Transcript Ancient China - October 26th

Note Taking
Step One: Listen to the teacher for emphases on
important points in power point. Copy down the key
words, phrases or dates on your loose-leaf in point
form.
Step Two: Re write your notes adding more detail
from what you can remember from the power point.
Step Three: Read over your new notes making sure
they make sense to you.
 China
is a vast country
located on the continent of
Asia.
 It
is the third largest country
and is the most populous.
 Most
of China's millions of
people live in the eastern portion
of the country
 China
borders the Pacific Ocean on the east.
 For
many years, China's geography has helped
isolate it from the rest of the world.
 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
 There
are two major river systems in
China.
• Huang He –known
as the Yellow River
• Yangtze – Also known
as the Chang
 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
protected China in
the north west.
 Recall:
A Dynasty is….
A succession of rulers from the same family.

China’s first dynasty was the Xia (shah)
dynasty (2000-1500 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.
 During
this
dynasty the arts
flourished.
 Early
Chinese
writing was
developed
during this time.
 Beautiful
figures,
religious objects and
weapons made from
bronze were featured
in this period.
 There
were huge
differences between the
life of a noble and those
of a peasant.
 The
Shang Dynasty was
overthrown by the Zhou
rulers.
 This
dynasty was centered
around western China.
 This
dynasty lasted longer than
any other in Ancient Chinese
history.
 The
dynasty included land from
the seacoast to the Chang River
Valley.
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.

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.
 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 ?
 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.
Laozi, depicted as
a Taoist god.
According to legends, Laozi
leaves China on his water
buffalo.

Was 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.
 ‘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
countries.
ideas spread to other
 Lived
200 years after Confucius. Asked the
question: What can be done if rulers are not
good as Confucius expected them to be?
 He
Liked having a king or Queen but they must
be effective.
 He
said that the people could rebel if the ruler
was not doing a good job.
 This
idea was very progressive for the time.

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’
Shi Huangdi:
The First Emperor

Also known as the “First Emperor.” He united all of
China, which remains united to this day.

After unifying ancient China, Shi Huangdi
suppressed freedom of speech and initiated a
massive burning of all Confucius books.

He wanted to consolidate his rule and ensure his
stability as ruler, which would bring change to
ancient China. Therefore, he had to do away with
the Confucius books because they contained a
philosophy that did not want change.
 He
did not 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.
 He
became very paranoid of people around him
and withdrew from people over his lifetime.
 Due
to his fear of death, he hired an alchemist
to create a potion to extend his life.

His reign is known for gigantic building
projects.

He needed protection from China’s
enemies. Ordered the construction of the
Great Wall in the North west. (1500 miles
long).

He feared death. Had a huge moratorium
built to protect him in the afterlife.

Clay soldiers were created to protect him
in the afterlife.

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.

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
as a demonstration of deep respect.
 Needed
educated people to run government offices.
 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
 Han
structure was well organized and efficient.
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.
First two minutes
Forbidden
City (palace of the emperor) was built during
this dynasty.
 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.

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).

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.
 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.
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/24497-asias-expansion-mongolsand-warlords-video.htm
Greatest
descendant of
Genghis was
Kublai Khan

 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.
 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.
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/12181-prehistory-chinas-first-dynasty-video.htm
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/sciencechannel/29775-what-the-ancients-knew-chinese-magneticcompass-video.htm
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx-
x7BrgjSA