Transcript File

ACHIEVEMENTS
OF CHINA
Camels are undoubtedly
better equipped than humans
to endure a sandstorm.
Double rows of protective
eyelashes and the ability to
close their nostrils help them
survive sandstorms.
Emperor Wudi’s conquests in West
brought Chinese into contact with the
people of Central Asia
 Chinese new foods – grapes; garlic;
walnuts
 Silk Road – major new trade route –
China to Mediterranean Sea – covered
4,000 miles – hard and dangerous
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THE SILK ROAD: CHINA MEETS
THE WEST
Goods passed from one trader to the next
With each trade the price of goods went
up
 Silk Road got its name from silk - a
valuable cloth 1st made in China
 Silkworms make the silk – methods
guarded secrets – penalty for revealing
them was death
 Trade silk with Europeans for glass,
horses, ivory, woolens, & linen cloth
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A ROUTE FOR GOODS
More than goods traveled the road –
missionaries from India traveled to China
& brought the religion of Buddhism
 Han dynasty ended – Buddhism was
becoming major religion in China
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A ROUTE FOR IDEAS
Return to teaching of Confucius
 Member of Civil Service required to be
educated in Confucian teachings
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OLD TRADITIONS, NEW
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Poets wrote excellent poetry
Scholars put together 1st dictionary
Greatest advance was in field of history
No one was sure just when Chinese rulers
had lived or what they accomplished
Scholar – Sima Qian – wrote history of
China from mythical times to emperor
Wudi called Historical records
LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
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A.D. 105- Chinese invented paper
1st paper made from tree bark, hemp, and
old rags
Strengthened with starch – then coated
with gelatin, a gooey substance
Han dynasty came to an end in the 200s
A.D.
People in China call themselves “The
Children of Han”
PAPER