Transcript Ancient China - Elmwood Park Memorial High School

By
Mr. Stankus
Geography
AIM:
China is isolated
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seawater – east lack of harbors
jungles – south
mountains – west
deserts – north
DESERT
MOUNTAINS
JUNGLES
Ancient Chinese view their
country as “center of world”
• nomadic people to north and west
thought of as barbarians (Wall of China)
• Ethnocentrism led to advances in
literature, art, philosophy & technology
3 River Valley Civilizations
• Huang River – Yellow River, North China
– Topsoil called loess good for growing millet
and wheat
– Irrigation used to control floods
– Central government created to maintain canals
– Isolation – river too shallow for trade route
• Chang River – hilly land of Southern China
– Monsoon rains from Pacific Ocean
– World’s deepest river – main trade route
– Rice growing region – wet climate and floods
• Xi River Valley – isolated by rough hills
– Mouth of River (South China Sea) is one of few
good ports – trading centers
Do Now: Answer Questions
• What geographic feature led to the
growth of a central government?
• Define Ethnocentrism.
• Why was China thought of as the
center of the World?
• What is the difference between
barbarian tribes and civilizations?
AIM: How was China able to
maintain its Dynasties?
What is a Dynasty?
• A Dynasty is a ruling family where
power is passed down through the
generations.
• How is this different from a
monarchy?
– Monarchy describes single ruler
– Dynasty describes rule over a longer
period of time between family members.
Shang Dynasty – 1st Dynasty
(1700 B.C. – 1100 B.C.)
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Yellow River plain
Bronze working and writing
Walled cities
King- considered link between
heaven and earth; ruled by Mandate
of Heaven
• Ancestor worship
• Prisoners and game were burnt in
huge numbers for ceremonies
honoring ancestors and gods
Shang corruption: overthrow by
Zhou Dynasty (1027 – 256 B.C.)
• Divided authority under system of
feudalism
– 1st 250 years; 1,000 feudal states
• Nobles get authority from king
– must provide armies
• 456 – 256 B.C. fighting between
nobles (catapult & crossbows)
• Relationship between rich nobles 
common people
Qin Dynasty China’s 1st
Empire (221 – 210 B.C.)
• Strong central government
• Emphasis on Legalism – authority,
laws, administration
• Great Wall of China
• Standardized currency and writing
system
• Harsh law and over taxation led to
fall
Paper
Paper was invented in
China in the 1st century
BC. Its production required
five stages, seen here from
top left: bamboo stalks
were cut and soaked in
water; the most tender of
the fibers were boiled; the
paste then formed was put
on a "form"; the sheets
were pressed out on a
wooden frame; and finally
the sheets were dried by
stretching them out on a
heated wall.
Review
• What were the three early dynasties?
• What system of government did the
Zhou dynasty use?
• Why is the invention of paper an
important improvement in a dynasty?
• What do you think are the most
important features of a strong
dynasty?
Han Dynasty (206B.C. – 220)
• Confucius philosophical basis of
government
– promotion by qualification
• Trade route with Europe for first time
• Buddhism introduced
CONFUCIANISM
TAOISM
BELIEF:
PHILOSOPHY
RELIGION
BOOK:
ANALECTS
MEDITATIVE LIFE
/SCRIPTURE
LEADER:
CONFUCIUS
LAO-TZU & Zhuangzi
ATTENTION TO:
MEDITATION
SIMPLE LIFE
CEREMONY DUTY
HARMONY WITH
MORALITY PUBLIC SERVICE NATURE
AVOID SOCIAL
OBLIGATIONS
The pilgrims of Buddha
During the 1st century AD, Chinese ambassadors who had been
sent to India brought back with them Buddhist works written in
Sanskrit. This inspired some Chinese intellectuals to become
"pilgrim-translators", setting out on intrepid journeys in search
of more original Buddhist texts to translate and discuss.
Review: How was China able to
maintain its Dynasties?
• A combination of …
– Religion: Divine Ruler, Mandate of
Heaven
– Legalistic practices: Feudalism, Harsh
Laws
– Confucian moral values: Respect for
position in life
• …helped the Chinese empire
dynasties exist for more than 2,000
years
Writing Assignment
• Explain how Dynasties grew in
China.
• Explain how China’s culture
(religion), economy, society, and
politics contributed to the growth of
Dynasties.
• Explain how China’s geography led
to Dynastic growth as well.
“Six Dynasties” from (222 – 581)
• China fell under foreign rule
• Dynasties were short and disorganized
Siu Dynasty (581-618) Reunified
China
• Grand Canal (605)
– Linked Yangtze river valley with
northern China
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) Dynasties
in the North
• Prosperity and cultural
accomplishment
• Tang capital Changan more than
one million people (largest city in
world)
• Buddhism – enormous influence
• Attracted diplomats, traders,
poets, scholars
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)
• Expansion under the Tang –
defeated Turks, extended further
west.
• Literature under the Tang – Li Bo
and Du Fu
• Religion in Tang China –
Buddhism, Zen Buddhism,
Confucianism
• The decline of the Tang dynasty –
weak emperors
China under the Sung Dynasty (9601126)
• Trade and arts – gold,
silver, and copper exports
• The civil service system
• Great inventions –
gunpowder, ink and paper,
movable type
• Peasant life – improved
farmed methods,
heavy taxation
• City life – wealthy classes
practiced footbinding
The Mongol Empire (1279)
• How the Mongol invaders were able
to conquer and rule so much of
Asia?
• What were the effects of Mongol rule
on China?
