Transcript Ancient China - hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca

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China Today
-China is a vast country located on the
continent of Asia.
-It is the third largest country in the world after
all of Russia and Canada. -It is the most
populous.
-For many years, China's geography has
helped isolate it from the rest of the world.
China Today
-China borders the Pacific Ocean on the east.
-Most of China's largest cities are along the
east coast of China, where the land is low and
flat.
- Most of China's millions of people live in the
eastern portion of the country
Map of China
Geography of Ancient China
Major River Systems:
Ancient China has two
major river systems:
• Huang He which is
also known as the
Yellow River
• Yangtze which is also
known as the Chang
Jiang
Major Rivers
Yellow River
Yangtze River
Physical Features influenced
China’s Past
Topographic Map
Physical Features:
• Most of China’s history has been impacted by its
geography. Early settlements evolved around the
eastern lowlands and river valleys where farming
took place.
• The Himalayan mountains protected China from
invasion from the west (India)
• The cold Gobi desert found protected China in the
north west.
Several Dynasties Ruled
Ancient China
• China’s first dynasty was the Xia (shah) dynasty (20001500 BCE) – little is known about this dynasty except
they were overthrown by the Shang family of rulers.
• The Shang dynasty is marked by cruel rulers who
amused themselves with vicious games and torture.
• The Shang rulers were in power for several hundred
years.
Shang Territory
Shang Dynasty
• During this dynasty the arts flourished.
• Beautiful figures, religious objects and weapons made
from bronze were featured in this period.
• Early Chinese writing was developed during this time.
• There were huge differences between the life of a noble
and those of a peasant.
• The Shang Dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou rulers.
Shang Bronze
Zhou Dynasty
• This dynasty was centered around western China.
• A famous fighter from this region was Duke Fa, he latter
took the name Wu Wang. He became the first ruler of the
Zhou dynasty in 1100 BCE.
• This dynasty lasted longer than any other in Ancient
Chinese history.
• The dynasty included land from the seacoast to the Chang
River Valley.
Wu Wang
Expansion of Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
• A feudal system emerged under these rulers. The ruler
would give small kingdoms to trusted military leaders in
exchange for loyalty. The problem with this system was
the military leaders became more powerful than the
rulers.
• War was a big part of this period in China’s history.
• Much of the lives of the nobles of this time centered
around war: war games, weapons, banners tournaments
& practice for war were featured.
Teachers during Zhou Dynasty
• War did not deter learning during this time.
Many new ideas were born during this time.
• Three great teachers emerged at this time:
Laozi, Confucius & Mencius
• Each had great influence at this time. Each
outlined a set of rules to create an ideal
society. The big question: How to make
people happy ?
Laozi (604-517 BCE) & Taoism
• One must live the right way or Tao (Dow)
• To be happy, one must allow themselves to
be in harmony with the natural world.A
serene life was ideal.
• Except life as you find it. Do not encourage
change.
Confucius 551- 479 BCE
• An advisor to rulers for many years. When not working
he attempted to answer questions of the suffering of
Chinese people.
• Set up strict rules of behavior, each person must know
their place and act according to the established rules. ie:
Ruler & subject, teacher & student, father & son,
husband & wife
• Rulers must set good examples and subjects must
honour the ruler.
• All people are basically good so an ideal society is
possible.
Confucianism
• ‘Do not do unto others what you would not have
others do unto you’
• Honor family ancestors was further emphasized.
• Ideas were written down in the Analects.
• Confucius ideas spread to other countries.
Mencius 373-288 BCE
• Lived 200 years after Confucius. Asked the
question: What can be done if rulers are not
good as Confucius expected them to be?
• He said the people could rebel if the ruler
was not doing a god job.
• Liked having a king or queen but they must
be effective.
• This idea was very progressive for the time.
Qin Dynasty
• Over time the military leaders gained so much power
they were able to overthrow the Zhou kings.
• One of the most powerful kingdoms was the Qin (Chin)
By 221 BCE the leaders of the Qin kingdom took power
from the weak Zhou kings.
