Transcript Document
Ancient China 7th Grade Paragon Geography • Large land area • Natural barriers isolate • North China Plain – Rich soil deposits from Huang River • Loess – Surrounded by highlands – Mostly dry, summer monsoon • Southern China – Warm and wet Huang He/Yellow River • Fertile Soil • Trade • Travel Xia • Earliest dynasty – Around 2000 BC-1500 BC • No written records, artifacts only (farmers, made pottery) Primary Sources – Possibly Legend • Yu the Engineer Shang • 1532-1027 BC • Written evidence • 1st Chinese cities with palaces and temples, huge earthen walls • Rich-Cities, rest lived on farms • First to use Sericulture (Silk Farming) • Young honored Old, kids respected adults, honored dead ancestors and thought they would bring them good fortune The Family in China • First responsibility is family •As many as five generations lived together –Rich families in one home –Poor/Peasants live in small cottages close together •Oldest man in charge –Arranged marriages –Punish for disrespect –Property divided among sons The Family in China • Women lower status then men –“Three obediences” • Obey fathers in youth •Husbands in marriage •Sons in widowhood –“Four Virtues” •Morality, Modesty, Proper Speech, Domestic Skills •Family Names passed down –Last, First Shang • King-power from spirits – Oracle Bones- writing • Fight over land • Huge divide between rich and poor – Rich had horses and bronze weapons, poor had feet and stones • Division led to conquer by Chou • Started Chinese New Year celebration • First Chinese writing system Zhou (Chou) Dynasty • Lasted longest • Feudal system developed: Three classes – Upper class: wealthy and powerful lords – Middle class: warriors who supported the upper class lords – Lower class: peasants and slaves • Upper class made middle and lower class pay taxes to create walls around city, build roads, irrigation • Different states, did not get along . Because they were not unified they were conquered by Qin (Ch’in) Zhou (Chou) Dynasty Philosophy Confucianism • Confucius • Goal to change government • Everyone should treat others with respect • Leaders should be honest and honorable Taoism • Lao Tse • Man should live in harmony with nature • Did not believe in war • Did not agree with too many laws • "The more laws that are written, the more criminals are produced." - Lao-Tse Mandate of Heaven • A good and just emperor has divine approval and will last, Bad rulers lose the blessing • Natural disasters and rebellion caused by heaven • Led to pattern of rise, rule, decline, fall, repeat – Known as Dynastic Cycle Inventions by Chinese • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • paper -- first manufactured paper printing -- first used to distribute religious writing wheelbarrow -- used to help with large loads seismograph -- first earthquake detector compass -- navigation tool acupuncture -- this is a technique of using many needles to heal or relieve pain porcelain -- used to make wonderful dishes to serve tea novels -- earliest books were printed in ancient China tea -- first to discover and brew tea gunpowder -- changed the way that wars were fought paper money -- first to have light-weight paper money the kite -- made with silk fireworks -- used to scare away enemies and for entertainment restaurants -- common people could eat out quite cheaply calligraphy -- a great form of Chinese art/writing