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    Chinese Dynasties2

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    Ancient China began around 4000 BC along the Yellow River valley. Early Chinese civilizations made remarkable achievements in areas like astronomy, bronzework, silk production, and a complex writing system. The first dynasties included the Shang and the Zhou, which established concepts like the Mandate of Heaven. The Qin unified China in 221 BC and built the first Great Wall. Subsequent dynasties like the Han and Tang saw advancements in culture, technology, and infrastructure through innovations like the Grand Canal and movable type printing. However, periods of disunity and foreign invasions also occurred. The Great Wall was expanded under later dynasties like the Ming to protect against invaders from the north.

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    Chinese Dynasties2

    Uploaded by

    api-299074129
    192 views51 pages
    Ancient China began around 4000 BC along the Yellow River valley. Early Chinese civilizations made remarkable achievements in areas like astronomy, bronzework, silk production, and a complex writing system. The first dynasties included the Shang and the Zhou, which established concepts like the Mandate of Heaven. The Qin unified China in 221 BC and built the first Great Wall. Subsequent dynasties like the Han and Tang saw advancements in culture, technology, and infrastructure through innovations like the Grand Canal and movable type printing. However, periods of disunity and foreign invasions also occurred. The Great Wall was expanded under later dynasties like the Ming to protect against invaders from the north.

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    Ancient China began around 4000 BC along the Yellow River valley. Early Chinese civilizations made remarkable achievements in areas like astronomy, bronzework, silk production, and a complex writing system. The first dynasties included the Shang and the Zhou, which established concepts like the Mandate of Heaven. The Qin unified China in 221 BC and built the first Great Wall. Subsequent dynasties like the Han and Tang saw advancements in culture, technology, and infrastructure through innovations like the Grand Canal and movable type printing. However, periods of disunity and foreign invasions also occurred. The Great Wall was expanded under later dynasties like the Ming to protect against invaders from the north.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    192 views51 pages

    Chinese Dynasties2

    Uploaded by

    api-299074129
    Ancient China began around 4000 BC along the Yellow River valley. Early Chinese civilizations made remarkable achievements in areas like astronomy, bronzework, silk production, and a complex writing system. The first dynasties included the Shang and the Zhou, which established concepts like the Mandate of Heaven. The Qin unified China in 221 BC and built the first Great Wall. Subsequent dynasties like the Han and Tang saw advancements in culture, technology, and infrastructure through innovations like the Grand Canal and movable type printing. However, periods of disunity and foreign invasions also occurred. The Great Wall was expanded under later dynasties like the Ming to protect against invaders from the north.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 51

    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.

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