Chinese Dynastic Cycle
• Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han• Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han
– Sui, Tang, Song– Sui, Tang, Song
Yuan and Ming and Qing
Yuan and Ming and Qing
Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong
or
Mao and Deng, Mao and Deng
Ancient China
• China has high mountains in the west,
its rivers flow east, thus China was isolated from western culture.
• Chinese civilization begins along theHuang He(Yellow) River.
• The religious authority of the king. It was believed that rulers received their authority from the gods. It was called “The Mandate of Heaven.” As dynasties weakened and new leaders arose, the Chinese believed that the gods were removing their mandate and giving it to another.
Hsia dynasty (Xi Dynasty): Ruled 22005B.C.E. - 1722 Earliest rulers of ancient
China
Achievements:1.Developed the potters wheel.2.Developed baked bricks for
houses.3.Harvested silk.4.Developed irrigation systems.
III. Shang Dynasty: First dynasty in China from 1766-1000 B.C.E.
Achievements:• Oracle Bones • Shamanism• Writing System• Bronze ware• Sericulture• Feudal Political System• War Chariots (Diffusion)
The Shang Economy;•Built irrigation canals for crops
•Cowry shells were used as money.
•Long distance trade for copper, tin, lead, and salt
•Farming was based on peasant/serf labor.
IV. Chou (Zhou) Dynasty 1029-258 BCE
• This was a time of Feudalism (Decentralized) government with competing warlords.
• There were few great accomplishments in science, art and literature, but China excelled in philosophy as great Sages (wise men) tried to bring about Unity, Peace & Prosperity.
•551 – 478 Life of Confucius•500 Laozi and Daoism•450 Development of Chinese Calendar
Patterns in Classical ChinaZhou Dynasty (height c. 700 B.C.E.)Yangzi River valley settled"Middle Kingdom"Mandate of HeavenConfucius
402 B.C.E. - 221 B.C.E. Era of the Warring States
221 – 202 B.C.E.Qin Dynasty
•A single emperor rules•Great Wall of China begun•A single basic language is developed
202 B.C.E. - 220 C.E. Han Dynasty
•Horse drawn plow, waterwheel, horse collar•141 – 187: Reign of Han Wu Ti: Increased bureaucracy, examination system begun, spread of Confucianism
Patterns in Classical ChinaShi Huangdi - Qin Dynasty (221–207 )• Great Wall - 3000 miles• census• standardized coinage, weights,
measures• common writing systemHan Dynasty (202 B.C.E.–220 C.E.)• Into Korea, Indochina, central Asia• contact with India, Parthian Empire• Wu Ti (140–87 B.C.E.) support of
Confucianism
III. Religion and Culture
Balanceunifying traditions
Kung Fuzi (ca. 551–478 B.C.E.)respect for superiorsleaders must show moderationrank based on intelligence, merit
Legalismalternative to Confucianismsupport authoritarian statebelief in evil nature of humankind
Daoismmore religiousLaozi (5th century B.C.E.)
force of natureethical code
Five ClassicsArt
calligraphyScience
365.5 day year
Mencius (372-289 B.C.E.) Principal spokesman for
the Confucian school
Believed in the goodness of human nature
Government by benevolence, humanity
Xunzi (298-238 B.C.E.) Served as a
governmental administrator
Cast doubt on the goodness of human nature
Harsh social discipline to order to society
Stress moral education, good public behavior
V. How Chinese Civilization Fits Together
Isolation
Confucianism & bureaucracy
Political stability & economic growth
DivisionsConfucianism v. Daoism
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang ErasWendi
NoblemanLeads nomadic leaders to control northern China589, defeat of Chen kingdom
Established Sui dynasty
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras
A. Sui Excesses and CollapseYangdi
Son of WendiLegal reformReorganized Confucian educationScholar-gentry reestablishedLoyang
New capitalBuilding projects
Canals built across empireAttacked KoreaDefeated by Turks, 615Assassinated, 618
Anarchy in ChinaThree Kingdoms 220-280
Shu Han 221 – 263Wei 220 - 265
Most powerful, eventually conquered ShuBuilt an army of Chinese infantry and nomadic cavalry as mounted bowmenThese assimilated nomads later overthrew Wei and founded own dynasties
Wu 222 – 280
Period Resembled Western European history after the collapse of the Romans
Disunity and civil war between nomads and Chinese warlords Rival states, dynasties, each controlling a part of the old Han
state
Aristocrats, provincial nobles held land and real influence Many of the northern dynasties were nomadic, both Turkish
and Mongol
Confucianism in decline, Buddhism in ascendancy due to its relationship with the nomads
Confucian trained bureaucrats still held much influence
Common Chinese subject to taxes, warfare, drafting into army, frequent invasions, bandits
After fall of the Han, turmoil lasted for more than 350 years Three major states contended for rule; further fragmentationNomads constantly invaded, created their own states, dynasties
The rule of the Sui Reunification by Yang Jian in 589Constructions of palaces and granaries, repairing the Great Wall Military expeditions in central Asia and Korea High taxes and compulsory labor services
