Life in Ancient China Things to be Answered

Life in Ancient China

Things to be Answered • What was filial piety in Chinese families? • What were the main social classes of ancient China? • How were men looked upon in ancient Chinese society? • How were women looked upon in ancient Chinese society? • Who were the 3 main philosophers of ancient China?

Life in Ancient China • China had 3 main social classes 1. Landowning aristocrats 2. Peasant farmers 3. Merchants Social Classes- people who share a similar position in a given society

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Aristocrats- owned large estates • Lived in large houses • Had fine furniture and silk hangings • Walls surrounded their houses to keep bandits out

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Aristocratic families divided their land among their sons • The sons owned less property than their fathers and grandfathers

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Aristocrat families relied on farmers to grow crops

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • 9 out of 10 people in China were farmers • Lived in simple houses • Surrounded by village walls

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Northern China they grew wheat and millet. • Southern China they grew rice where it was wetter and warmer

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • To pay for the land farmers gave part of their crops to the land owner • Most farmers also had a small piece of land to grow food for their family.

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Farmers had to pay taxes and work one month a year on roads and help with other government projects. • Wartime farmers served as soldiers.

Life in Ancient China • Farming in Ancient China • Farmers learned to cut terraces like a series of steep steps. • Made more land available for farming and kept soil from eroding.

Life in Ancient China • Farming in Ancient China • Terrace farming was also a way to irrigate crops. As rain fell it flowed from one terrace to another

Life in Ancient China • Farming in Ancient China • Ancient Chinese farmers also were the first to use insects to protect their crops from other insects. • Used ants to protect citrus trees • Used frogs and birds for pest control

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Farmers were ranked above merchants in class. • Merchantsshopkeepers, traders, bankers

Life in Ancient China • Classes in Ancient China • Merchants became quite rich, but landowners and farmers looked down upon them. • Because of their concerns with money, merchants were not allowed to have government jobs.

Life in Ancient China • Chinese Family Life • Family basic building block of Chinese Society. • Families were large to help produce more in order to become wealthier. • Even children worked in the fields.

Life in Ancient China • Chinese Family Life • Older sons raised their own crops and provided for their food for their parents. • Chinese families also took care of those in need; the old, sick, and the young

Life in Ancient China • Chinese Family Life • Many generations of the same family often lived under one roof; it was common for grandparents and grandchildren to live with aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

Life in Ancient China • Chinese Family Life • Chinese practiced filial piety • Filial piety- This meant children were required to respect their parents and older relatives. Family members placed the needs and desires of the family head before their own • 7 -2 A

Checking • Does filial piety exist today in the same way as it did in ancient China? • If not, what can be done to strengthen filial piety