Ancient Governments Ancient China YELLOW RIVER YANGZI RIVER

Ancient Governments

Ancient China

YELLOW RIVER YANGZI RIVER

Dynasties • “A sequence of powerful leaders in the same family” – Shang Dynasty 1766 to 1122 B. C. – Zhou Dynasty 1122 to 256 B. C. – Tang Dynasty 618 to 907 A. D. – Song Dynasty 960 to 1279 A. D. Shang Dynasty

Religion and Education Bronze wine vessel used for rituals to honor ancestors during Shang Dynasty

Religion • Ancient China did not have an organized religion or official priesthood • Did not recognize a personal supreme deity • Instead, the patriarchal head of the family presided over rites and ceremonies venerating ancestors’ spirits

Confucius

Confucius • 551 -479 BCE

Confucianism • Concerned primarily with restoring social stability and order – What is the basis of a stable, unified, and enduring social order? • A system of social and ethical philosophy – “only when character is cultivated are our families regulated; only when families are regulated are states well governed. ”

Parts of Confucianism • li – rituals, norms, institutions, or mores – the outer, conforming aspect of Confucianism • ren – humaneness, love, kindness, benevolence, or virtue – the inner, reforming aspect of Confucianism

Five relationships • • • father-child ruler-subject husband-wife elder brother-younger brother friend-friend

New Technologies: Silk • During the Zhou era, the Chinese discovered how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. – Silk would become China’s most valuable export, – Silk Road leads to cultural diffusion and the spread of Buddhism and the mixing of cultures throughout Asia

New Technologies • The Great Wall of China originated as a defensive barrier against tribal intrusions • Construction started in the seventh century B. C. and spanned over 20 states and dynasties – Two sections were built during the Zhou era – As China unified, the various sections were connected

New Technologies: Zhou and Military Failure • Zhou kings were not able to monopolize bronze production as the Shang had. • Iron technology was spreading rapidly throughout China – Iron ores were cheaper and more abundant than copper and tin so Zhou could not monopolize iron. • Leaders were able to equip their forces with iron which enabled them to resist the central government. • When nomads invaded the Zhou capital at Hao in 771 B. C. , the subordinates refused to support the king.

Art and Writing on bamboo strips Bronze from Sang Dynasty

New Technologies: Bookbinding • Chinese artisans learned how to bind together long, thin strips of wood or bamboo to make books

Writing • The earliest form of Chinese writing was the pictograph. • Pictographs were combined into ideographs to represent complex or abstract notions – The combination of “mother” and “child” renders “good” • Unlike most other languages, written Chinese did not include an alphabetic component.

The Han Dynasty of China: A Chinese Golden Age (206 BCE-220 CE) © Student Handouts, Inc.

Historical Setting of the Han n Followed the Qin dynasty n 221 -206 BCE n Qin ended in rebellion and civil war due to weak ruler and unrest (206 -202 BCE) n Han dynasty was China’s second imperial dynasty n 202 BCE-220 CE n Over 400 years n Followed by the Three Kingdoms n 220 -265 CE

Two Periods of the Han Dynasty n Former Han n Also called the Western Han n 202 BCE-9 CE n Interrupted by the Xin dynasty n 9 -23 CE n Later Han n Also called the Eastern Han n 25 -220 CE

Liu Bang – Emperor Gaozu of Han n Civil war n 202 BCE Liu Bang rises to become emperor n He: n Centralized government n Lowered taxes n Less harsh punishments Liu Bang reigned 202 BCE-195 BCE.

Empress Lu n One of Liu Bang’s widows n Retained power by naming various children as emperor in turn n Example of power gained through the manipulation of court politics

Wudi – The Martial Emperor n Wudi lived 141 -87 BCE n Used warfare to expand the Chinese empire n Modern-day Korea, Manchuria, Vietnam, etc. n Conquered and colonized n Borders under Wudi nearly what they are today

Social Classes under the Han Emper or Governor s and Kings Nobles, Scholars, and State Officials Peasants (Farmers) Artisans and Merchants Soldiers Slaves

Bureaucracy under the Han n Taxes supported the government and military n Merchants n Paid taxes n Peasants n Gave the government a portion of their annual crops n Each year gave a month of labor (for public works projects) or of military service

Civil Service under the Han n Over 130, 000 employees n 18 ranks of employees n Civil service exams n Confucian principles described the qualities that emperors wanted in civil servants n Formal examinations for civil service positions n Theoretically a merit-based system n But poor could not afford to educate their children n In effect until the downfall of China’s last dynasty in 1912

Technology under the Han Paper Collar harness Plow Wheelbarrow Waterwheel • Invented in 105 CE • Books became inexpensive to produce; expanded education • Bureaucracy grew and became more efficient • Horses could carry heavier loads • Best harness available at the time worldwide • The Chinese made one with two blades • Much more efficient • Invented independently (Greeks had invented as well) • Central wheel and axle let Chinese wheelbarrows carry very heavy weights • Used to power things such as the bellows for smelting iron

Commerce and Trade under the Han n Trade and commerce were not respected but were still very important n Government had monopolies n n Salt mining Iron forging Coin minting Alcohol brewing n Government engaged in industry n Silk weaving n Growth of trade along the Silk Roads

Silk Roads under the Han n Trade routes across Asia n To Mediterranean (access to Europe) in the west n Chinese silks were sold in the marketplaces of the ancient Roman empire n To Yellow Sea and China Sea (access to Japan) in the east n Cultural diffusion n Trade goods reflected the many cultures across this trading region

Unification of the Han Empire Colonization Assimilation • Farmers sent to settle new areas • Settlers encouraged to marry locals • Established Confucian schools in colonized areas • Chinese became the common written language

Rich Get Richer, Poor Get Poorer Peasant farmers grew poorer as they could not afford to pay taxes With less land owned by peasants, the government took in less tax revenue, and had to pressure the remaining peasant landowners even harder for tax money Peasants were forced to borrow money from rich aristocratic landowners who didn’t pay taxes Rich aristocratic landowners foreclosed on the peasants’ farms, decreasing the land owned by peasants

Xin Dynasty under Wang Mang n Changes under Wang Mang n Minted more money to solve the budget crisis n n Established public granaries to feed the poor n n Led to inflation Cost more money Land redistribution n Upset wealthy aristocratic landowners

Later (or Eastern) Han Dynasty n 25 -220 CE n Imperial family eventually regained power after Wang Mang n Initially brought prosperity to China n Eventually fell apart for largely the same reasons that the Former (Western) Han fell apart n Followed by the Three Kingdoms

Han Dynasty vs. Roman Empire