0 valutazioniIl 0% ha trovato utile questo documento (0 voti)
42 visualizzazioni9 pagine
1. Chinese civilization has a long history dating back over 200,000 years to early humans like Homo erectus. Agriculture developed around 10,000 BCE and many regional Neolithic cultures emerged.
2. The Xia dynasty from 2205-1570 BCE is considered China's first dynasty, followed by the Shang dynasty which ruled from 1600-1046 BCE. The Shang civilization was more advanced with writing, bronze-working, and a king who ruled through divination and military power.
3. In 1046 BCE, the Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang and ruled until 256 BCE, divided into the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou periods. During the Eastern Zhou's Spring and Autumn and Warring
1. Chinese civilization has a long history dating back over 200,000 years to early humans like Homo erectus. Agriculture developed around 10,000 BCE and many regional Neolithic cultures emerged.
2. The Xia dynasty from 2205-1570 BCE is considered China's first dynasty, followed by the Shang dynasty which ruled from 1600-1046 BCE. The Shang civilization was more advanced with writing, bronze-working, and a king who ruled through divination and military power.
3. In 1046 BCE, the Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang and ruled until 256 BCE, divided into the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou periods. During the Eastern Zhou's Spring and Autumn and Warring
1. Chinese civilization has a long history dating back over 200,000 years to early humans like Homo erectus. Agriculture developed around 10,000 BCE and many regional Neolithic cultures emerged.
2. The Xia dynasty from 2205-1570 BCE is considered China's first dynasty, followed by the Shang dynasty which ruled from 1600-1046 BCE. The Shang civilization was more advanced with writing, bronze-working, and a king who ruled through divination and military power.
3. In 1046 BCE, the Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang and ruled until 256 BCE, divided into the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou periods. During the Eastern Zhou's Spring and Autumn and Warring
Chinese Civilization through many dynasties to a series of legendary
rulers, like the Yellow Lord (Huang Di), who
During the long Paleolithic period, bands of invented the key features of civilization- predatory hunter-gatherers lived in what is now agriculture, the family, silk, boats, carts, bows China. Homo erectus, an extinct species closely and arrows, and the calendar. The last of these related to modern humans, or Homo sapiens, kings was Yu, and when he died the people appeared in China more than one million years chose his son to lead them, thus establishing ago. Anthropologists disagree about whether the principle of hereditary, dynastic rule. Yu’s Homo erectus is the direct ancestor of Homo descendants created the Xia dynasty (ca. 2205 sapiens or merely related through a mutual BCE- 1570 BCE), which was said to have lasted ancestor. In either case, modern humans may for 14 generations before declining and being have first appeared in China as far back as superseded by the Shang dynasty. 200,000 years ago. The Xia dynasty may correspond to the first Beginning in about 10,000 BCE, humans in phases of the transition to the Bronze Age. China began developing agriculture, possibly Between 2000 and 1600 BCE a more complex influenced by developments in Southeast Asia. Bronze Age civilization emerged out of the By 5000 BCE there were Neolithic village diverse Neolithic cultures in northern China. No settlements in several regions of China. On the written documents survive to link the earliest fine, wind-blown loess soils of the north and Bronze Age sites unambiguously to Xia. With northwest, the primary crop was millet, while the Shang dynasty, however, the historical and villages along the lower Yangtze River in Central archaeological records begin to coincide. China were centered on rice production in Archaeological remains provide many details paddy fields, supplemented by fish and aquatic about Shang civilization. A king was the religious plants. Humans in both regions had and political head of the society. He ruled domesticated pigs, dogs, and cattle, and by through dynastic alliances; divination (his 3000 BCE sheep had become important in the subjects believed that he alone could predict north and water buffalo in the south. the future by interpreting cracks in animal Over the course of the 5th to 3rd millennia BCE, bones); and royal journeys, hunts, and military many distinct, regional Neolithic cultures campaigns that took him to outlying areas. The emerged. During the same period, Neolithic Shang were often at war with neighboring cultures in the east produced pottery that was peoples and moved their capital several times. rarely painted but had distinctive shapes, such Shang kings could mobilize large armies for as three-legged, deep-bodied tripods. warfare and huge numbers of workers to In many areas, stamped-earth fortified walls construct defensive walls and elaborate tombs. came to be built around settlements, suggesting The Shang directly controlled only the central not only increased contact between part of China proper, extending over much of settlements