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China’s History Shang Dynasty 1700-1050 BCE Huang He River Oracle Bones Zhou 1029-258 Mandate of Heaven The Zhou justified taking over from the Shang by saying that they had lost divine approval to rule Zhou Dynasty 1029-258 BCE • • • • Leaders/Traits Walled cities Trade routes between cities Feudalism Agriculture Philosophy • Daoism – Laozi – 500’s BCE • Confucianism – Mencius – Chaotic government – 522 BCE What is Changing? What is Staying the Same? Qin Dynasty 221-202 BCE Shi Huangdi First Emperor Unifies China as one empire Ruthless—Totalitarian Legalism adopted Territorial Expansion 214 BCE Book burning-213 BCE WHY??? Why does one currency, language, and standards of weights and measures help to unify??? Standardized weights and measures Single money system Uniform writing system Postal system Qin Continued Massive building projects Massive roads and canals made travel easier Great Wall Bankrupted China Farmers forced to work as part-time soldiers and builders Pottery Army-210 BCE Forced labor Agricultural Changed laws so that powerful lords didn’t get land End of Primogeniture Peasant farmers could own land Still attacked by Mongols from north Trade/merchants What is Changing? What is Staying the Same? Qin Legacy • Ruling family fell but – Bureaucracy continued – Empire continued – Tradition of centralized imperial rule continued Han Dynasty 202 BC-184 CE Liu Bang 202-195 BCE • Xiognu Confederation threatens from north • Commoner – Founder of Han Dynasty • Centralized government • Education system • Encouraged non-governmental people to practice Confucianism and Daoism WHY??? • Ends prohibition against books • Combines Legalism and Confucianism – Retains draft and forced labor for public works Qin Dynasty Han Dynasty Emperor Wudi [Wu-ti] The Martial Emperor 140-87 BCE Sixteen when he came to the throne – Reigned for more than 50 years • Two policies—centralization and expansion • Beginnings of Chinese Civil Service-tests • State monopolies on essential goods- salt, iron, and liquor • Foreign Wars=territorial expansion • Imperial bureaucracy expanded and standardized – Relies on Legalist principles • Confucian=official philosophy – Schools only taught Confucian thought • Land Distribution—fiefdoms • 138 BCE Wu Ti sent diplomatic expedition to Central Asia to try to find allies against the Hsiung-nu. • RESULT: Chinese leaders became aware of other nations and cultures to the west -- India, Persia, and somewhat of the Roman Orient. Eventually, this would lead to the Silk Road. Expansion of the Empire 121-119 BCE: Hsiung-nu driven north of Gobi desert. – Great Wall is extended to the Jade Gate. – Colonists are sent to Kansu. – Silk Road opens between China and the Parthian Empire. • 108 BCE: Korea conquered • 87 BCE: First general history of China written • Papermaking – 100 BCE • • • • • • Wheelbarrow Foot stirrups Acupuncture Movable type Horse collar Two bladed plow Later Han Dynasty: 25-220 CE • c. 25: Buddhism introduced to China. • 74-94: States of Turkistan submit to Chinese authority. • 89: Hsiung-Nu submit to Chinese authority. • 166: Traders from the Roman Empire arrive in Tonkin Tonkin Diplomatic Ties Begin • Zhang Qian successively sent envoys to other kingdoms including Parthia and India where they were welcomed. • When a Han envoy reached Parthia, its king sent 20,000 cavalrymen to welcome him on the eastern frontier. • At the same time, the kingdoms sent their own envoys to Han. From then on, the diplomatic missions were dispatched regularly along with commercial trading. • The traffic on the Silk Road began to flourish as never before. The Silk Road • Once the trade route was opened up, it benefited people and governments from all sides. • The Chinese imported horses, cattle, and furs and hides from Central Asia, while the Central Asians obtained silk from China. • Cucumbers, walnuts, sesame, alfalfa and pomegranates were introduced to China during the Han period as well as grapes that served as a new material for the Chinese to make wine. Decline of Han Internal External • • Surplus wealth depleted – Long borders – Cost of defense staggering – Agricultural colonies in central Asia – Borders overrun Technology gap with neighbors closing • Epidemic diseases – Decline in population – Decline in economy • • • Loss of trade Oppression Class divisions led to Peasant revolts – Yellow Turbans [Late Han] • Weak leaders – Faction fighting at court • Poor harvests – famine • Confiscation of land and increased taxes to pay for defense and colonies – Discouraged investment in trade and manufacturing