Chapter 7 part 1: China’s First Civilizations



Chapter 7 part 1: China’s First Civilizations

I.China’s Geography

-Huang He- flows more than 2900 miles across China

-Chang Jiang- 3400 miles long and flows across

central China

-Very little farmland- mountains and deserts

-Middle Kingdom established

II. The Shang Dynasty

-Belief that Huang He valley was the center of

Chinese civilization

-First rulers were probably part of the Xia dynasty

-Shang kings- 1750 B.C. to 1122 B.C.

-Anyang- China’s first capital

-People were divided into groups- King and family

were the most powerful group- Warlords and other royal officials were below the king- Traders and artisans were Next- Farmers- Slaves

-Belief in many spirits and gods

-Early Chinese weriting- pictographs and ideographs

-Bronze

III. The Zhou Dynasty

-Wu Wang- creation of the Zhou Dynasty

-Ruled longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history

-Kings- head of government

-Bureaucracy- responsible for different areas of government- served under king

-Mandate of Heaven- heavenly law that gave Zhou kings the power to rule

-Dao- proper way kings were to rule their people

-Irrigation and flood control systems were developed

-Importance of silk

-Warring States

Chapter 7 Part 2: Life in Ancient China

I. Life in Ancient China

-Three main social classes- aristocrats, farmers, and merchants

-Aristocrats- rich from farmers who used their land to grow crops

-Most of Chinese people were farmers

-Merchants were the lowest class. Aristocrats and

farmers looked down on them

-Families were large. Children were expected to work on farms

-Filial piety- children had to respect elders and parents

-Men considered more important than women. Men went to school, ran the gov’t, and fought wars. Women raised children and managed

households.

II. Chinese Thinkers

-3 major theories- Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism

-Confucius- great thinker and teacher

-Confucianism taught that all men with a talent for gov’t should take part

-Daoism teaches that people should give up worldly desires and encourages the importance of nature. Created by Laozi.

-Legalism- society needs a system of harsh laws and punishments. Developed by Hanfeizi.

Chapter 7 part 3: The Qin and Han Dynasties

I. Emperor Qin Shihuangdi

-Qin Shihuangdi- First Qin Emperor

-Rule based on legalism

-Abolished the officials’ authority to pass their posts on to their sons. Qin was the only person authorized to fill posts.

-United China- created one type of currency- ordered building of roads- and connected Chang Jiang to central China by canal

-Great Wall of China was built

-Dynasty was overthrown after Qin’s death

II. The Han Dynasty

-Liu Bang- founded the Han dynasty in 202 B.C.

-Civil service examinations begin

-population triples

-new inventions- waterwheel, rudder, drill bits, steel, and paper

-acupuncture- practice of easing pain

III. The Silk Road

-Silk- most valuable trade product

-Silk Road- overland trade route

IV. Major Changes in China

-Buddhism spread from India to China

-Han dynasty falls and civil war begins

-Buddhism helped people cope with chaotic times

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