but also increased conflict. Later modern Henan, Hubei, Shandong, Anhui, Chinese civilization probably evolved from the Shanxi, and Hebei provinces. However, Shang interaction of many distinct Neolithic cultures, influence extended beyond the state’s borders, which over time came to share more in the way and Shang art motifs are often found in artifacts of material culture and social and cultural from more-distant regions. practices. The Shang king’s rule was based equally on Ancient Chinese historians knew nothing of religious and military power. He played a their Neolithic forebears, whose existence was priestly role in the worship of his ancestors and discovered by 20th-century archaeologists. the high god Di. The king made animal sacrifices Traditionally, the Chinese traced their history and communicated with his ancestors by interpreting the cracks on heated cattle bones The Zhou kings maintained control over their or tortoise shells that had been prepared by vassals for more than two centuries, but as the professional diviners. Royal ancestors were generations passed, the ties of kinship and viewed as able to intervene with Di, send vassalage weakened. curses, produce dreams, and assist the king in In 770 BCE several of the states rebelled and battle. Kings were buried with ritual vessels, joined with non-Chinese forces to drive the weapons, jades, and numerous servants and Zhou from their capital. The Zhou established a sacrificial victims, suggesting that the Shang new capital to the east at Chengzhou (near believed in some form of afterlife. present-day Luoyang), where they were safer The Shang used bronze more for purposes of from barbarian attack, but the Eastern Zhou ritual than war. Although some weapons were kings no longer exercised much political or made of bronze, the great bulk of the surviving military authority over the vassal states. In the Shang bronze objects are cups, goblets, Eastern Zhou period, real power lay with the steamers, and cauldrons, presumably made for larger states, although the Zhou kings continued use in sacrificial rituals. as nominal overlords, partly because they were The writing system used by the Shang is the recognized as custodians of the Mandate of direct ancestor of the modern Chinese writing Heaven, but also because no single feudal state system, with symbols or characters for each was strong enough to dominate the others. word. In 770 BCE several of the states rebelled and In the 11th century BCE a frontier state called joined with non-Chinese forces to drive the Zhou rose against and defeated the Shang Zhou from their capital. The Zhou established a dynasty. The Zhou dynasty is traditionally new capital to the east at Chengzhou (near divided into two periods: the Western Zhou (ca. present-day Luoyang), where they were safer 1045 BCE- 771 BCE), when the capital was near from barbarian attack, but the Eastern Zhou modern Xi’an in the west, and the Eastern Zhou kings no longer exercised much political or (770 BCE- 256 BCE), when the capital was military authority over the vassal states. In the moved further east to modern Luoyang. The Eastern Zhou period, real power lay with the Easter Zhou is divided into two sub- periods: larger states, although the Zhou kings continued The Spring and Autumn Period (770 BCE- 403 as nominal overlords, partly because they were BCE) and the Warring States Period (403 BCE- recognized as custodians of the Mandate of 221 BCE), which are collectively referred to as Heaven, but also because no single feudal state 'China's Golden Age'. was strong enough to dominate the others. Like the Shang kings, the Zhou kings sacrificed To maintain and increase power, state rulers to their ancestors, but they also sacrificed to sought the advice of teachers and strategists. Heaven (Tian). The Shu jing (Book of History), This fueled intellectual activity and debate, and one of the earliest transmitted texts, describes intense reappraisal of traditions. Though this the Zhou’s version of their history. It assumes a time in Chinese history was marked by disunity close relationship between Heaven and the and civil strife, an unprecedented era of cultural king, called the Son of Heaven, explaining that prosperity- the "golden age" of China Heaven gives the king a mandate to rule only as flourished. long as he does so in the interest of the people. The atmosphere of reform and new ideas was In these books, which became classics of the attributed to the struggle for survival among Confucian tradition, the Western Zhou dynasty warring regional lords who competed in is described as an age when people honored building strong and loyal armies and in family relationships and stressed social status increasing economic production to ensure a distinctions. broader base for tax collection. So many different philosophies developed unselfish concern for the welfare of others), during the late Spring and Autumn and early integrity, and a sense of duty. Warring States periods that the era is often His ideal was the junzi (ruler's son), which he known as the time when the “hundred schools redefined to mean gentleman; a man of moral of thought contended.” cultivation was a superior man, rather than a From the Hundred Schools of Thought came man of noble birth. many of the great