• Mongol conquests – Central Asia,
most of Persia, rest of China, part of
Southeast Asia
The Mongol Empire
•Genghis Khan and the
Mongols
–nomadic horsemen from
Mongolia and southern
Siberia, were the creators of
the largest empire in world
history
–Mongol conquests –
Central Asia, most of
Persia, rest of China, part of
Southeast Asia
–Mongol rule – powerful,
well-organized army of
skilled cavalry
The Mongol Empire
• What made the Mongols so powerful?
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Promotion by ability and merit
While not fighting, they were hunting
Raised with horses- mobility
For every man, three or four horses
They wore padded leather and silk
undergarments
– Experts at archery from horseback
– Above all they obeyed orders
» http://www.coldsiberia.org/monmig
ht.htm
The Mongol Empire
• China Under the
Mongols
– Contact with
Europeans –
improved
communication,
transportation, and
trade
– Chinese-Mongol
relations – unequal
treatment, harsh
taxes and laws
The Ming and Qing Dynasties
• Explain how the Ming came to power.
• Explain why the Chinese showed
little interest in overseas trade during
the Ming dynasty.
• Describe how the Qing dynasty came
to rule China.
• Discuss changes that occurred in the
Chinese economy under Qing rule.
• Analyze reasons for the decline of
the Qing dynasty.
Background
• Mongol Yuan Dynasty established an
effective imperial government
– Chinese official “The empire was
created on horseback, but it cannot be
governed on horseback.”
• In 1368 Buddhist monk, Zhu
Yuanzhang established the Ming
Dynasty
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
• came to power in China after a revolt
against the rule of the Mongols.
• founded by Zhu Yuan-Zhang (1328-98), the
son of a peasant.
• By 1356, the Red Turbans had captured the
city of Nanjing and assumed the leadership
of the rebellion.
• Zhu Yuan-Zhang became the first emperor
of a new dynasty, the Ming, with its capital
at Nanjing.
• Over a period of 276 years, 16 Ming
emperors were to rule over China. This
period saw both immense economic growth
and cultural achievement.
Early Ming Dynasty
• Late 1300-early
1400’s most skilled
sailors in world
• Chinese Junks and
Compass
• Sailed to
Southeast Asia
and India
– Reached southern
coast of Arabia
1415
– Almost 100 years
before da Gama
Why did the advanced Chinese
dynasties of the Ming and Qing era
not expand overseas?
Ming Foreign Policy
• Attitudes toward trade – wanted to be
self-sufficient; refused to rely on
foreign trade
• The northern frontier – strengthened
Great Wall of China; chose frontier
defense over trade and sea travel
Four classes of Confucianism
• Scholar-gentry
– Landed class, highly literate, staffed
royal bureaucracy
• Farmers
– Produced food and paid taxes to
support empire
• Artisans
– Made beautiful and useful products
• Merchants
– Bottom of social order, made living by
selling objects of peasants and artisans
Financing voyages ended
• Ming dynasty outlawed overseas
trade
– Trade was the lowest occupation of
confucian philosophy
– Foreign influences seen as threat to
imperial rule
– Finances were concentrated on the
northern frontier
• Barbarian tribes in north were still a threat
Founding the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
• Beijing was captured by
rebels and the last Ming
emperor committed
suicide
• Nurhachi unified
northeastern tribes into
Manchu
• Adopted Chinese culture
• Kept Manchu people
separate and distinct
from Chinese
Economy, Culture, and Society
• Economy – trade
and manufacturing
specialization grew
• Popular culture and
society – novels and
plays in everyday
language; family
was center of
society
What are some reasons for the
decline of the Qing dynasty?
Decline of Qing Dynasty
Cause
overpopulation
government
inefficiency
Effect
lack of food for
peasants
political unrest
natural disasters
social turmoil
Foreign influences
Loss of cultural
identity
Group work
Create a Dynasty
Political Advisor
Cultural Advisor
Economic Advisor
Social Advisor
China and Europeans
• Objectives:
– Characterize early contact between
Portugal and China.
– Explain why China and Great Britain
went to war in the mid-1800s.
– Describe how internal rebellions
contributed to the decline of the Qing
dynasty.
China and Foreign Influences
• Asia between the 8th century and 18th
century was invaded several times.
• Through cultural diffusion ideas on
government and society changed
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Muslims-Middle East to India
Buddhism-India to China
Mongols-West Asia to China
Manchus-Northeast Asia to China
• China influenced Japan and Korea
• Europeans arrive 1600s
• Westerners forced trade and colonies
– Spheres of Influence only port cities were
allowed to trade with outsiders
The Portuguese
• Trade ties with China
• Jesuit missionaries helped emperors
revise calendar, gained great power
with imperial court
• Qing rulers became suspicious,
fearful of Jesuits’ intentions
The British
• Free trade ideas – Great Britain abolished
British East India Company’s monopoly on
trade with China
• The opium trade – Chinese demand for
cotton didn’t match British demand for tea;
British India exported opium to China, which
caused trade imbalance
• The Opium War – Chinese tried to forcibly
stop opium trade; Hong Kong went to British
rule
• More concessions – unequal treaties with
France and United States, foreign embassies
in Beijing
Rebellions
• Taiping Rebellion – caused
terrible destruction
• Christian and Muslim teachings
motivated more revolts
China and Europeans
• Question:
• What products were traded among
India, Great Britain, and China?
China and Europeans
tea
India
opium
Great
Britain
opium
silver
China
Review
• 1. Why did Chinese and Japanese efforts
to maintain isolation fail in the 1800s?
• 2. How did attitudes about foreigners
affect trade in China?
• 3. What was the result of the Qing
dynasty’s inability to provide services and
loss of control over bureaucratic
corruption?
• Writing assignment: Write an essay
describing the positive and negative
effects of exploration and colonization
upon Europe and the world.