Ancient Chinese Civilization

Even Even though though much of much of China is China is covered covered

with with mountainmountains much of s much of the land the land

is is inhabitedinhabited

. .

China’s China’s dense dense

populatiopopulation is a n is a large large

problem problem for their for their governmgovernm

ent ent today.today.

These 2 These 2 maps maps show show the the

relative relative size of size of

China & China & the the

USA.USA.

Ancient ChinaAncient ChinaThe Chinese called their land The Chinese called their land

Zhongguo, or the ‘Zhongguo, or the ‘Middle Middle Kingdom’Kingdom’..

• They felt they were the They felt they were the center of the universe ~ center of the universe ~

understandable as they had understandable as they had no contact with any other no contact with any other large civilization for a long large civilization for a long

time.time.

• Oldest Continuous Oldest Continuous Civilization ~ Civilization ~

China’s ancient civilization China’s ancient civilization was centered around the was centered around the

Huang He River (Yellow River) Huang He River (Yellow River)

&&

Chang Jiang River (Yangtze Chang Jiang River (Yangtze River)River)

China’s ancient civilization China’s ancient civilization was centered around the was centered around the

Huang He River (Yellow River) Huang He River (Yellow River)

&&

Chang Jiang River (Yangtze Chang Jiang River (Yangtze River)River)

•LoessLoess ( fine ( fine yellowyellow silt, silt, very fertile ) was very fertile ) was deposited along the deposited along the shores of these rivers.shores of these rivers.

•The Huang He was The Huang He was unpredictable & unpredictable & experienced destructive experienced destructive floods which earned it floods which earned it the nickname ‘River of the nickname ‘River of Sorrows’Sorrows’

The rivers in The rivers in China flooded China flooded unpredictably unpredictably

& & disastrously.disastrously.

Lives & Lives & crops were crops were lost in great lost in great

numbers.numbers.

All the loess ends up being All the loess ends up being deposited along and in the lower deposited along and in the lower

reaches of the rivers.reaches of the rivers.

Levees line Levees line both shores both shores of the river of the river

along its along its lower lower

reaches. reaches. Thousands Thousands of people of people

are are mobilized to mobilized to

combat combat floods each floods each

year year between between July and July and August. August.

In 1994, the Chinese In 1994, the Chinese government began building government began building the world’s largest dam to the world’s largest dam to control these problems. The control these problems. The Three Gorges Dam is complete Three Gorges Dam is complete now..now..

One of the Three Gorges on One of the Three Gorges on the Chang Jiang River the Chang Jiang River

(Yangtze).(Yangtze).

China’s ancient China’s ancient civilization began civilization began

record keeping early record keeping early & this has given us a & this has given us a

large amount of large amount of information about information about

their history.their history.

The beginning The beginning of writingof writing in in ChinaChinawas on was on Oracle Oracle BonesBones

(turtle (turtle shells)shells)

PictographPictographss Sun Moon

Water

eventualeventually ly developedeveloped into…d into…

•IdeographsIdeographs, ,

which, in turn, which, in turn, developed developed intointo

modern Chinese characters, seen modern Chinese characters, seen here in the form of here in the form of CalligraphyCalligraphy

(artistic writing)(artistic writing)

China’s history is usually divided into time periods based on the rule of different dynasties. A ‘dynasty’ is a ruling family that passes the power to rule down through the generations. These rulers were thought to be ‘divine’, or actual gods, and thus were obeyed without question.

Shang Dynasty 1500 – 1100 Shang Dynasty 1500 – 1100 BCEBCE

Shang Dynasty 1500 – 1100 BCE

•Used irrigation

•Spoke many variations of language, or dialects

•Developed writing w/ Chinese characters

•Conquered by Zhou

• respect, or respect, or veneration for veneration for ancestorsancestors

•Horse-drawn Horse-drawn chariotschariots

• Leather & bronze Leather & bronze armorarmor

• Lacked strong Lacked strong leadersleaders

• The Shang were The Shang were polytheisticpolytheistic, believing that , believing that there were many spirits in there were many spirits in nature.nature.

• They built the first cities They built the first cities of China. of China.

• They had a deep respect They had a deep respect for their elders and their for their elders and their dead ancestors.dead ancestors.

• They madeThey made Silk.Silk.Silk is made from Silk is made from the cocoons of silk the cocoons of silk

worms. Silk worms. Silk worms live solely worms live solely on the leaves of on the leaves of

the mulberry bush. the mulberry bush. The cocoons are The cocoons are

boiled and the silk boiled and the silk strands are strands are

separated by hand separated by hand (ow!) into the (ow!) into the

threads. threads.

Silk Worms

• PotteryPottery

• Jade & Ivory Jade & Ivory statues & statues & jewelryjewelry

•(this brooch (this brooch is colored blue is colored blue with tiny bits with tiny bits of kingfisher of kingfisher feathers!) feathers!)

Zhou Dynasty 1100 – 256 Zhou Dynasty 1100 – 256 BCEBCE

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty 1100 – 256 BCE

•Longest-lasting dynasty

•Strong conquerors, but weak rulers

•Feudal system Local Lords / Princes have most of the authority, but owe loyalty to the emperor.

•2 teacher-philosophers influenced people: Laozi, Confucius

• Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven (Dynastic Cycle)

MandateMandate of of HeavenHeavenThe Zhou invented a new The Zhou invented a new

system of authority system of authority which they called t'ien which they called t'ien

ming, or the "Mandate of ming, or the "Mandate of Heaven." The Zhou Heaven." The Zhou

defined the kingship as defined the kingship as an intermediary position an intermediary position

between heaven and between heaven and earth. earth.