classical writings on which He encouraged his disciples to master historical Chinese practices were to be based for the next records, music, poetry, and ritual. He tried in two and one half millennia. vain to gain high office, traveling from state to There were thinkers fascinated by logical state with his disciples in search of a ruler who puzzles; utopians and hermits who argued for would employ him. withdrawal from public life; agriculturists who There were to be accretions to the corpus of argued that no one should eat who does not Confucian thought, both immediately and over plough; military theorists who analyzed ways to the millennia, and from within and outside the deceive the enemy; and cosmologists who Confucian school. Interpretations made to suit developed theories of the forces of nature, or influence contemporary society made including the opposite and complementary Confucianism dynamic while reserving a forces of yin and yang. The three most fundamental system of model behavior based influential schools of thought that evolved on ancient texts. The eventual success of during this period were Confucianism, Daoism, Confucian ideas owes much to Confucius's and Legalism. followers in the two centuries after his death, The body of thought that had the most particularly to Mencius and Xun Zi. enduring effect on subsequent Chinese life was Mencius (372 BCE- 289 BCE), or Meng Zi, was a that of the School of Literati (ru), often called Confucian disciple who made major the Confucian school in the West. The written contributions to the humanism of Confucian legacy of the School of Literati is embodied in thought. Mencius, like Confucius, traveled to the Confucian Classics, which were to become various states, offering advice to their rulers. the basis for the order of traditional society. Mencius proposed concrete political and Kongfuzi, or Confucius as he is known in the financial measures for easing tax burdens and West, lived from 551 BCE- 479 BCE. Also called otherwise improving the people's lot. With his Kong Zi, or Master Kong, Confucius was a disciples and fellow philosophers, he discussed teacher from the state of Lu (in present-day other issues in moral philosophy. Mencius Shandong Province), revered tradition and declared that man was by nature good, arguing looked to the early days of Zhou rule for an strongly, that everyone is born with the ideal social and political order. He believed that capacity to recognize what is right and act upon the only way such a system could be made to it. work properly was for each person to act The effect of the combined work of Confucius, according to prescribed relationships. "Let the the codifier and interpreter of a system of ruler be a ruler and the subject a subject," he relationships based on ethical behavior, and said, but he added that to rule properly a king Mencius, the synthesizer and developer of must be virtuous. To Confucius, the functions of applied Confucian thought, was to provide government and social stratification were facts traditional Chinese society with a of life to be sustained by ethical values. comprehensive framework on which to order Confucius exalted virtues such as filial piety virtually every aspect of life. (reverent respect and obedience toward Diametrically opposed to Mencius, for example, parents and grandparents), humanity an was the interpretation of Xun Zi (ca. 300 BCE- 237 BCE), another Confucian follower. Xun Zi the opposite of rigid Confucian moralism, preached that man is innately selfish and evil Taoism served many of its adherents as a and that goodness is attainable only through complement to their ordered daily lives. A conduct befitting one's status and education, scholar on duty as an official would usually that they learn to put moral principle above follow Confucian teachings but at leisure or in their own interests. retirement might seek harmony with nature as He also argued that the best government is one a Taoist recluse. based on authoritarian control, not ethical or Another strain of thought dating to the Warring moral persuasion. Xun Zi stressed the States Period is the school of yin-yang and the importance of ritual to social and political life, five elements. but took a secular view of it. Xunzi took the Still another school of thought was based on opposite view of human nature, arguing that the doctrine of Mo Zi (ca. 470 BCE- 391 BCE), or people are born selfish and that it is only Mo Di. Mo Zi believed that "all men are equal through education and ritual that they learn to before God" and that mankind should follow put moral principle above their own interests. heaven by practicing universal love. Legalism differed from both Confucianism and As the king’s political authority declined, the Daoism in its narrow focus on statecraft. The states on the periphery of the old heartland doctrine was formulated by Han Fei Zi (ca. 280 gained the most power because they had room BCE- 233 BCE) and Li Si (d. 208 BCE), who to expand their territory. During the 7th and 6th reasoned that the extreme disorders of their centuries BCE, brief periods of stability were day called for new and drastic measures. The achieved through alliances among states, under Legalists exalted the state and sought its the domination of the strongest