Transcript China Overview

Ancient China
Geography
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NE – Cold/dry
(drops below -17
and rivers are
frozen ½ the year
NW – desert/dry
SE – Tropical
(average 6350
mm rain/year
- that’s a two
story house!)
Early Civilization
• Development of Farming (7000 BC) similar
reasons to Nile River
• Rice along river, grains in the plains
• 3000 BC – potter wheels used and houses
partly in the ground (mud and straw)
Mandate of Heaven
• Divine intervention
• Impossible to disprove
Dynasties
China’s First Dynasties
• The Xia Dynasty
• The Shang Dynasty
• The Zhou Dynasty
Periods of history in China are easily studied
through the dynasties
The First Dynasty
The Xia Dynasty
• Probably not real
• Stories claim Yu the Great dug channels to
drain flood waters (and these became the
main waterways of China).
• Story tells of kings who helped people and
explained geography
Shang Dynasty
1600 – 1027 BCE
• Mark the start of Chinese civilization
• Created writing system
• Chinese term for civilization is “to
transform by writing”
• 10 000 characters made it hard to
read and write
• Develop cities, vocational specialties,
horse drawn chariots
• Oracle Bones (Divination)
Usually tortoise shells
Zhou Dynasty
1027 – 256 BCE
Zhou Dynasty
1027 – 256 BCE
• Change political and social hierarchical system
• Replace religion with Heaven (divination being in
control of the Middle Kingdome ... us)
• Decentralized system of rule by lords (sound familiar?)
Zhou Dynasty
1027 – 256 BCE
• Longest Dynasty in Chinese History
• Copper and gold coins used for 1st time
• China becomes most populated country
Unsurpassed Bronze
work during this period
No more China
• 771 – 491 BCE (Lord’s loyalty lags and no one
state has any real power)
• 481 – 256 BCE (known as the Warring States)
– 200 years of civil war
It was during this period that ...
• Pants replaced the robe
• Chopsticks replaced forks and knives
• Music and poetry flourish
Silver Lining
The following emerges during this time period:
• Confucius (Confucianism)
• Laozi (Taoism)
• Legalism
Belief System
Confucianism
Taoism
Legalism
2 main ideas
Confucius Says ...
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Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes
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Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves
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Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it
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It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop
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Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do
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Study the past if you would define the future
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When anger rises, think of the consequences
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Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand
Confucius
• Human beings were equal and alike at birth
• Learning and practice set us apart
• Learning and practice can lead human beings
to true humanity
• Filial piety: respect for elders (turn the world
into a family)
Taoism
Do people need motivation to be good?