The Chinese The Chinese character for character for

emperor or lord, emperor or lord, "ti," "ti,"

demonstrates demonstrates this eloquently. this eloquently. The ideograph The ideograph

consists of consists of three horizontal three horizontal lines joined by a lines joined by a

vertical line. vertical line.

See the See the connection connection

between heaven between heaven (at the top) and (at the top) and

the earth the earth (at the bottom). (at the bottom).

This This relationship is relationship is

mediated by the mediated by the lord or emperor lord or emperor

(the center (the center horizontal line). horizontal line).

If the emperor rules in a selfish If the emperor rules in a selfish or corrupt way, heaven or corrupt way, heaven

withdraws its mandate and withdraws its mandate and gives it to another. gives it to another.

The only way to know that the The only way to know that the mandate has passed is if the mandate has passed is if the

emperor is successfully emperor is successfully overthrown. overthrown.

Indications that a king had lost Indications that a king had lost the the Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven

included:included:-Crop failuresCrop failures-Catastrophic floodsCatastrophic floods

-Losses in battleLosses in battle-Corrupt governmentCorrupt government

Qin Dynasty 221 – 202 Qin Dynasty 221 – 202 BCEBCE

Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty 221 – 202 BCE

•Only one ruler – Qin Shi Huangdi

•United China by force

•Ended feudal system, built roads & canals, & connected defensive walls to create the Great Wall

•Standardized weights & measures, & simplified writing system

The Chinese people have constructed walls to keep their culture, cities & towns, & homes safe from outside threats. The Great Wall is an example, built to stop the migratory invaders from the North.

Ancient Chinese cities also have massive walls

surrounding them for protection.

Xi’anXi’an, ,

ChinChinaa

Chinese neighborhoods, or ‘hutongs’, are enclosed

within walls also.

Traditional Chinese

homes are also designed to face inward

onto courtyards, with solid

walls facing out towards

the rest of the world.

Emperor Emperor Qin Shi Qin Shi HuangdiHuangdi

Qin Dynasty 221 to 210 Qin Dynasty 221 to 210 BCEBCE

Ruled by the Emperor Ruled by the Emperor Qin Shi HuangdiQin Shi Huangdi

Short-lived, but with Short-lived, but with long-lasting changes long-lasting changes and influence.and influence.

Emperor Qin Shi Emperor Qin Shi HuangdiHuangdi

He was He was responsible for responsible for the building of the building of the Great Wall, the Great Wall,

and the and the construction of construction of the Terra Cotta the Terra Cotta

Army. Army.

A view of the A view of the Great Wall Great Wall from space from space

(and no, you (and no, you cannot see it cannot see it

from the from the Moon…)Moon…)

The Great WallThe Great Wall

Built upon unbelievable Built upon unbelievable terrain!terrain!Built upon unbelievable Built upon unbelievable terrain!terrain!

Emperor Qin Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s Shihuangdi’s Terra Cotta Terra Cotta Army – from Army – from

the Qin the Qin Dynasty.Dynasty.

Horses of the Terra Cotta Horses of the Terra Cotta ArmyArmy

Over 6,000 statues Over 6,000 statues uncovered so far.uncovered so far.

Amazing Amazing detail!detail!

Han Dynasty 202 – 500 CEHan Dynasty 202 – 500 CE

Han Dynasty 202 - 500

•Civil service exams based on Confucius’ ideas

•Silk trade w/ Europe

•Unified writing & legal system

•Built more roads & canals

•Buddhism introduced

The ‘Silk Road’ facilitated trade between China and the Middle East, and even parts of Europe.

Confucius introduced the idea of government officials coming from an educated group of men who took an examination to work for the government. This became known as the ‘civil service’ and the system was in place for a very long time in China.

Han Dynasty 202 BCE – 500 Han Dynasty 202 BCE – 500 CECE

Begun by the Emperor Begun by the Emperor Liu Bang who Liu Bang who overthrew the Qin overthrew the Qin government after Qin government after Qin Shi Huangdi’s death.Shi Huangdi’s death.

Considered China’s Considered China’s golden agegolden age

Emperor Emperor Gao Zu Gao Zu

(Liu (Liu Bang) Bang)

Chinese Chinese PhilosophiesPhilosophiesThree Schools of

Thought

ConfucianismConfucianism

Confucius born during decline of Zhou dynasty

believed order would return to China if people lived ethically

wrote Analects

Confucius

Confucianism formal social order filial piety = respect for elders

code of politeness according to your relationship with others

Confucianism

formal social order 5 relationships

ruler / subject parent / child husband / wife old / young friend / friend

LegalismPracticed during Qin Dynasty people are naturally evil and greedy order comes through strict laws, enforcement rulers should be strong

Daoism taught by Laozi about 50 years older than Confucius

wrote Tao Te Ching: “the way and its power”

Laozi

Daoism the way Basic unity behind the universe is the Tao

Life is the greatest of all possessions

Life should be lived simply practice humility seek harmony with nature

Personal PhilosophyThink about… What is your moral philosophy? Would it be useful for governing a nation? What or who has influenced your belief?

Ponder one of the following and decide if any closely resembles your philosophy or belief: “What I do not wish others to do to me, that also I wish not to

do to them” “The man of noble mind seeks to achieve the good in others

and not their evil” “The higher type of man is modest in what he says, but

surpasses in what he does”