member. By prosperity and martial prowess above the the late 5th century BCE, however, the system welfare of the common people. Legalism of alliances had proved untenable. The years became the philosophic basis for the imperial from 403 BCE to 221 BCE became known as the form of government. When the most practical Warring States Period because the conflicts and useful aspects of Confucianism and were particularly frequent and deadly. Legalism were synthesized in the Han period In addition to warring with and sometimes (206 BCE- CE 220), a system of governance absorbing other Zhou states, the peripheral came into existence that was to survive largely states of Chao, Yen, Qin, and Chu expanded intact until the late 19th century. outward, extending Chinese culture into a The doctrines of Taoism (Daoism), the second larger area. great school of philosophy that emerged during Much of what came to constitute China Proper the Warring States Period, also developed was unified for the first time in 221 BCE In that during the Zhou period and set forth in the year the western frontier state of Qin, the most Daodejing (Classic of the Way and Its Power), aggressive of the Warring States, subjugated which is attributed traditionally to the the last of its rival states (Qin; the Wade-Giles legendary sage Lao Zi (ca. 579 BCE- 490 BCE), or romanization is Ch'in, from which the English Old Master, and in the compiled writings of China probably derived.). To fend off barbarian Zhuangzi (369 BCE- 286 BCE). intrusion, the fortification walls built by the The focus of Taoism is the individual in nature various warring states were connected to make rather than the individual in society. It holds a 5,000-kilometer-long great wall. (What is that the goal of life for each individual is to find commonly referred to as the Great Wall is one's own personal adjustment to the rhythm actually four great walls rebuilt or extended of the natural (and supernatural) world, to during the Western Han, Sui, Jin, and Ming follow the Dao of the universe. In many ways periods, rather than a ingle, continuous wall. At its extremities, the Great Wall reaches from years. The Han rulers, however, were unable to northeastern Heilongjiang Province to adjust to what centralization had wrought: a northwestern Gansu. A number of public works growing population, increasing wealth and projects were also undertaken to consolidate resultant financial difficulties and rivalries, and and strengthen imperial rule. These activities ever-more complex political institutions. required enormous levies of manpower and Riddled with the corruption characteristic of the resources, not to mention repressive measures. dynastic cycle, by 220 CE the Han empire Revolts broke out as soon as the first Qin collapsed. emperor died in 210 BCE His dynasty was The collapse of the Han dynasty was followed extinguished less than twenty years after its by nearly four centuries of rule by warlords. The triumph. The imperial system initiated during age of civil wars and disunity began with the era the Qin dynasty, however, set a pattern that of the Three Kingdoms (Wei, Shu, and Wu, was developed over the next two millennia. which had overlapping reigns during the period After a short civil war, a new dynasty, called 220 CE- 80 CE). In later times, fiction and drama Han (206 BCE- CE 220), emerged with its capital greatly romanticized the reputed chivalry of this at Chang'an. The new empire retained much of period. Unity was restored briefly in the early the Qin administrative structure but retreated a years of the Jin dynasty (265 CE- 420 CE), but bit from centralized rule by establishing vassal the Jin could not long contain the invasions of principalities in some areas for the sake of the nomadic peoples. In 317 CE, the Jin court political convenience. The Han rulers modified was forced to flee from Luoyang and some of the harsher aspects of the previous reestablished itself at Nanjing to the south. The dynasty; Confucian ideals of government, out of transfer of the capital coincided with China's favor during the Qin period, were adopted as political fragmentation into a succession of the creed of the Han empire, and Confucian dynasties that was to last from 304 CE to 589 scholars gained prominent status as the core of CE. During this period the process of sinicization the civil service. accelerated among the non-Chinese arrivals in The Han dynasty, after which the members of the north and among the aboriginal tribesmen the ethnic majority in China, the "people of in the south. This process was also accompanied Han," are named, was notable also for its by the increasing popularity of Buddhism military prowess. The empire expanded (introduced into China in the 1st century CE) in westward as far as the rim of the Tarim Basin (in both north and south China. Despite the modern Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region), political disunity of the times, there were making possible relatively secure caravan traffic notable technological advances. The invention across Central Asia to Antioch, Baghdad, and of gunpowder (at that time for use only in Alexandria. fireworks) and the wheelbarrow is believed to The paths of caravan traffic are often called the date from the sixth or seventh century. "silk