River Dynasties in China Chapter 2 Section 4

River Dynasties in China Chapter 2 Section 4

10/23 CLASS NOTES: CHINESE GOVERNMENT – KEY IDEAS �I. China was ruled by an Emperor: one central ruler, Hereditary, w/ absolute power, creates a dynasty when rule passes to a son. • The Emperor is called: “The Son of Heaven” – like in Mesopotamia the king had a link to the gods (Main Chinese god = Shangdi) • Why do governments link themselves to the gods? �ANS: b/c it is how a king/ruler justified their power!

The Emperor needed: The Mandate of Heaven � The Divine Approval of a a just ruler. It is the law of Heaven � The gods give their authority to the Emperor to rule China – but ONLY if they use that power wisely and KEY WORD: rule justly – if not… � The Mandate could be Bureaucracy: a system lost through rebellion. of government workers

II. Feudalism: Used by Zhou rulers to rule China �A system of government in which the King gives land or certain privileges to trusted officials who govern his lands. � In exchange, these officials owed service (usually military) and loyalty to the king.

III. Kingdom of China called: “The Middle Kingdom” • WHY? �The Chinese saw themselves as the center of civilization. Everyone outside of its borders were looked upon as inferior. (called barbarians) �Why did China see outsiders as inferior? Isolation – China had no contact with other Ancient Civilizations that were just as advanced. KEY WORD: Ethnocentrism: believing your culture is better than all others - everyone else is “backward, wrong, or barbaric. ” – most cultures are guilty of this – it is “natural. ”

IV. Dynastic Cycle �A Pattern of the Rise, rule, and fall of Chinese Dynasties.

CHINA & The Dynastic Cycle What is a Dynasty? When power is handed down within a family – father to son (patriarchy) mother to daughter (matriarchy)

IV. The Dynastic Cycle & The Mandate of Heaven

IV. The Mandate of Heaven �The “law” of heaven. States that the Emperor gets his power from the gods (heavens) but must rule wisely in order to keep the “mandate. ” �KEY WORD: Bureaucracy: a system of government workers, ranked - (some jobs had more power than others). • an Emperor cannot run the empire alone so his “helpers” are government officials.