Transcript Chapter 4 - STA-MrFairesClasses

Chapter 4
Lesson 2 China’s Past
Picturing Chinese History
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No other civilization is believed to have
lasted longer than China’s. However,
China’s culture is not the worlds oldest.
Chinese language is written in
pictographs or pictures that represent
words.
Ancient Voices
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According to Chinese legend, Pangu
was the creator of the universe.
Later stories of superheroes who taught
people how to survive followed.
These stories showed how important
the domestication of animals,
agriculture, and inventions were to
people of that time.
Ancient Voices Cont.
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Stories date back to a time known as
the Xia Legendary period. (2000-1700
B.C.)
Bridged a time called pre-history to a
time when Chinese history began to be
recorded.
Shang Dynasty
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1st dynasty in China began between
1760 and 1500 B.C.
Before the discovery of the tortoise
shells in 1899 the Shang people were
considered part of a different period.
Shang Dynasty Cont.
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In the Huang River Valley, were early
Chinese people lived, people grew
grains such as millet and rice, and
raised animals.
Made cloth from silk and flax
Warriors rode on chariots for war.
Capital of Shang settlement was
Anyang.
Shang Dynasty Cont.
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Ancient Shells and bones were called
oracle bones, used to predict the future.
People would write questions on the
bones, heat them, and then examine
them for any cracks.
After the event was predicted it was
written down.
Shang Dynasty cont.
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Besides writing on shells the Shang
people wrote on bronze and stone.
This made them the first people in
China to make written records.
Bronze Age
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Bronze was used for many tools, cups,
and weapons in the Shang Dynasty.
Also used as trade materials.
The Longest Dynasty
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Zhou dynasty. See p. 109 for territory
changes.
Lasted more than 800 years. Separated
into 2 periods.
Western Zhou
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Called this because capital was in Hao,
in western China.
People were farmers of wheat, rice,
beans, and fruit.
Consisted of slaves, farmers who
contributed to the king, and women
who most often harvested the crops.
Western Zhou Cont.
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Silk was very important to the economy
Women were in charge of producing
silk, which is made from cocoons of
silkworms.
Women cultivated mulberry trees to
feed the silkworms, then boiled the
cocoons to get the silk fibers then wove
cloth from these fibers.
Eastern Zhou Dynasties
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Capital in Luoyang.
Referred to as the “golden age” in
China.
Encouraged trade
Government started projects that
included flood control, irrigation, and
canal building.
Eastern Zhou Dynasties
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People built huge walls around some
towns along the northern border to
keep out nomadic people.
Began to use iron to make farm tools
and weapons.
Eastern Zhou Dynasties Cont.
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Kings power was weakened by warfare
between rival states.
Traditions were being challenged and
new ideas emerged.
More people were becoming scholars,
teachers, and government officials.
The First Emperor
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Qin dynasty started started in 221 B.C.
by Shi Huangdi. (bio p.113)
He centralized the government by
forming new states to bring all areas
under his rule.
Systems of money and weights and
measures were standardized which
helped trade.
The First Emperor Cont.
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Building of the Great Wall of China
started during his reign.
Connected existing defensive walls that
had been built earlier.
Built to protect the empire from
northern invaders. See timeline and
route on p.110.
Han Dynasty
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206 B.C. to 220 A.D.
First Han ruler was a peasant named
Gan Gaozu meaning “high ancestor”
Took the throne after joining a revolt
against the Shi Huangdi.
Lifted a ban on books by Shi Huangdi
Han Dynasty Cont.
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Wu Di ruled about 141-87 B.C.
Took away power from those who
opposed him.
Taxed imported and exported trade
goods.
Built new roads.
Han Dynasty Cont.
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Wu Di valued scholars and teachers.
Civil service exams were started under
Wu Di.
Anyone who passed the exam could
work for the government.
Inventions
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New ways involving middlemen were
used in trading.
Porcelain, paper, and ink were also
invented, for the Chinese during the
Han dynasty, making books available.
Silk Road
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Road that went through northern China
and across central Asia to the lands of
the Roman Empire.
Exported silk and porcelain.
Imported glass, gold, and horses.