The Grand Canal One of the world's largest waterworks before modern times Purpose: bring abundant food supplies of the south to the northLinked the Yangtze and the Huang-Hi The canal integrated the economies of the south and north
The fall of the Sui High taxes and forced labor generated hostility among the people Military reverses in Korea Rebellions broke out in north China beginning in 610 Sui Yangdi was assassinated in 618, the end of the dynasty
Sui Dynasty
Founding of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE) A rebel leader seized Chang'an, proclaimed a new dynasty, the Tang
Extensive networks of transportationAdopted the equal-field system Bureaucracy of merit
Recruited government officials through civil service examinations Career bureaucrats relied on central government, loyal to the dynastyRestored Confucianism as state ideology, training for bureaucrats
Foreign relations Tributary system became diplomatic policy
Tang decline Casual and careless leadership led to dynastic crisis The Uighurs became de facto rulers The equal-field system deteriorated A large scale peasant rebellion led by Huang Chao lasted from 875 to 884 Regional commanders gained power, beyond control of the emperor The last Tang emperor abdicated his throne in 907
Song Taizu Reigned 960-976 C.E.Founder of the Song dynasty
Song weaknessesSong never had military, diplomatic strength of Sui, Tang Financial problems
Enormous bureaucracy with high salary devoured surplusForced to pay large tribute to nomads to avoid war
Military problemsCivil bureaucrats in charge of military forcesMilitary was largely foot soldiers at war with cavalry nomads
External pressuresSemi-nomadic Khitan, nomadic Jurchen attacked in northConstant drain on treasury to pay tribute to nomads
The Song moved to the south, ruled south China until 1279Nomads invaded, overran northern Song landsSong retreated to the South along Yangtze, moved capitalAfter defeat, constantly forced to pay tribute
SONG DYNASTY (960-1279 C.E.)
Porcelain Technology diffused to other societies, especially to Abbasid
Arabia Exported vast quantities to southeast Asia, India, Persia, and
Africa Metallurgy
Improvement: used coke instead of coal in furnaces to make iron, steel
Gunpowder Bamboo "fire lances," a kind of flame thrower, and primitive
bombs Gunpowder chemistry diffused throughout Eurasia
Printing From block-printing to movable type Books became widespread
Naval technology"South-pointing needle" - the magnetic compassDouble hulled junks with rudder, water-tight compartments
Industry and Technology
Merchants in ChargeOnly period in China where merchants socially superior to aristocratsMerchants attempted to intermarry with aristocrats, become landownersMerchants attempted to have sons admitted as Confucian bureaucratsMerchants tended to espouse Confucianism as way into traditional elitesMost large cities had large merchant communities
Financial instrumentsBanking and credit institution“Flying money " were letters of creditPaper money backed by state, treasury
A cosmopolitan societyForeign merchants in large cities of ChinaMostly Arab (Muslim), Indian, S.E. AsianChinese merchants journeyed throughout region
Economic surge in China An economic revolution in ChinaMade China the wealthiest nation in the world at timePromoted economic growth in the eastern hemisphere
A Market Economy
Drove the Mongols out of ChinaConstantly faced threats of new nomad invasionsRebuilt Great Wall to prevent northern invasions
Centralized government control Restored Chinese cultural traditionsRestored Confucian bureaucracy, civil service examinationsEunuchs given impressive role in Forbidden City as bureaucrats
Ming attempted to recreate the past, not improve upon itMoved capital to Beijing
Ming decline Centralized government ran poorly under weak emperorsWeak emperors isolated by eunuchs, advisorsPublic works fell into disrepairCoastal cities, trade disrupted by pirates, 1520 – 1560 Government corruption and inefficiency
Caused by powerful eunuchsOvershadowed by inability of bureaucrats to reform, innovate
Famines and peasant rebellions: 1630s and 1640s Rebellion by army units opens door to nomadic invasionNomadic Manchu invaders led to final Ming collapse, 1644
Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644
Manchus (1644-1911)Nomadic invaders
Originated in ManchuriaLast of the steppe invaders, dynasties Overwhelmed Chinese forcesProclaimed Qing dynastyOriginally pastoral nomadsMilitary force called banner armies Captured Mongolia first, then China
Remained an isolated ethnic eliteForbade intermarriage with ChineseForbade Chinese immigration to Manchuria, MongoliaPermitted Confucian scholars to run governmentMaintained Confucian system
Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) Confucian scholar; effective, enlightened ruler Conquered TaiwanExtended control to Central Asia, Tibet, Sinkjiang
Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) A sophisticated and learned ruler, poet, and artist Vietnam, Burma, Nepal made vassal states of China China was peaceful, prosperous, and powerful
Qing Dynasty