Ancient China Study Sheet Rise of Civilizations in China Chinese depended on rivers for irrigation and transportation.

n. Valued people with the ability to control floods and develop irrigation systems/devotion to duty Long distances and physical barriers isolated China Tian Shan desert and Himalaya mountains in W/SW blocked movement of ppl Rainforests in SE Gobi Desert in N, Taklamakan in W Tibetan Plateau in W Pacific Ocean in E Traded to Middle East and beyond Rivers = Yellow (irrigation projects to prevent flooding), Yangtze, Pearl Yellow Sea separates China from Korea peninsula and Yellow River feeds into it East China sea in the East Called China the Middle Land Settled in Yellow River Valley Most people were absorbed into the Chinese civilization Settled there b/c of the excellent soil (loess yellow silt) Loess was light and didnt need heavy animals to carry Fertile land = lots of food in very small spaces Long, dry grass could be used as fuel Shang Dynasty 1766 BC 1122BC (first Chinese dynasty w/ solid evidence) Capital Anyang Had large palaces and tombs for rulers. Kings didnt control most of the land Local nobles/princes governed Heads of important clans/groups of families Noble women may have had considerable status Social Class Royal family/noble warriors on top Artisans and merchants next Majority were peasants living in farming villages Zhou Dynasty came from western frontier and overthrew Shang 1122BC 256BC Introduced idea of Mandate of Heaven the last ruler had ruled harshly and made god angry, passed the Mandate of Heaven to people who treated others well. Later had a dynastic cycle good govt became corrupt, (natural catastrophes were signs of a bad ruler), Heaven withdrew support and another ruler seized control Had Feudalism as well nobles/ lords ruled the area. Owed military service and support to the ruler

 600BC economy grew as ironworking reached China. More food produced w/ new tools Started using money and made trade easier New roads and canals were built Increase in pop. Became too large, wealthy and developed Rulers were too weak to control feudal lords Had savaged wars b4 ruler united them all Shang prayed to gods and nature spirits Shang Di was the supreme god and the king would be the only link b/t mortals and Shang Di Had ancestor worship and sacrificed food/necessities Also had oracle bones would answer the questions of the ruler Zhou Dynasty had 2 major belief systems Confucianism (Confucius) and Daoism (Laozi) Shang and Zhou Achievements Advanced in astronomy made accurate calendar Made bronze weapons and discovered how to make silk Established a system of writing (oldest had been found on oracle bones where the shell/bone was heated and the pattern was interpreted) and each was different stroke Zhou created first books out of strips of wood and paper Era of Warring States 481 BC 221BC Qin Dynasty Zheng reunited after 20yrs of division 221BC 206BC 247BC 13 yr old became ruler and became supreme ruler in 221BC Declared himself Shih Huang Di (First Emperor)in 221BC Ruled with Legalism very harsh against people who opposed his views (mainly feudal and Confucian scholars) Ideas were despised, but lasted for hundreds of yrs Qin grew as they conquered new land and food production (thru irrigation/flood control) increased (got paycheck thru peasants) Goal was to strengthen military (warriors had highest status) Burned all writings about topics that are controversial Feudalism was abolished and states were replaced w/ 36 districts Loyal officials ministered them Noble land distributed to peasants and had to pay taxes to support govt Standardized weights, measurements, coins, Chinese writing system (simplified), and roads and canals Burned all but one copy of Confucian classics and 460 Confucian scholars were killed Great Wall was constructed (states used to have individual walls and all were joined) Thousands of laborers worked for yrs on wall 25ft tall Extended and rebuilt over many centuries Had a tomb with life size clay terracotta army (real weapons and subterranean palace where he was supposed to spend all of eternity in)

 Collapse Shih Huang Di died in 210BC Had lots of taxes and labor and cruel policies Collapsed in 206BC when Gao Zu (illiterate peasant) took control Harsh rule, but Han was able to rule easier b/c of that Han Dynasty 202BC 220AD Liu Bang was early Han emperor and capital was Changan (scholars ruled) Confucian scholars were appointed as officials WuDi was most famous emperor strengthened govt and econ. From 141BC-87BC Set up university to train the scholars Lowered taxes and got rid of legalism Improved canals and roads and set up granaries so the govt could buy and sell when grain was abundant/scarce Reorganized finances and govt had control over iron and salt Expanded borders and drove nomadic people past great wall Silk Road was open network of trade routes Linked China to the west and stretched 4000 miles Confucians scholars selected thru civil service exams tested on 5 Classics and Analects Anyone could be an official Tested on 5 classics by Confucius Women were excluded from govt jobs Lasted until 1912 However, they didnt really take into account the relationship portion of Confucianism continued to rule thru punishments and military authority Family = center of Confucian values Daoism and Confucianism overlapped here Daoism provides escape from self control Accepted Daoist idea of not to seek fights and to be a good leader by following natures energy, delegate authority, war was bad Advances in science and medicine started using scientific proof instead of religion Invented paper using wood pulp Advances in shipbuilding, suspension bridges, etc Art advancements jade, ivory, ceramic Buddhism introduced in 100AD, but didnt spread until 400AD Undermined emperors couldnt control local military rulers and the peasants revolted due to high taxes Sui Dynasty 589AD 618AD Tang 618AD 907AD Golden Age Ruled for a time by woman Wu Zhao