route" because the route was used to Advances in medicine, astronomy, and export Chinese silk to the Roman Empire. cartography are also noted by historians. Chinese armies also invaded and annexed parts China was reunified in CE 589 by the short-lived of northern Vietnam and northern Korea Sui dynasty (CE 581- 617), which has often been toward the end of the second century BCE Han compared to the earlier Qin dynasty in tenure control of peripheral regions was generally and the ruthlessness of its accomplishments. insecure, however. The Sui dynasty's early demise was attributed to After 200 years, Han rule was interrupted the government's tyrannical demands on the briefly (in 9 CE- 24 CE by Wang Mang, a people, who bore the crushing burden of taxes reformer), and then restored for another 200 and compulsory labor. These resources were overstrained in the completion of the Grand five centuries of steady military decline for the Canal, a monumental engineering feat, and in Chinese empire. Misrule, court intrigues, the undertaking of other construction projects, economic exploitation, and popular rebellions including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. weakened the empire, making it possible for Weakened by costly and disastrous military northern invaders to terminate the dynasty in campaigns against Korea in the early seventh 907. The next half-century saw the century, the dynasty disintegrated through a fragmentation of China into five northern combination of popular revolts, disloyalty, and dynasties and ten southern kingdoms. But in assassination. 960 a new power, Song (960- 1279), reunified China was reunified in 589 CE by the short-lived most of China Proper. The Song period divides Sui dynasty (581 CE- 617 CE), which has often into two phases: Northern Song (960- 1127) and been compared to the earlier Qin dynasty in Southern Song (1127- 1279). The division was tenure and the ruthlessness of its caused by the forced abandonment of north accomplishments. The Sui dynasty's early China in 1127 by the Song court, which could demise was attributed to the government's not push back the nomadic invaders. tyrannical demands on the people, who bore The founders of the Song dynasty built an the crushing burden of taxes and compulsory effective centralized bureaucracy staffed with labor. These resources were overstrained in the civilian scholar-officials. completion of the Grand Canal- a monumental The Song dynasty is notable for the engineering feat- and in the undertaking of development of cities not only for other construction projects, including the administrative purposes but also as centers of reconstruction of the Great Wall. Weakened by trade, industry, and maritime commerce. costly and disastrous military campaigns against Culturally, the Song refined many of the Korea in the early seventh century, the dynasty developments of the previous centuries. disintegrated through a combination of popular Included in these refinements were not only the revolts, disloyalty, and assassination. Tang ideal of the universal man, who combined The Tang dynasty (618 CE- 907 CE), with its the qualities of scholar, poet, painter, and capital at Chang'an, is regarded by historians as statesman, but also historical writings, painting, a high point in Chinese civilization- equal, or calligraphy, and hard-glazed porcelain. even superior, to the Han period. Its territory, The Song Neo-Confucian philosophers, finding a acquired through the military exploits of its certain purity in the originality of the ancient early rulers, was greater than that of the Han. classical texts, wrote commentaries on them. Stimulated by contact with India and the Middle The most influential of these philosophers was East, the empire saw a flowering of creativity in Zhu Xi (1130-1200), whose synthesis of many fields. Buddhism, originating in India Confucian thought and Buddhist, Taoist, and around the time of Confucius, flourished during other ideas became the official imperial the Tang period, becoming thoroughly sinicized ideology from late Song times to the late 19th and a permanent part of Chinese traditional century. culture. Block printing was invented, making the By the mid-thirteenth century, the Mongols had written word available to vastly greater subjugated north China, Korea, and the Muslim audiences. The Tang period was the golden age kingdoms of Central Asia and had twice of literature and art. penetrated Europe. With the resources of his By the middle of the 8th century CE, Tang vast empire, Kublai Khan (1215- 1294), a power had ebbed. Domestic economic grandson of Genghis Khan (ca. 1167- 1227) and instability and military defeat in 751 by Arabs at the supreme leader of all Mongol tribes, began Talas, in Central Asia, marked the beginning of his drive against the Southern Song. Even before the extinction of the Song dynasty, Zhou Dynasty - The Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE- Kublai Khan had established the first alien 256 BCE) lasted longer than any other dynasty dynasty to rule all China- the Yüan (1279-1368). in Chinese history. The Zhou time period is divided into parts called the Western Zhou and Dynasties Eastern Zhou because there was a brief disruption in their control of the Xia Dynasty - The Xia