Transcript Ancient China

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Early Civilization in China
• How did geography influence
early Chinese civilization?
• How did Chinese culture take
shape under the Shang and the
Zhou?
• What were key cultural
achievements in early China?
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The Geography of China
As in Egypt and Mesopotamia, Chinese civilization began in
a river valley, the Huang He.
China was the most isolated of the civilizations.
Long distances and physical barriers separated China from,
Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Egypt, the Middle East, and
India. What are they?
Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the
center of the earth and the only civilization.
Ancient China
Pre-Historic China
PEKING MAN
500,000
years
ago !!!
I’m not
kidding!!
Longshan
was a tribal but specialized culture in China, centered on the central and
lower Yellow River and dated from about
3000 BC to 2000 BC.
•high level of skill in pottery making,
•the establishment of cities, as
rammed earth walls and moats
•Rice cultivation
•Early small scale silk production
•Divination using cracked cattle
bones
•Beginning of Chinese Writing
夏朝 Xia
Dynasty:
From Myth to Reality(1959)
• ca. 2070 BC–ca. 1600 BC
• Capital: Yangcheng
•United surrounding warring tribes to
control the flooding of the River
•Yu the Great succeeded after 13 years!
•Diverted the river via canals; not by dikes
•Establishment of Feudalism and
•hereditary monarchy
•Slavery
•Currency: Cowries
•Astronomy
•Calendar based on the Great Dipper
(Lunar)
•Development of Animal Husbandry
商朝
Shang
Dynasty
1600 BC–1046 BC
Mr. Jason ->
• Bronze workers
• Development of writing system
to over 3,000 characters/symbols
• Record keeping using turtle shells
• Ancestral worship
• Military superiority
周朝
Zhou Dynasty
1045 BC–256 BC
•Philosophy
•Bureaucracy
•Economic growth
•The looooooooooongest dynasty
Hundred Schools of Thought
• The fish trap exists because of the fish; once you've gotten the fish
you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit;
once you've gotten the rabbit you can forget the snare. Words exist
because of meaning; once you have the meaning you can forget the
words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can
have a few words with him?
-Zhuangzi
• What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone
else. -Confucius
• People are submissive to power, and few of them can be influenced
by doctrines of righteousness.
-Han Feizi
• Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. –Lao Tzu
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The Dynastic Cycle in
China
The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall of dynasties.
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Chinese civilization took shape under the
Shang and Zhou.
Shang Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
(1650 B.C.–1027 B.C.)
(1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)
Gained control of corner of
northern China along Huang
He.
Drove off nomads from
northern steppes and deserts.
Held complex religious
beliefs.
Developed written language
used by all Chinese people.
Overthrew the Shang.
Promoted idea of Mandate
of Heaven.
Set up feudal state.
Economy and commerce
grew.
Population increased.
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Cultural Achievements
The Chinese made progress in many areas during the Shang
and Zhou periods.
Discovered how to make silk thread. Silk became
China’s most valuable export. Trade route to the
Middle East became known as Silk Road.
Made the first books from wood or bamboo.
Studied the movement of planets and recorded
eclipses of the sun.
Developed accurate calendar with 365 1/4 days.
Made remarkable achievements in the art of
bronzemaking.