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ChinaChinas Flourishing Civilizations Flourishing Civilization

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Chinas Geography

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Map of ChinaMap of China

What topographical features are presentWhat topographical features are present

and notand not--present on this map wouldpresent on this map wouldinfluence Chinainfluence Chinas development?s development?

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Major River SystemsMajor River Systems

Ancient China had twoAncient China had two

major river systemsmajor river systems::

Huang He which isalso known as the

Yellow River

Yangtze which is also

known as the ChangJiang .

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The Huang He River system

3,000 miles long

Empties into the Yellow Sea

Ancient Chinese civilization

began along this river Provides fertile soil and an

abundance food Formerly known as the river

of sorrow

Why did it get such a name?Why did it get such a name?

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The Yangtze River System

Longest in China and the third longest river in the

world - 3, 964 miles long.

The river passes through some of China's best farmland

and many of its towns and villages.

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Ancient ChinaAncient Chinas Topographys Topography

Topographical features

that lead to isolation:

- Gobi Desert: one of thedriest in the world

enter and you shall neverreturn!

- - Plains: Only about

12% of China's land is

plains; most of that is in

the eastern part ofChina.

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ChinaChinas Topographical Featuress Topographical Features

- Himalayas: 43% of Chinas land ismountainous!

-Tibetan Plateau: very isolated region even

today!

TibetanTibetan

PlateauPlateau

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Impact of ChinaImpact of Chinas Geographys Geography

How would isolation help a country?

What other great ancient civilizations were isolated?

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Impact of ChinaImpact of Chinas Geographys Geography

1. Long distances and physical

barriers isolated China,

blocking cultural diffusion

2. Protecting China from

invasion

3. Isolation contributed to the

Chinese belief that Chinawas the center of the earthand the only civilization.

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Timeline of ChinaTimeline of Chinass

Earliest DynastiesEarliest Dynasties

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The Mystery Dynasty: XiaThe Mystery Dynasty: Xia

For many years, the Xia (shee-uh) Dynasty was thought to be a part

of a myth that the Chinese tell as part of their history.

The Xia Dynasty was in oral histories, but no archaeological

evidence was found of it until 1959.

Xia Dynasty (2205Xia Dynasty (2205--1806 B.C.)1806 B.C.)

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Evidence finally uncoveredEvidence finally uncovered

Despite this new

archaeological evidenceof the Xia, they are not

universally accepted as a

true dynasty.

Xia Dynasty (2205Xia Dynasty (2205--1806 B.C.)1806 B.C.)

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Evidence finally uncoveredEvidence finally uncovered

The founding of the Xia

dynasty (2200-1766 BCE),

according to Chinese

tradition, reveals the value the

Chinese have put on

leadership

Xia Yu, the founder of the Xia

dynasty, was selected as the

heir to the throne because he

was able to control the Great

Flood that had afflicted the

Chinese for several years.

Reading: Yu the Great

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Selected By AchievementSelected By Achievement

Xia Yu was selected as theheir to the throne because he

was able to control the GreatFlood that had afflicted theChinese for several years.

Even though he was not

the son of the Emperor andeven though his own fatherhad been executedbecausehe could not control theflood.

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Daily LifeDaily Life

1.The Xia were agrarian people

2.The ruling families used elaborate and

dramatic rituals to confirm their power to

govern.3.The rulers often acted as shamans,

communicating with spirits for help andguidance.

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Was He the Last Emperor???Was He the Last Emperor??? Xia Jie was the last

emperor of the Xia

Dynasty. As a hedonist &a notorious tyrant, the

people under his reign

were driven into greatdisaster.

He ordered 3,000 to theirdeaths by demanding they

jump into a lake of wine,

just for entertainment!

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Xia Dynasty Banished!

At last, a fuedal

lord namedShang Tang led

the peopleagainst this

tyrant andbanished him

from the

capital. Shang Tang

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Chinese civilizationtook shape under

the

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty

1650 B.C.1650 B.C.1027 B.C.1027 B.C.What is needed to have a civilization?What is needed to have a civilization?

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Oracle InscriptionsOracle Inscriptions

Writing had begunWriting had begun

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The Shang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty

First writing system:

The first dynasty inChina according towritten records is theShang completewriting system!

However, few inChina would learn toread and write!

Writing of the Shangon a tortoise shell.

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Chinese WritingChinese Writing

Chi Ci ili i k h dChi Ci ili ti t k h d

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Chinese Civilization took shape underChinese Civilization took shape under


Many Chinese were

accomplished artisansand artists

Most advancedMost advanced

bronze workers inbronze workers inthe ancient world!the ancient world!

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A class system and

division of labordeveloped during this

dynasty:nobles, artisans, peasant

farmers and slaves

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MoreMore ShangShangContributionsContributions

Discovery of tin &

copper

Bronze weapons are

cast.

Horse-drawn chariotsare used.

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Shang ContributionsShang Contributions

Cowries shells (snails

which inhabit the

Pacific and IndianOcean) served as

money before bronzecoins were produced.

Silk thread isinvented! Loved by

the world, even to

today,Cowries ShellsCowries Shells

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Silk Making and the Silk Road!Silk Making and the Silk Road!

Discovered how to makesilk thread. Silk becameChinas most valuable

export. Trade route to theMiddle East became knownas Silk Road. Europeans

prized the porcelain andspices of China also!

