ANCIENT CHINA

CHINA'S GEOGRAPHY

• Its geography helped shape civilization
• Lived in center of China and near the rivers
• Protected by mountains in one side and Gobi Desert of other side
• Some of the rivers were called the Huang He river and the Yangzete (Yellow) river
• But only 1/10 of China can be farmed because of the Kun Shan and Tian Shan mountains

LIFE IN ANCIENT CHINA

• China's social classes included aristocrats, farmers, snd merchants
• Aristocrats divided their land to each of their sons, therefore their heirs owned less land than their ancestors
• Families were big to help them produce more. Even children worked in the fields and they were really hard working
• They had filial piety, which means that children respected their elders and treated the with respect. Families placed the needs of the head of the family before their own.
• Men were respected and were sent to school, ran the government, and fought in wars. Women worked at home.

CONFUCIANISM

• Belief based on the teachingsof Confucius during the Zhou Dynasty
• Confucius lived from 551 BC - 479 BC , worked as accountant, his followers took his sayings and made a book out of them called the Analects
• Confucianism is a philosophy says you should concentrate on improving your behavior and doing the right thingm. This behavior is cal Li
• Based on 5 key Relationships: 1.) Ruler and Subject, 2.) Parent and Child, 3.) Husband and Wife, 4.) Elder Sibiling and Younger Sibiling, and 5.) friend and friend
• Accepted filial piety, which is when people respect their elders. The only relationship where people are equal is friend and friend.

THE SHANG DYNASTY

• Took place in the Huang He valley during 1750-1045 BC
• It was ruled by kings and warlords, and they made up the upper class, called aristocrats. Kings thought they could tell the future by the use of oracle bones
• Land was passed down from generation ti generation, so grandsons had way less land than their ansestors
• They worshipped gods and spirits, and they honored their ancestors by giving them offerings.
• The language was made up of characters that represented words and it had pictographs

THE ZHOU DYNASTY

• Started in 1045 B.C. when Wu Wang led a rebellion against the Shang, and lasted 800 years
• Lead by Wu Wang and his bureaucracy, and they chose kings by the Mandate of Heaven, and kings were the link between heaven and Earth
• They invented the iron plow, which was a farming tool, the crossbow, which was a new way to shoot, and the saddle and stirrup, which made riding on horses easier.
• Kings were expected to keep the gods happy, but if there was a natural disaster, people chose a new king
• Bureaucracies are appionted officials who are responsible for different area of the government

DAOISM

• Based on writings of a sage named Laozi, most writings were in a book called Daodejing
• Tells that you shouldn't strive for powe, because it is harmful and unnatural, you should become one with nature
• Balance the opposite forces nature, Yin and Yang, because it is the way to gain happineess, see good and bad connected, accept both
• Try to become one with nature and the Dao, an universal force that creates order, see yourself as part of nature lead a balanced life
• Practiced in Han Dynasty along with Confucianism, ruled by Wuwei, which means "Action through nonaction"

LEGALISM

• Based on the ideas of Han Fei, in book called Han Feizi, told rulers how to strengthen state because he thought it would make China great again
• Thought that confucian principles wouldn't strengthen state, so he enforced laws and had severe punishments
• Created laws to make people accept rulers' authority immediately, worst offense was criticizing the government
• Broke family loyalty, only wanted people to trust government, because "he who trusts others will be controlled by others
• Applied during Qin dynasty, punishments could have you killed,they were so strict that people startd to rebel

EMPEROR QIN

• He ruled the Qin dynasty, based rules on Legalism, killed anyone who opposed him, was very powerful
• Used censors, who were people who made sure government officials did their job, only he decided who would fill these posts
• Unified China by creating only one currency, made provinces, constructd canals and roads, and much more
• He built the Great Wall of China, protected against northern invaders, called Xiongnu, built by Chinese rulers, not same wall we see today
• Also built terra cotta army, built in his tomb to protect him. He was so powerful and strict, that people actually rebelled

THE HAN DYNASTY

• Founded by Liu Bang, became military leader,used many of Qin's rules, called himself Han Gaozu
• Used Civil Service test to determine who became government posts, asked about what they knew about China laws and Confucian teachings, used for 2,000 years
• China grew a lot, from 20 million to 60 million, but farmers sold their land and became tenant farmers, worke for aristocrats
• Invented many things, like waterwheels, drill bits, steel, paper, helped Chinese work and produce more, new medicine systems, like accupuncture
• Also made new trade routes, made rudders which made travel overseas possible, also made the Silk road, a new trading route

THE SILK ROAD

• Zhang went to find allies to help defeat Xiongnu, returned 13 years later, but didn't have allies, returned with horses
• Silk road is large network of trade routes that is more that 4,000 miles long, broken up into segments, travellers had to cross mountains, deserts, swamps, etc.
• Merchants travelled halfway, then traded, then passed on to someone else, that way it would travel everywhere
• Silk road brought China into contact with other civilizations, like the Roman Civilization, India, Southeast Asia
• Also helped trade ideas, therefore soreading religion, from China to the Medeterrainean Sea.