, like Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam. and Vietnam.

The most powerful The most powerful emperor was Taizong (Ty-emperor was Taizong (Ty-Dzung).Dzung).

Empress Wu ruled in the Empress Wu ruled in the late 600s: only woman to late 600s: only woman to rule in China- rule in China- strengthened the military strengthened the military

Empress Wu624-705 A.D.

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Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907)

Tang DynastyTang Dynasty Conquered lands became Conquered lands became

“tributary states”-meaning “tributary states”-meaning they remained independent they remained independent but had to acknowledge but had to acknowledge Chinese supremacy.Chinese supremacy.

land reform-broke up land land reform-broke up land and redistributed it to and redistributed it to peasants.peasants.

Even though they were Even though they were successful, the successful, the dynastic dynastic cyclecycle took over and took over and collapsed in 907.collapsed in 907.

InventionsInventions Gunpowder- explosives, Gunpowder- explosives,

weapons, and fireworks: weapons, and fireworks: changed wars page 485changed wars page 485

Perfected the magnetic Perfected the magnetic compass used in navigationcompass used in navigation

Song DynastySong Dynasty After the fall, military leaders After the fall, military leaders

controlled China. In A.D. 960, controlled China. In A.D. 960, one general declared himself one general declared himself emperor and started the Song emperor and started the Song Dynasty. China was reunited, Dynasty. China was reunited, and they ruled for 319 years. and they ruled for 319 years.

Under the Song, the Chinese Under the Song, the Chinese culture and economy expanded culture and economy expanded and trade flourished. and trade flourished.

They issued paper money due They issued paper money due to their booming trade centers to their booming trade centers and became a very wealthy and became a very wealthy dynasty known for their dynasty known for their economic success.economic success.

Society During the SongSociety During the Song Chinese society during this time was well Chinese society during this time was well

ordered. ordered. At the top-the emperor and his court of aristocratic At the top-the emperor and his court of aristocratic

familiesfamilies Middle-The gentry (wealthy land owners)Middle-The gentry (wealthy land owners) At the bottom- peasantsAt the bottom- peasants

Backed a new understanding of Backed a new understanding of Confucianism- neo- Confucianism: Concerned Confucianism- neo- Confucianism: Concerned for the worldly life and after life: included for the worldly life and after life: included some Buddhist and Daoist beliefssome Buddhist and Daoist beliefs Became a set of rules for good behaviorBecame a set of rules for good behavior

Brought back civil service exams- very hard Brought back civil service exams- very hard teststests Began at 4 to write Chinese characters; had to Began at 4 to write Chinese characters; had to

memorize Confucianism writings and recite themmemorize Confucianism writings and recite them 1 in 5 boys passed the test1 in 5 boys passed the test

Foot BindingFoot Binding During the late Song Dynasty, During the late Song Dynasty,

women had much fewer rights women had much fewer rights and the custom of foot and the custom of foot binding began. binding began. This reinforced the Confucian This reinforced the Confucian

tradition that women should stay tradition that women should stay inside the home.inside the home.

Women had a subordinate position that had Women had a subordinate position that had to be enforcedto be enforced

The tradition started in the aristocratic sect The tradition started in the aristocratic sect of society but eventually spread to lower of society but eventually spread to lower classesclasses

Feet were bound with strips of cloth-as a Feet were bound with strips of cloth-as a result feet became half the size of a natural result feet became half the size of a natural growing foot growing foot

Tiny feet and an extended walk became a Tiny feet and an extended walk became a symbol of nobility and beautysymbol of nobility and beauty

Women feared not being able to find a Women feared not being able to find a husband if their feet were largehusband if their feet were large

The practice was extremely painfulThe practice was extremely painful Peasants who had to work in the fields did Peasants who had to work in the fields did

not bind their feet because binding often not bind their feet because binding often prevented women from being able to walkprevented women from being able to walk

FootbindingFootbinding