Section 4

China’s Geography Influenced Its Past

Objectives

• How have the size and physical geography of China affected its history?

• Which dynasties ruled ancient China and what occurred during each one?

• Who were the 3 great Chinese philosophers and what did they teach

• Geography is a big part of China’s history

• Its large size has made if difficult for outsiders to conquer it

• Its size has also made it difficult for rulers to unite people as well

• 3 great river valleys divide China into 3 regions: Northern, Southern, and Central

• These are the valleys of: Huang River, Chang River, and Xi (shee) River

• Farming is risky

• Heavy rains cause for flooding and carry away much of the good soil.

• Most people live in the river valleys

• Huang River valley was the home to the earliest civilization in China

• Much of China is mountainous

• North and West are dry and hilly

• Gobi desert is on the northwestern border

• Most of population settles in the south and east

• Himalayas separate China from the India subcontinent

• Chinese culture for many years developed with little outside influence

I. Several Dynasties Ruled in Ancient China

• Most events of China’s history was recorded during a particular dynasty rather than a particular persons rule

• First dynasty of China: Xia (shah) 2000 – 1500 BC

• Know very little about this dynasty

• Overthrown by Shang Dynasty

• Shang dynasty was very artistic

• Characters used in Chinese writing were also developed

• Vicious rulers

• Humans and animals were sacrificed in religious rites

• Next dynasty: Zhou (joh)

• Duke Fa – famous fighter made was against the Shang and overthrew it

• Duke Fa took name of Wu Wang – First ruler of Zhou dynasty 1100 BC – 256 BC

• Longest lasting Chinese Dynasty• Strong conquerors but weak rulers• Feudal System developed in China – under

this system Zhou rulers gave small kingdoms to their friends and trusted military leaders

• In return, they owed military allegiance to the ruler, while he owed them protection in time of war

• Under feudal system nobles often became more powerful than the rulers

• Everything the nobles did centered on war• Wars allowed for the smaller kingdoms to

become stronger• These rulers now started to challenge the

Zhou kings• Now, the Zhou kings were just kings in

name• The real power belonged to the lords who

ruled the kingdoms

• Most powerful of these kingdoms was the Qin (chin) kingdom in the valley of the Wei (way) River

• Qin fought for 25 years to get people to unite under their rule.

II. Chinese Teachers Influenced People and Society

• The wars did not create unrest in society, rather competition among the nobles and contact with other countries encouraged change and cultural growth

• 3 great Chinese teachers began to influence peoples ways of thinking and ways of life during the Zhou Dynasty: Laozi(low dzoo), Confucius, and Mencius (MEHN shee ush)

• Each of these philosophers made contributions to learning

• Each one wanted to set up a set of rules for an ideal society

• During this time, China was constantly at war.

• People wanted to know how things could be made better and be happier

Taoism• Laozi 604 BC – 517 BC he taught that in

order to find true happiness one must follow the right way or Tao (dow)

• Taoism – natural order of things over which people have no control

• Laws, inventions, books, and work were not the most important

• Accept life as you find it.

Confucianism

• Confucius – 551 BC – 479 BC – he was far more practical

• Advisor to many rulers of kingdoms• In his spare time, he looked at how he

could make Chinese life better trying to find his ideal society.

• A society where each person knew his or her place

• He set up strict rules regarding relationships: ruler/subject, husband/wife, child/parent

• One person in relationship is superior

• He believed order would take the place of disorder in society with this system

• Rulers are to set a good example to the rest of society to follow

• Show self control achieved by the following proverb

• “Do not do unto others what you would have others do unto you”

• He emphasized honoring family ancestors more

• His philosophy also made people slow to change their ways.

• Because of this China kept its traditions longer than some other countries

• Confucius’s beliefs were written down in 9 different booksknown as the Analects

• These books became the guides for family life and government in China

• Under Han dynasty people who wanted to enter government had to memorize parts of Confucius’s sayings in order to pass required tests

Mencius• 373 BC – 288 BC• Lived nearly 200 years after Confucius but

continued to follow in his footsteps• What he added was that is the rulers were

not good enough it gave the people the right to rebel

• This made it tougher on the king or queen because they had to be more effective

• He also believed that the people were inportant as the real beginning of all political power

• A rare belief at this time