Believed people were only fully civilized if they learned Chinese language and adopted Chinese customs
Invaders eventually lost identities and were absorbed into China’s population
ANCIENT CHINESE CIVILIZATION
Section 1: Geographic and Cultural Influences
Ancient Chinese civilization flourished from 1500 BC to AD 589
Four major dynasties existed during this time: Shang Zhou Qin Han
First dynasty Strengthened their rule by introducing
irrigation and flood control systems Used war chariots and bronze weapons to
defend kingdom’s borders Economy based on agriculture
Caravans returned to China with gold, silver, and wool
Fell to nomadic people around AD 220
A Chinese general reunified China in AD 581
The Silk Road
God chose rulers Local leaders fought amongst themselves One of the Warring States, the Qin, took over
as rulers
Qin Dynasty
Came to power through military force, around 221 BC
Chinese Writing
• Chinese writing has been found dating back to the Shang Dynasty, around 1200 BC. Writing was originally done on oracle bones, usually turtle shells or ox scapulae. Bones with writing were put in the fire and the cracks formed were used to answer questions as a form of “fortune telling.”
Lasted only 15 years Name “China” comes from Qin Established autocracy – emperor held total
power Forced people to build Great Wall of China Discontent caused a rebel army to overthrow
China developed isolated from India and the West: Farther away, rugged mountains, and harsh deserts
Influenced by fewer other cultures than any other ancient civilization
government
The Han Empire
Trade prospered along Silk Road
Stretched from China across central Asia to Mediterranean region
Camel caravans carried jade, silk, and paper to Greeka
Chinese legend tells of Yu, a mythological figure who drained away floodwaters so people could live in China
Yu established a line of kings called the Xia The Xia rule over the region starting in about 2200
• Writing was eventually done on bronze and later paper.
• Writing was standardized during the Qin dynasty (221 BC).
• Today, educated Chinese people know about 4000 characters.
Considered nomads to the north and west to be culturally inferior
Called themselves the “Middle Kingdom”
Thought they were the center of world
Strong sense of identity and superiority
Three major rivers:
Yellow River Yangtze River Xi River
Geography:
The Yellow River has been nicknamed “China’s Sorrow” because of many devastating floods
The Terra-Cotta Warriors - YouTube
Han Dynasty
In power for 400 years Many Chinese today call themselves “People
of Han” Empire larger than the Roman Empire Established a civil service system to run
It represents the emperor’s ability to control the resources of the newly unified China.
It also shows his attempt to recreate and maintain that empire in the afterlife.
Continuously battled warlike neighboring states
Military was finally exhausted Overthrown by Zhou dynasty in 1050 BC
Zhou Dynasty
Longest-lasting dynasty No centralized government Believed in “Mandate of Heaven”
the empire – founded Han dynasty
Great Wall of China
Terracotta Army
The terracotta army is located in the tomb of the first Qin Dynasty ruler Shihuangdi
BC The developed agriculture and used written
symbols They lacked methods to control irrigation and
floods
Shang Dynasty
Swept into Yellow River valley between 1750 – 1500 BC