Transcript Ancient China - Good Shepherd School

Ancient China
Han Contacts with Other Cultures
Farming and Manufacturing
There were many advances in
manufacturing during the Han
Dynasty. Increase in productivity
led to prosperity. This would lead
to contact with people from other
cultures. The Chinese had
become master ironworkers. The
armor and swords made the
Chinese army more powerful.
Farming and Manufacturing
Farmers also gained from the
ironworks. Iron Plows and
wheel barrows increased
output. Farmers could carry
more, plant more and, in the
end, grow more food
Farming and Manufacturing
Silk would increase in production during the Han. The procedure for
making silk was a well kept secret, one they would punish by death.
Weavers would use foot powered looms to weave silk thread into fabric.
Garments made from this silk were very expensive.
Trade Routes
Chinese products such as silk
and fine pottery are in high
demand. Trade will increase
partly because of Han armies
conquering lands deep into
Central Asia. Han generals
found out that leaders of
lands farther west desired
silk.
Expansion of Trade
Wudi desired the strong
Central Asian horses so … he
brought the silk cloth to
Central Asia and traded it for
horses. Central Asians would
then trade with those in the
west for goods they wanted.
Silk Road
Traders would use several overland routes to get goods from
China to the west – the most famous was known as the Silk
Road. The 4000 mile route stretched from China to the Middle
East, the Mediterranean and Europe.
Silk Road
The Chinese did not travel the
entire route, just to Central Asia.
Traveling the Silk Road was
difficult taking hundreds of men
and camels loaded down with
goods. Traders would travel
together for protection and some
hired armed guards. Bandits could
steal goods and water and the
weather could range from icy
blizzards to hot and dry
sandstorms.
Silk Road
The road was named after the
most famous of goods to be
moved along the road. The
benefits far outweighed the risks,
as Rome in particular had a huge
demand for silk. Rome would
send gold, silver, gems and horses
back to China for its silk
Buddhism Comes to China
From the trade routes in the
1st century AD, Buddhism
came to China. Over time,
the Han government became
less stable, people would
ignore laws and violence
would become common.
Buddhism
As rebellion raged and millions of
peasants became hungry, life is
uncertain and people look for
answers to suffering from Daoism
and Confucianism, but fo not find
the answers. Buddhism seemed to
provide more hope with its ideas
of rebirth and relief from
suffering.
Impact on China
At first, Indian Buddhists had a
hard time explaining the teachings
– then they used the ideas found
in Daoism to describe Buddhists
belief. In time, Buddhism will
catch on with the poor and upper
classes. By AD 200, Buddhist
altars stood in the emperor’s
palace.
Impact on China
The introduction of Buddhism in
China is an example of diffusion.
(the spread of ideas, culture and
technology from one culture to
another).
Chinese culture will change as a
response to Buddhism as texts are
translated into Chinese and many
Chinese become monks and nuns
and Buddhist art is found
everywhere.
To Sum Up …
Exit: How are some of the teachings of Daoism similar
to Buddhism?
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