Ancient China

Objectives

• Analyze the impact of geography on the success of the empire of Ancient China

• Identify the three main dynasties of Ancient China

• Cite and explain each of the key advancements of the three main dynasties of Ancient China

The Geography of China

• Monsoons impact the climate• Isolated from other cultures by:– Gobi Desert in the North– The Himalayan Mountains to the West and

South– Bodies of water to the East:

• Yellow Sea, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean

• Known as the “Middle kingdom”– believed they were in the middle of the world,

surrounded by natural barriers on all sides

The Gobi Desert

Geography of China

• Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and third longest in the world

• Huang or Yellow River is the second longest river in China– Loess – sedimentary soil that is formed

by the accumulation of wind-blown silt (creates yellow-brown soil)

– China’s Sorrow – River brought life, but also destructive floods• To control flooding, the Chinese built dikes

(protective walls to hold back water)

Shanghai

or Yellow

The Dynasties of Ancient China

• 13 dynastic periods, Spanning 4,000 years

• Mandate of Heaven: a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers– Similar to “divine

right of kings”– Heaven would bless

the authority of a just rule

The First Dynasties

• The Shang Dynasty – built China’s first cities– Irrigation and farming– Known for their bronze work– Developed the first Chinese writing

system• Oracle Bones

– Created a social pyramid

Emperor

Military Nobles

Priests

Merchants

Farmers

The Shang Dynasty

The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty

• Prior to the Qin Dynasty, China had broken into 7 warring kingdoms

• Shi Huangdi merged the kingdoms to unify China, and was the first true emperor – To protect China from nomadic invaders along the

northern border, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall of China, but did not complete the project.

– Abided by the philosophy of Legalism• People are evil at their core, and the state is more

important than the individual

– Created a “Terra Cotta Army” at his burial necropolis

Legalism 法家• Legalism is based on three principles:

1. Fa 法 - The law code must be clearly written and made public.

2. Shu 術 - Special tactics and "secrets" are to be employed by the ruler to make sure others don't take over control of the state.

3. Shi 勢 - It is the position of the ruler, not the ruler himself or herself, that holds the power.

Qin Dynasty Ming Dynasty

Hey guys!

The Terra Cotta Army

Terracotta Warriors in un-restored

condition,

Qin Shi Huang Di's Mausoleum Mound. This is the stairway up the mound. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is about 1 mile from here.

Han Dynasty

• Dynasty lasts 400 years• Liu Pang – overthrew the Qin Dynasty and became

emperor (202 BC)– Not a heavy-handed ruler (abandons Legalism for

Confucianism) – Establishes imperial university

• Wu Ti – Liu Pang’s great grandson and Emperor– Ruled from age 15-65 as the “Warrior Emperor”– Expanded the empire – Created a public school system (for boys only)– Silk Road to the west

The Shang Dynasty

Liu Pang

WuTi you looking at

punk?!?

The Silk Road

• Connected Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North Africa

• Extends 4,000 miles long• In addition to silk, many other goods

were traded, as well as various technologies, religions and philosophies

The Silk Road

Tang Dynasty

• China’s Golden Age– Greatest age for Chinese poetry– Buddhism reaches its peak

• Also Taoism and Confucianism

– Men granted equal allotments of land in exchange for taxes

– Did not have to be a noble to hold a high position; government exams

– Borders expand from Korea to central Asia (present day Afghanistan)

Tang Dynasty

• Kingdom eventually dissolves into 10 different kingdoms– Feuds within the government, assassination plots,

etc. leave the empire vulnerable to invasion.

The Shang Dynasty