 China divided for about 400yrs after Han Farming improved, technology improved, cities survived even though Rome collapsed Li Yuan first emperor of Tang and old emperor of Sui He and his son crushed rivals and Tang Taizong took over his father after 8yrs Became most admired emperor People came to Tang capital to learn about govt, law, art Flexible laws and schools prepared people for exams Distributed land to peasants and decreased power of landowners Gentry and peasantry were 2 main social classes Eventually weakened later emperors lost territory to Arabs Corruption, high taxes, drought, famine, rebellions 907AD overthrew last Tang emperor by rebel general Song dynasty 960AD 1279AD Wealth and culture dominated (military didnt) Econ expanded improved farming, rice imported from SE Asia, surpluses of food Tang and Song trade flourished and had paper money Song and Tang Head = emperor Gentry scholar official class wealthy and could afford studying for exams Value learning more than labor and supported Confucian thoughts Peasantry live on what they produce Lived in villages and kept to themselves Could move up thru edu. And govt services (entire family moves up) Merchants had lowest status b/c they gained wealth thru labors of others Women had higher status in Tang ran family households and managed being wife and mom In late Song, had foot binding and could barely walk so they mostly stayed inside Poetry, painting and calligraphy imp. for gentry class (balance b/t strokesand Song captured spiritual essence) Buddhism influenced China many sculptures and architecture Confucius Confucianism Social changes and war disrupt life/How to behave 551BC 479BC (born into chaotic period w/ unwedded mom) Had miserable childhood full of loss/death, but was very dedicated to education and public service Felt that educated people has responsibility to be part of govt and take action Taught both rich and poor Wasnt a very good public servant and many govt disregarded his teachings only advised 1 ruler before being humiliated into leaving b/c he had high standards of conduct. (once banished from home state b/c his ideas were considered dangerous) Spent 13 yrs wandering and looking around Died thinking he had failed returned after being banished, but lived obscurely

 Spread wisdom Wanted to become local ruler, but couldnt find a permanent govt position Few princes/kingdoms listened to him talk about the right person to rule Became a teacher, but never wrote down ideas students collected them. Wasnt interested in spiritual matters more in philosophy and system of ideas concerning social order and good govt. (dont even know about life on earth yet) Teachings 5 key relationships Ruler to subject, husband to wife, parent to child, elder bro to younger bro, friend to friend (strangers should be govt job) Only friend to friend relationship is equal Superior sets examples to inferior Correct behavior will equal order and stability Filial Piety Respect to parents most important relationship inside family (5 relationships + filial piety = harmony in society Ren and li dont need to have both at the same time Ren = appropriate feelings toward someone Li = civility/politeness actions a person performs Not born knowing how to do everything in every relationship must be taught (depending on your status) Honesty, hard work, compassion, rule by good example, educated men should rule Had Influence in later times Relied on ideas and chose Confucian scholars as officials Introduced yin and yang (balance b/t dark and light) Almost 1/3 of world under Confucian influence Superior Leader = Chunzi (the ideal leader) Should want to do whats right and dont do it for the money itself Shouldnt be worried about status Point out the good in people No one born a leader everyone has the potential to become good leader Good rulers rule by moral example and not by force/law Daoism Laozi (who may have not existed) Lived around time of Confucian, but never had as much fame Ideas go way back mostly from wise old men yrs and yrs ago Focused on harmony with nature didnt like unnatural Dao The Way and source of all life and energy but never gets exhausted (those who know of it dont speak of it) Thought the less government interfered, the better Wrote the Way of Virtue Gods and goddesses/magical practices were later added

 Had yin and yang darkness and light, nature and humans, balance to make a whole Taught Relax and allow things to sort themselves out Governments are useless Look within universe to find Dao Humans arent sure what is real and what is imaginary Refuse to fight = no losing Bend to be stronger being too rigid will snap Is religious and not just a philosophy people make it less complex and more simple than it actually is Too many comparisons to Legalism/Confucianism Can't separate into philosophy and religion b/c it has philosophical features but is still a religion Laotze could actually be a myth It changes over time as any other religion Legalism Man is born evil and goodness is acquired Greed = most motive for actions/conflicts of people Only achieve order thru strict law and punishments (power = order) Strength is rulers greatest virtue and only rulers can possess power Well Meaning and ineffective teachers shouldnt be in govt (opposed Confucianism) Daoist dropouts unfit to rule Should have one all powerful central govt people too ignorant and selfish to know whats best for them Effective in establishing control, but there was a lot of hatred