Ancient China

ANCIENT CHINA
Great Wall
Began 2000 B.C.
Mandate of
Heaven
Dynasties
Silk
astronomy

As in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and along the Indus

River, Chinese civilization began within a major
river valley. Modern China itself is a huge
geographical expanse. Around 4000 BC, this huge
area contained an almost infinite number of ethnic
groups and languages. This history, in which a vast
area populated by diverse ethnic groups became,
over time, a more or less single culture, began in
the Yellow River Valley.

Yellow River Civilization

Ancient China was
formed around the
Yellow River.
The color yellow
symbolized
centrality, as in
China is the center
of the world.

Chinese accomplishments
The Chinese made
remarkable
achievements in
astronomy and
bronzework, learned
to make silk and
create books, and
developed a complex
system of writing

Chinese invented silk

Silk was exotic and
expensive, so it was good
for trading with the rest of
the world.
It is made from silk worms.
Silk also makes paper
The Chinese kept the
process of making silk
secret for hundreds of years
which kept the price up.
A silk maker would be under
the threat of death if he told
how it was made.

Silk worm is really a caterpillar that will turn into a moth.

It forms a cocoon out of silk to turn into a moth.
If its allowed to hatch it will put a hole in the silk.
Because of this, the cocoons are boiled or baked to kill
the
caterpillar
and
the
silk
is
harvested.
It takes about 1,000 silk worms to make one shirt.

Other Inventions
The Chinese also invented the umbrella
between 400-300 BC
They were the first to fly kites more than
2,000 years ago
A man named Chuko Liang invented
the wheelbarrow before 200 BCE
Fireworks and gunpowder.

Shang (1722 - 1100 BCE)

First recorded Dynasty (Xia no written records)
Ruled by aristocracy
First Chinese cities, center of
court life
Developed writing, worked
with bronze, created silk
Worshipped ancestors, used
oracle bones
Shang tyrant emperor
overthrown

Western Zhou (1100 - 771 BCE)

Longest lasting Chinese Dynasty 2 periods
Zhou defeated the Shang and took control
Did not tightly control their territory, instead it was
divided into many walled towns with a local king.
The kings called themselves The Sons of Heaven
beginning of the mandate of heaven.
Built roads, expanded trade, made agricultural
advancements

Eastern Zhou (771 - 256 BCE)

771 The Zhou capital is sacked by barbarians and a
new capital is established.
The Zhou continued to rule but their power
weakened.
Decline: Inefficient rulers cant control fighting
between city-states
Period of Warring States
Taoism and Confucianism introduced
Legalism introduced as well Passing strict laws was
the best way to maintain order.
Iron used to make farm tools.
Middle class of farmers gained power.

The warring states (403-221 BCE)

Zhou still technically in charge but its
influence is very weak.
There were 200 city-states in China at
this time. Each one had their own
government and own army.
They fought each other so much that the
Zhou collapsed in 256, leaving 7 large
states in its place

Qin (221 - 207 BCE)

Qin She Huanshi Conquered all the warring
states and unified China under one ruler.
Declared himself the only emperor of China.
Adopted Legalism and governed with strict laws
Standardized currency, language, a system of
writing, weights and measures and laws
Built first Great Wall The wall was built

Qin (221 - 207 BCE)

Brutal ruler - executed
dissenters, burned
books
Searched for eternal life
Died in 210 BC - dynasty
falls after his death
Has the Terracotta Army
watching over him.

The Terracotta Army

Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing
the Terracotta Army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130
chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the
majority of which remained buried in the pits nearby Qin
Shi Huanshis mausoleum. His tomb has not been
excavated.
The soldiers have different ranks and their faces are all
unique.

The Great Wall of the Quin little

remains

Han (206 BCE - 8 CE)

Liu Pang declares himself first Han emperor.
Have much more relaxed laws and ruled in a gentle
manner.
Confucianism became the official belief system of
China.
Introduced civil service examination (scholar gentry)
Silk Roads developed and opened trade for the
Chinese. Contact with Europeans.
China would not tell how silk was made.

Han (202 BCE - 221 CE)

Buddhism introduced, paper invented
Great increase in population, land holdings
Added to the Great Wall
Decline
Nomadic raiders
Corruption, weak leaders
Collapse of bureaucracy

Great Wall of the Han

221 - 581 (CE)

Warlords control china - no centralized
govt
Non-Chinese nomads control much of
China
Buddhism becomes popular Confucianism failed

Sui (581 - 618 CE)

Completed Grand
Canal
High taxes, forced
labor
Military failures
(couldnt conquer
Korea)
Assassination ends
dynasty

Tang (618 - 907 CE)

High point of Chinese culture
Rebuilt bureaucracy
Examination system
Confucian education
Limited social mobility

Buddhism supported, then oppressed

Invention of movable print, porcelain,
gun powder (to fight the Mongols)

Tang (618 - 907 CE)

Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese
history
Decline
Weak emperors, nomadic incursions,
economic difficulties
Warlords take control

Song (969 - 1279 CE)

Large centralized bureaucracy (NeoConfucian)
Mercantile class grows, increased trade
Magnetic compass, growing sea power
Weak military

Yuan (1279 - 1368 CE)

Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China
Economic stability and prosperity
China more open to trade and travel (Marco
Polo)
Ignored Chinese traditions, replaced
bureaucrats with non-Chinese
Unsuccessful attacks on Japan, corruption
weakens dynasty
Peasant rebellion ends Yuan

Ming (1368 - 1644 CE)

Tried to erase all signs of Mongols
Reinstated civil service, Confucian
scholars
Eunuchs play growing role (Zheng He) resented by scholar gentry
Rebuilt and extended Great Wall
Majority of the existing wall is from this
time.
Collapsed after famines and riots

Great Wall of the Ming 5,500 miles. It is

believed with all of its branches that it is
more than 13,000 miles long.