Dynasty(2000 BCE-1600 government. The Zhou battled with invading BCE) was the first dynasty in Chinese history. It armies from the north (Mongolians), so they lasted around 500 years and included the reigns built large mounds of dirt and rock as barriers of 17emperors--an emperor is similar to a king. that would slow down the enemy--this was not The Xia people were farmers, with bronze the Great Wall yet, but the idea came before weapons and clay pottery. the wall. The crossbow was another invention Shang Dynasty - The Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE- of this time--it was extremely effective and 1046 BCE) was originally a clan living along the feared by enemies. During the Zhou, the use of Yellow River during the Xia Dynasty. A clan is iron was introduced to China, which begins group of very close families that are often the Iron Age in China. Iron tipped weapons viewed as one big family. The Shang conquered were much stronger, and the iron plow helped Xia land and gained control of Chinese to increase food production. civilization. The Shang Dynasty lasted over 600 Agriculture was usually directed by the years and was led by 30 different emperors. The government. All farming lands were owned Shang were the oldest Chinese civilization to by nobles (wealthy). They allowed peasants to leave behind written records, called oracle farm the land similar to the feudal system that bones—turtle shells, cattle shoulders or other developed in Europe in the Middle Ages. The bones on which were written important clues to government directed farming by dividing a Chinese history. Oracle bones were often used piece of land into nine squares in the shape of to determine what the gods/nature wanted. If the kingdom needed to know something such the character for "water well," (井), with the as 'will the king have a son' or 'should we go to grain from the middle square taken by the war', it would be carved into bone or government. The individual farmers kept the shell. They would then heat the bone until it square of grain in the surrounding squares and cracked. The crack lines would reveal the worked the middle square together. This wishes of the gods--this process of learning allowed the government to store extra food in what the gods want is called divination. During case disaster struck. the Shang Dynasty people worshipped many Taoism (also spelled Daoism) gods. Ancestor worship was very important and Confucianism developed—the two most since they believed their family members important Chinese philosophies. The great became god-like in the after life. Shang Chinese philosopher Confucius developed a way government invented new ways to make bronze of life called Confucianism. Confucianism says crafts. Thousands of bronze artifacts have been that all people can be taught and improved if found including some that weigh nearly 2000 they do the right things. People should focus pounds. Its important to understand that other on doing the right thing for others, make family smaller cultures existed in the same time as the the most important, and respect elders of Shang in different parts of China, but the Shang society. Confucianism is still important today, left written records and seem to be the most but it did not become widely followed in China advanced. Eventually, the Shang were defeated until the Han Dynasty. by the Zhou clan. The founder of Taoism was named Laozi. Taoism is all about following the "Tao", which means the "way" or "path". The Tao is wheel axle size (to make roads all one size), and the driving force behind all things in the standard laws that applied to the entire empire. universe. The Yin Yang symbol is usually Standardize means to make the same. The Qin associated with Taoism. Taoists believe you also standardized the different systems of should live in harmony with nature, be humble, writing into one system called small seal script live simply without too many possessions and that much of China still uses today. Qin Shi have compassion for all life. These philosophies Huang enforced a philosophy called are different from religions because they don't Legalism that focuses on people following laws have an all powerful god or gods, although the and taking instructions from the government. idea of ancestors and nature are often treated However, many followers of Confucianism were like gods. The power of the emperor was also more loyal to their family and other Confucian related to religious beliefs. The Zhou talked traditions. To silence their protests, the about the Mandate of Heaven as the law that emperor banished or put to death many allowed Chinese emperors to rule—it said that Confucian teachers and burned their Confucian the ruler was blessed by Heaven to rule the books. At one point Qin Shi Huang killed 460 people. If he lost the blessing of heaven he Confucian teachers by burying them alive! should be removed. Things that proved the Mongolian invasions from the north were a ruling family had lost the Mandate of Heaven constant problem in China. The Qin were natural disasters and rebellions. For government ordered walls built in the past to example, if a draught or flood be connected to make a larger and stronger was particularly bad, people may begin to think wall. This is usually recognized as