Transcript Classical China - Early High School

Classical China
Confucius
I. Dynastic Cycles
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History of classical China is cyclical
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A family of kings ruled for a time, weakened, then
was overthrown
The dynastic cycles of the Classical Era
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The Zhou (1029 to 258 B.C.E.)
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The Qin (221 to 202 B.C.E.)
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The Han (202 B.C.E. To 220 C.E.)
II. Zhou Dynasty
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Never established a strong central government
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Feudalism
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Ruled through regional princes and noble families
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counted on loyalty of nobles to control population
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Nobles exchanged loyalty, taxes, and troops for land
and power
Accomplishments:
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Expansion S. to Yangtze R.
Area between 2 Rivers called
“Middle Kingdom”
Developed idea of “Mandate of Heaven”
II. Zhou cont.
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Encouraged cultural unity
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Discouraged “primitive” religious ideas
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Promoted a unified language – Mandarin
Decline 402 – 201 B.C.E. - Era of the Warring States
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Nobles formed independent armies, fought over territory,
forced Zhou leaders from power
III. The Qin Dynasty
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Shi Huangdi – First Emperor
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Unified all regions under the name China
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A brutal tyrant, used military might to take control
Took control of Feudal estates by appointing leaders who
took over for noble/aristocratic families
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Leaders picked from non-aristocratic families
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Expansion South to Hong Kong/Vietnam
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The Great Wall (North expansion)
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3000 miles long
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Built to repel invaders
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Built using forced labor
The Great Wall with
Towers
III. Qin continued...
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Innovations
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Standardized coins, weights, and measures
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Completely standardized written script
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Completed new irrigation projects
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Promoted manufacturing – silk cloth
Burned/banned many texts – prevent
criticism/opposing ways of thinking
Peasant revolts due to high taxes and oppressive
tactics brought end to dynasty
Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta
Army
Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta
Army
IV. The Han Dynasty
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Retained the centralized gov't of Qin Dynasty
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Reduced oppressive laws
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Expanded empire – central Asia, Korea, S.E. Asia
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Ruler Wu Ti (140-87 BCE) long era of peace
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Government was improved thanks to formal
training
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Creation of a bureaucracy – trained government
officials
Confucianism promoted throughout China
Decline: Central control weakened through
expansion and invasions
WARM UP PRACTICE
1. As opposed to earlier dynasties, the Han:
a. allowed regional rulers to maintain most of their
control
b. relied on a massive bureaucracy to control their
empire
c. were intolerant of Confucian ideals
d. readily accepted Buddhism as the religion of the
empire
e. elevated merchants to a high social status
2. One of the most important political legacies of the
Zhou Dynasty in Ancient China is
a. A written law code
b. The establishment of a theocracy
c. The tradition of having two rulers instead of one
d. Participation by citizens in the decision-making
process
e. The mandate of heaven
V. POLITICAL TRADITIONS
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Classical China was the largest political system
in the world that outlasted Empires
Zhou dynasty = strong local governments/rulers
– Tight patriarchal family units/ancestor
worship led to control
Qin dynasty = strong unified society/government
– Established a single law code
– Uniform tax system
– All leaders appointed by central authority
directly
V. POLITICS CONTINUED...
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Han dynasty = perfecting the bureaucracy (large
skilled class of government workers)
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Required leaders to take a civil service test
Elite School created for training
Many from the lower class became bureaucrats
keeping upper class in check
Classical China established many lasting gov't
traditions:
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Judicial system
Organized military
Scientific research
Historical record keeping
Public Works (wall, canals, irrigation, granaries)
VI. RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY
Confucius (551-478 B.C.E.)
– Lived during the Zhou Dynasty
– Promoted the studying and
teaching of history and moral
character
– Believed in social order, harmony,
and good government
– Five basic relationships:
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1. ruler and subject
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2. father and son
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3. husband and wife
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4. older brother and younger brother
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5. friend and friend
VI. CONTINUED...
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Code of conduct regulated these relationships
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Example: rulers should be kind, subjects
should be loyal
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Rules presented in The Analects
Stressed importance of respect for one's family
Ideas about government
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Taught the importance of training and
educating government leaders (bureaucracy)
Confucianism not a religion but is the foundation
for Chinese government and social order
VI. CONTINUED...
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Legalism
– Founded during the Qin Dynasty
– Believed in a powerful, authoritative
government to control naturally selfish humans
– Use force, not reason/respect for others, to gain
control
– Good citizens rewarded well, disobedient citizens
punished harshly
– Education and philosophy strictly controlled and
discouraged by the government
VI. CONTINUED...
Daoism
– Loazi, founder in the sixth century B.C.E.
– A spiritual alternative to Confucianism
– Natural order – relationships among all living
things
– A universal force (Dao) guides all things
– Live simply and in harmony with nature
– Stressed humility and frugal living
VII. SOCIAL STRUCTURE
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Social classes
– Upper class: landowning nobles, educated
bureaucrats (mandarins)
– Middle class: artisans & peasants
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Much poorer than upper class
– Lower class: “mean” people (unskilled laborers;
included performers)
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Lowest possible status, punished more
severely
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Identified by green scarves
– Very few household slaves (not for production)
VII. CONTINUED...
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Family life
– Emphasis on family unity
– Patriarchal - husbands and fathers at the
head of family
– Confucian belief: “There are no wrongdoing
parents”
– Women were subordinate
– Oldest male child would inherit property
and social status
VIII. ECONOMY
Agricultural society
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Rice and wheat the main commodities
Trade
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Mostly within China, through Silk Trade Route gave
some outside contact
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Silk, jewelry, leather goods, furniture
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Society did not hold merchants in high regard (lasting
legacy of Classical China)
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More respect for learning and political service
Technological advances
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Harnesses that allowed animals
to pull carts and wagons
without choking
Ox-drawn plows
Iron tools
Paper