Ancient China Review

Himalayas - The Himalaya Mountains in the southwest of China helps isolate from other countries.- This isolation allowed China to develop its own culture without influence from other civilizations. Huang He River - Major river in the North of China- The Huang He river is called the Yellow River because of the yellow tint it gets from the fertile yellow soil called loess.- Chinese Civilization began around the Huang He River valley - Helped isolate China from other civilizations Chang River - Major river in the South of China - The Chang River is as called the Yangtze River.- Helped isolate China from other civilizations Loess - Loess is a loamy deposit formed by wind, usually yellowish and calcareous- The Huang He River is called the yellow river because of the loess in it.Great Wall Of China- The Great wall of China is numerous walls that were connected- Ordered to be built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang di- When finished it was about 1,500 miles long.- To protect themselves from the Nomads in the North, the Chinese built the Great Wall of China- Forced labor was used to build the Great Wall. Mongols - Mongols is the nomads in the north part of China- The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese from mongols. Mandate of Heaven - Belief that the god in heaven determined who should rule china- This is where the Emperors got their power to rule.- Chinese rulers were considered to be divine- Emperors were autocrats. They had absolute (total) power. Dynasty - Chinese rulers were hereditary.- The Mandate of Heaven was passed along in the same family for generations. Emperor - Emperor is a sovereign ruler of great power and ranks one ruling an empire.- Most Chinese emperor ruled over a Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi - The Great Wall Of China ordered to be by built Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi- Qin Shi Huangdi ruled by terror and spent massive amount of money to build extravagant palaces and his tomb. - a famous leader in the Qin Dynasty Xia Dynasty - Begin from 2200 B.C.E. to 1500 B.C.E - Famous Leader : Yu- Xia Dynasty, improved the agriculture- Xia Dynasty, developed 1st writing system(China's 1st writing system)- Major event.. Myth: - Flood waters are drained away to allow people to live in China- Decline is the Xia Dynasty because the Shang invade and convince the Xia people to turn on their leader. Shang Dynasty - Begin from 1500 B.C.E to 1100 B.C.E.- Famous Leaders: Tang & Di-Xin (last ruler)- Other Famous Leaders : Shangdi (God that control human destiny) - Shang Dynasty, created a bureaucracy- Shang Dynasty, developed Kaolin ( Pottery)- Shang Dynasty, Figured out the number of day in a year- Major event.... Arrival in China and overthrow of the Xia Dynasty around 1700 - 1500 B.C.E- Decline is the Shang Dynasty because it was over thrown by the Zhou Dynasty & smaller tribes Zhou Dynasty - Begin from 1100 B.C.E. to 256 B.C.E.- Famous Leader : King Yu (Bad Ruler) - Other Famous Leaders : Pao-Szu ( King Yu's mistress) - Zhou Dynasty, begin the concept of the mandate of heaven - Zhou Dynasty was longest lasting - Major Event... 771 B.C.E the capital city is destroyed by local leaders - Decline in Zhou Dynasty becaise weak kings beginning in the 700's lead to loss of control and by 400's warring states gain power Qin Dynasty - Begin from 221 B.C.E to 206 B.C.E.- Famous Leader : Cheng Shih Huang Ti (Qin Shi Huangdi)- Other Famous Leader: Liu Bang (Usurper)- Qin Dynasty, establishes an autocracy (Emperor has total power)- Qin Dynasty, had the great wall connected (built)- Major Event... Rebels form an army and revolt against Emperor Qin in 206 B.C.EDecline in Qin Dyansty because the use of forced labor angered many and caused a rebellion Han Dynasty - Begin 206 B.C.E To 220 C.E- Famous Leaders : Liu Bang ( King Han), Liu-Ch'e & Wu Ti - Han Dynasty, creates a civil service system and used exams used to find qualified employer - Han Dynasty, started leveling helped control the prite of food - Han Dynasty, created paper - Major Event... Longest Reign of on Emperor !04 B.C.E. to 87 B.C.E. that of WuTi ( a Women - Decline in Han Dynasty because nomadic invaders came to china and drove the dynasty out. Civil Service System - System that runs the day to day business of the g government- Had to take an exam to get a job as a civil servant. Civil Service Exams - Used for the civil service system - exams used to find qualified employer - A form of legacy of Confucianism Confucius - Confucianism was founded by K'ung-fu-tzu or as Westerners know him "Confucius"C- He lived from 551- 479 BCE- Confucius was a philosopher and teacher- Taught that harmony would result when people accepted their place in society- Confucius believed that everyone had a duties and responsibilities depending on their position in different relationships. Confucianism -Confucianism was founded by K'ung-fu-tzu or as "Confucius" - Confucianism is not concerned with issues of faith or life after death- Instead it is focused on social order and good government such as filial piety, 5 basic relationships, and Analects Characteristic of Confucianism - Confucianism placed a great deal of emphasis on education - Confucianism urges leaders to take the advice of educated, wise men... education would become the road to advancement in Chinese society- Never became a religion, but it has influenced Chinese government for centuries- Confucianism spread in the centuries after Confucius' death Analects - Analects is the teachings of Confucius written by his followers about 300 years after his death- Which helped spread Confucianism to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. 5 Basic Relationships The 5 Basic Relationships or Principles are ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife,older brother to younger brother and friend to friend (only relationship with equality)- Confucius believed that everyone had a duties and responsibilities depending on their position in different relationships.- Superiors should care for and set a good example for their inferiors, while inferiors should owed loyalty and obedience to their superiors.Silk Road- Trade route that Stretched from China's eastern coast all the way to Rome!- So called because, Silk was a major export of China over time (it was made no where else in the world until the Middle Ages)- Facilitated trade and communication, this interaction of different people through trade causes Cultural Diffusion Acupuncture - A Chinese Achievement- Acupuncture is the practice of placing needles into pressure points to improve circulation. Heals injuries and illness. Paper - A Chinese Achievement - The Chinese were the first people to make paper from wood pulp. Porcelain - A Chinese Achievement - Porcelain is A fragile, white, type of pottery. Usually decorated with elaborate scenes of daily life or mythology. Taoism - Founded by Lao Tzu- Focus is on oneness with nature.- Many people that follow Taoism turn away from the "unnatural ways" of society. (They become hermits)- Sacred text --> Dao De Jing "Book of Virtues" Characteristic of Taoism - Taoists believe that best government is the one that governs the least- According to Taoists the universe is full of opposing forces that balance one another ( Ying and Yang )- Over time the teachings of Lao Tzu changed and Taoism came to include the worship of gods and goddesses.- Peasants began to turn to mystical Taoist priests ,that practiced magic, to protect them from unseen forces.- Taoist priests practiced alchemy Lao Tzu - Founded Taoism- Mystical figure that we know little about, but is supposed to have lived about the same time as Confucius.- There was a natural balance to nature that humans upset because they fail to follow the Tao. Legalism - Founded By Han Fei- Based on the idea that people are by nature evil, and goodness is acquired (opposite view of Confucianism)- Called legalism because of its emphasis on law. Characteristic of Legalism - Legalism was the official policy of the Qin dynasty- Legalism supported the oppression of scholars- Discouraged analysis of the government by subjects"The prince was to govern, and the people to obey"- However, Emperor Qin's ruler were so cruel that later generations came to despise legalist principles. Han Fei - Founded Legalism - Han Fei felt that strength, not goodness, was a ruler's greatest virtue.- He disagreed with the Confucist idea that people would follow the good example of a leader.- Believed that only strict laws and harsh punishment would ensure order in society- Contrary to Taoism, Legalism states that a strong government is needed. Especially one with an absolute ruler (King as all the power)