the beginning the ruling family had lost the Mandate of of the Great Wall of China. Despite what you Heaven. might think, the building of the Great Wall was unpopular with the people who saw it as a By 475 BCE the provinces/states of the Zhou waste of resources. Each dynasty built new wall kingdom were more powerful than the Zhou or improved the previous dynasty's wall. Most central government. The states rebelled and of the Qin Wall is gone today or been fought one another in a series of brutal wars, replaced. The wall that still exists today was which began a period of over 200 years of war mainly built by a later dynasty called the called the Warring States Period. Eventually, Ming. A number of public projects, including one family (Qin) united all others into one canals and bridges, were also built to help empire. This is usually recognized as the first strengthen trade and transporation. empire of China, which begins a new time An amazing tomb larger than a football field or period called Imperial China. Imperial basically anything in Ancient Egyptwas made for the means "empire of". emperor. It is still sealed, but legend says there are rivers of mercury and models of the entire Imperial China Chinese empire inside. Outside the tomb is a Qin Dynasty - From 221 BCE to 206 BCE the Qin life-sized army of clay soldiers, discovered in Dynasty (pronounced "chin") gained control of 1974 CE. This is known as the Terra Cotta civilized China. The Qin didn’t last very long, Army. Terra cotta means baked clay. There are but made an important impact on China’s over 8,000 unique soldiers, over 600 total future. The Qin expanded their territory and horses, 130 chariots, as well as acrobats and created China’s first empire. The brutal leader musicians--all made of clay! Archeologists are Qin Shi Huang declared himself the first true still trying to put them back together as most emperor of China. This dynasty were broken into pieces over time. Although designed standard currency (money), standard the Qin Dynasty was short-lived, its standardization of Chinese life left a deep The paths of caravan traffic are often called the impact on later dynasties in China. It is from this "Silk Road" because the route was used to dynasty that we get the name “China”. The first export Chinese silk. The Han dynasty also emperor died in 210 BCE and was replaced by a extended and fortified the Great Wall to protect weak and young son. Eventually, rebellion the Silk Road. Another important product of the started and a member of the Qin army took Silk Road was the religion of Buddhism which control of the empire, which began a new reached China during this period. dynasty. Han Dynasty - began in 206 BCE and lasted 400 How did it end? years until 220 CE and is considered to be one Chinese dynasties would continue to rule China of the greatest periods in the entire history of until Medieval times when the Mongolians China. LIke the Zhou Dynasty, the Han Dynasty finally conquered China. Chinese families is divided into Western Han and Eastern Han eventually fought back and regained control, because of a short disruption when someone which they maintained until 1911 when China tried to replace the Han family--they were experienced a civil war. Again, China is unique unsuccessful. Han culture defines Chinese because they have continued the same culture culture today. In fact, most Chinese citizens since ancient times. There are very few today claim "Han" as their ethnic examples of architecture from Ancient China or background. The government made even Imperial China. The reason is because Confucianism the official belief system of the China primarily used wood as its main building empire. The empire grew greatly during material. Similar to Ancient Iraq this time, conquering land in modern Korea, (Mesopotamia), very few ancient structures Mongolia, Vietnam, and even into Central Asia. exist today. The empire had grown so much the emperor needed a larger government to rule it. He started a system of examinations (tests) to find qualified people to do civil (government) jobs such as tax collecting. This system called Imperial Examinations. In fact, most nations use a similar system to find qualified people in a fair way. Many things were invented during this time including paper, steel, the compass, and porcelain. Porcelain is a very hard type of ceramic (clay pottery) used to make crafts that were highly valued by people around the world. Porcelain is made from special clay that is heated until it melts and basically turns to glass. Porcelain dishes, cups, and bowls are often called "China" because until a few hundred years ago, all porcelain was produced China. The Han Dynasty was also known for its military power. The empire expanded westward as far as the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, which allowed the government to guard the trade traffic across Central Asia.
China: A History of China and East Asia (Ancient China, Imperial Dynasties, Communism, Capitalism, Culture, Martial Arts, Medicine, Military, People including Mao Zedong, and Confucius)
History of China: A Captivating Guide to Chinese History, Including Events Such as the First Emperor of China, the Mongol Conquests of Genghis Khan, the Opium Wars, and the Cultural Revolution