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The Silk RoadThe Silk Road

Sh A tSh A t

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Shang ArtShang Art

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Downfall of the Shang DynastyDownfall of the Shang Dynasty

Slave revolt in 1122B.C. led to downfall

of Shang dynasty

Shang kings

eventually overtakenby the Wu, whoseZhou dynasty ruled

China for 800 years

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Zhou Dynasty MapZhou Dynasty Map

Zhou DynastyZhou Dynasty

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(1027 B.C.(1027 B.C.256 B.C.)256 B.C.)

Great advances in technologyand their economy and

commerce grew.

Developed trade routes

Population increased. First official coins in China;

unique shape, meaning?

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The First BooksThe First Books Zhou DynastyZhou Dynasty

Made the first books from wood or bamboo.

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Remembered fortechnological

advances:

the crossbow, the

cavalry, iron plows,and irrigation and

flood systems. Iron becomes very

important to theirculture.

Feudal Life

During the

Zhou Dynasty

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Established afeudal state; 260

years helps bringon Confusicism.

The belief in theMandate ofHeaven became

an establishedpractice during this

dynasty.

Feudal Life

During the

Zhou Dynasty

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Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

1. Chinese believedrulers governedaccording toMandate of Heaven

2. Allowed rulers toremain in power aslong as they were

just and effective3. Religion influencing

the government

HOW?

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The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall ofdynasties.

The Dynastic Cycle in ChinaThe Dynastic Cycle in China

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ChinaChinas Oldest Dynasties!s Oldest Dynasties!

Is there something missing from that list?

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Qin DynastyQin Dynasty

Shi Huangdi wipedout the Zhou andconquered northernChina uniting undercentral government Defeats all thefeudal lords andcreates an empire!

QQin Dynastyin Dynasty

ReadingReading

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Qin DynastyQin Dynasty

The First Emperor,

Qin Shihuangdi,standardized

society: weights

and measures,

coins, writing,

and law

QQin Dynastyin Dynasty

ReadingReading

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Public Works ProjectsPublic Works Projects

Dominated the Qin DynastyDominated the Qin DynastyMany public works projects were also

undertaken:1. A Great Wall was built in the north, to

protect against invasions.

2. Roads and irrigation canals were builtthroughout the country.

3. Developed farmlands the size of the stateof Connecticut enough to feed the peopleand a large army.

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Strict Social Classes unlessStrict Social Classes unless

The lower class malescould raise their statusby the number of headsthey cut off for theemperor!

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Though his methods were brutal,Though his methods were brutal,

Shi Huangdi ushered in ChinaShi Huangdi ushered in Chinassclassical ageclassical age..

This period is called aclassical civilization because

it set patterns in government,philosophy, religion, science,

and the arts that served asthe framework for later

cultures.

H Did Shi H di U it Chi ?

H Did Shi H di U it Chi ?How Did Shi Huangdi Unite China?

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How Did Shi Huangdi Unite China?How Did Shi Huangdi Unite China?How Did Shi Huangdi Unite China?

1. He replaced feudal states with military districtsgoverned by loyal officials.

2. He sent spies to report on local officials.

3. He forced noble families to live in his capital sohe could monitor them.

4. He jailed, tortured, and killed those whoopposed his rule.

5. He had all books of philosophy and literatureburned.

6. He standardized weights & measures.

7. He connected the various parts of the Great

Wall and expanded it.

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The Tomb of Shi HuangdiThe Tomb of Shi Huangdi Ascending to the throne

of his clan, the Qin, at the

age of 13 in 246 BCE Shi Huangdi immediatelybegan construction of

his extraordinarymausoleum which wascompleted soon after his

death in 210 BCE, 36 years after the workcommenced

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The Tomb of Shi HuangdiThe Tomb of Shi Huangdi

Located approximately 30 km

outside of the present-day capital,

X'ian (called Chang'an in ancient

times

The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi

remains a symbol of the infinite

power and ego of China's firstEmperor.

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Shi H di A G i t thShi H di A G i t th

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Shi Huangdi Army Going to theShi Huangdi Army Going to the

Afterlife with Him!Afterlife with Him!

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Terra Cotta SoldiersTerra Cotta Soldiers

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Archer from the tombArcher from the tombof Shi Huangdiof Shi Huangdi

Archer fromArcher from

the Backthe Back

DetailsDetails

C l T b f Shi H diC l T b f Shi H di

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Cavalryman, Tomb of Shi HuangdiCavalryman, Tomb of Shi Huangdi

Watch a video segment from:Watch a video segment from:Treasure! Tomb o the Terra Cotta WarriorsTreasure! Tomb o the Terra Cotta Warriors

Early Chinese Life

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Early Chinese Life

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BibliographyBibliography1. http://www.central.k12.ca.us/akers/dynasty.html

2. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/map/map.html

3. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/xia.html

4. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/timeline.html5. http://www.yutopian.com/arts/xia/hfigure.html

6. http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/china/chicowryreal.jpg

7. http://www.central.k12.ca.us/akers/religions.html

8. http://www.brandongallery.com/category.asp?Tag=19. http://international.tamu.edu/ipa/english/quake/relic/rlc03.html

10. http://complit.la.psu.edu/chinese/studWork/The%20Great%20Wall%20of%20China.ppt

11. http://international.tamu.edu/ipa/english/quake/relic/rlc03.html12. http://www.sandiego-online.com/forums/chinese/htmls/music.htm

13. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/confucianism/index.htm

14. http://www.edepot.com/taointro.html

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AncChina10-2005