Ancient China The Shang Dynasty n n In

Ancient China

The Shang Dynasty n n In power from 17661050 BC u First dynasty to have archeological evidence of Greatly influenced Chinese history

Shang Government Created strong central government n If rulers benefit people, their power grows u Irrigation u Flood Control n

Shang Religion The king was the high priest and the link between heaven and earth. n The King needed to perform rituals to please gods u If pleased, the gods bring good harvests and victory in war u If not, floods and famine occurred n

Mandate of Heaven n n Heaven granted rulers the right to rule which means people owed loyalty to them War, Floods, and Famine were all signs that the Mandate of Heaven had been lost

Shang Achievements Developed a system of writing. u Used pictographs t Pictures and symbols that represent objects and ideas u Started with 3, 000 characters u Later people had to learn 10, 000 to even be considered literate n Priests developed advanced calendars u Used by Farmers n

End of the Shang Dynasty The Zhou (joh) invade and overthrow the Shang dynasty n The Zhou claim the Mandate of Heaven n

Dynastic Cycle in China an old dynasty

Chinese Philosophies and Religion

Confucius Teachings n Based on the 5 Relationships: u Ruler and Ruled u Father and son (Filial Piety) t The duty and respect that children owe their parents u Older brother and younger brother u Husband wife u Friend and Friend

Confucius n n The superior person should set an example for the inferior one and is responsible for the inferior. Confucius’s teachings are collected in the Analects

Daoism/Taoism Created by Lao Zi u Thoughts collected in The Way of Virtue n A society with rules is an artificial creation that disturbed the natural order. n Best government was the one with the fewest laws and rules. n Philosophy – “The best action is inaction. ” n

Taoist Influence n Believed to have invented the magnetic compass (for graves) and gunpowder (scare ghosts)

Example of Taoist Philosophy “The duck’s legs are short, but if we try to lengthen them, the duck will feel pain. The Crane’s legs are long, but if we try to shorten them, the crane will feel grief. Therefore we are not to cut off what is by nature long, nor to lengthen what is by nature short. ”

Legalism Based on teachings of Han Feizi u Collected in book called Han Feizi n People act on self-interest. u Therefore they respond to rewards and punishments, not good examples. n

Buddhism n n n Developed in India, but reaches China in the 1 st century AD Preaches reincarnation u Based on Karma (good or bad) u Constantly reborn until you reach enlightenment Appealed to Chinese because it offered an escape from earthy sufferings, and meshed with Chinese ideas and values

Buddhism n Buddhism can be summarized by the 4 Noble Truths u Life is suffering u The cause of suffering is desire and attachment u It is possible to end suffering u The way to end it is through the Noble Eightfold Path

Chinese Empires

First Empire (221 – 202 BC) After the Zhou, China breaks into several smaller warring nations n Shi Huangdi (sher hwang-dee) takes over neighboring states and re-centralized power u Called the Qin Dynasty u Used legalist tactics n

Great Wall of China n n n The Qin dynasty is most remembered for the Great Wall of China Constructed to keep nomads (Mongols) from the North out Entire Great Wall is 13, 171 miles today and 1, 500 miles long

Great Wall of China n n n Used forced labor to build Estimated that 1 million people died during the construction of the wall u “Every stone cost a human life. ” – Chinese historian Did not stop invaders from attacking u Did become a symbol to Chinese t South = Civilized farming people t North = Nomadic Barbarians

Start of the Wall at Shanhaiguan

Great Wall of China Clip Great Wall of China n Modern Marvels – The Great Wall n

The Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) The Chinese people are unhappy under Qin n Established by Liu Bang (lyoh bong) who led peasants and overthrew the Qin n China greatly expands under Han n

Silk Road n The Silk Road becomes prominent under the Han u Increases Trade u Increases spread of ideas Silk Road greatly increases cultural diffusion: Gunpowder, Wheel, Religions, Silk, Foods

Fall of the Han Dynasty n After 400 years of rule, the Han Dynasty is eventually ended by invaders.

Achievements of the Han n Developed Acupuncture as a medical treatment u Qi Invented wheelbarrow and sundial Discovered how to make paper

Mongol Conquest (Yuan Dynasty) n n n China begins to experience prosperity again in the 1 st and early 2 nd century AD. Empire created by Genghis Khan u Grandson Kubilai Khan took over China in 1279 Under Mongol control, China makes contact with Marco Polo u Described the effective transportation system set up by the Mongols.

End of Mongol Rule n By 1368 the Mongols are kicked out from power and the Ming Dynasty is established (1368 -1644)

Ming Dynasty Chinese begin to regain their glory u Built impressive Navy and Forbidden City u Majority of Great Wall today is from them n Mysteriously go into isolation though and remain that way until the 1800 s n

Forbidden Palace

Shang Qin Han Mongol Ming Begin of Reign Interesting Fact Achievements End of Reign Conquered