• The Qin leader who took power from the Zhou was a
man by the name of Shi Huangdi. He worked very hard
to unite all regions of China under one leader. He
eventually became known as China’s ‘First Emperor’
A Strong Emperor United China
Shi Huangdi’s Rule
• He wanted change and in order to bring about change he
had to do away with the philosophy of not wanting
change found in Confucius teachings. He had all
Confucius books burned.
• He didn’t trust military leaders. He forced all leaders to
live near him so he could watch them. Did away with all
smaller kingdoms and created districts.
• Needed protection from China’s enemies. Ordered the
construction of the Great Wall in the North west. (1500
miles long)
• United all of China. Remains united to this day.
Shi Huangdi’s Rule
• He became very paranoid of people around him.
Further with drew from his people
• He feared death. Had a huge moratorium built to
protect him in the afterlife.
• Clay soldiers were created to protect the him in
the afterlife.
• Hire alchemist to create a potion to extend his life.
Reaction to Emperor’s Rule
• People were not happy
under his rule. They paid
heavy taxes (Great Wall)
• Many longed to return to
the ways of Confucius.
• Many were happy when
he died in 207 BCE his
strict rule had ended.
• He was buried with 1000’s
of clay soldiers.
Great Wall
Great Wall
The Great Wall of China
Terra Cotta Soldiers
Han Dynasty 202BCE –220 BCE
• Revolts broke out across Shi Huangdi’s Empire shortly
after his death. Five years late the Han Dynasty had
established itself as the ruling family.
• Liu Bang became the emperor of the Han dynasty. They
ruled for four hundred years.
• Confucius teachings returned under Han rule. Formal
traditions and customs were returned.
• The act Kow Tow (a deep bow) started at this time.
• Needed educated people to run government offices.
Han Map
Han Rule
• People had to write government exams before they could get
employment. Studying laws of Confucius was encouraged. More
converted to Confucius than ever before, it became the state religion.
• Government structure was well organized and efficient.
• Han Code, a system of laws were established.
• Trade in silk and spices between Asia and Europe began. The silk
road, the world’s first intercontinental road was built.
• Forbidden City (palace of the emperor) was built during this dynasty.
Forbidden City
Han Decline
• Barbarian tribes invaded the borders of
China. Weak rulers had no luck in driving
the tribes out.
• High taxes led to unrest within the
empire.Gap between the rich & poor
increased.
• Last Han ruler abdicated in 220 BCE
Golden Age of
Fall of the Han Dynasty (589-616 CE)
• Years of chaos and confusion followed this dynasty.
Barbarian invasions in the north over the Gobi desert
led to unrest for many years.
• Around 589 CE the Sui (swee)Dynasty established
itself as the ruling family. The two rulers were harsh
however they were successful in reuniting China during
this time.
• Great Wall was repaired and rebuilt, roads were
constructed.
• Rule ended with overthrow of Sui by Tang. (618 CE)
Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE)
• A golden Age began. Ambassadors from far away
countries visited ie: Byzantine, Muslim Lands &
India.
• Trade prospered in silk and porcelain.
• Art was the marvel of Asia and Middle East
• The city of Xian was the center of trade,
commerce, technology, art, temples, gardens &
politics.
• Ended with a series of rebellions.
Tang Map
Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE)
• The Golden Age continued under these rulers.
Prosperity continued although not as much as
during the Tang rule.
• Invasions continued in the north by the dreaded
Mongols around ca. 1200.
• Leader of the feared Mongols was a ruler known
as Genghis Khan, ‘lord of the World’ he united the
Mongols & ruled over northern Asia.
• Greatest descendant of Genghis was Kublai Khan
The Mongols
Map of the Mongols
Kublai Khan
•
Mongols Rule China
• Khubai Khan ‘The Great Khan’ defeated the
Song rulers & established his rule from the city
of Beijing.
• Created the Yuan dynasty – 1st dynasty of
foreign rulers. (1279 –1368 CE)
• Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant visited Khan
in 1275, wrote book of his travels & the great
civilization that Khan had created.
Marco Polo’s Travels
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE)
• In Chinese ‘Ming’ means glorious.
• A Buddhist monk named Hong Wu led an army
that drove the Mongols from China
• Ming’s restored China’s pride after being ruled by
outsiders.
• Mings’ emphasized isolation from outside world.
Gift’s of Ancient China