ancient chinese civilizations
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Ancient Chinese Civilizations. GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES. Mountains cut off China from the west Isolated, China developed its own distinctive culture. Geography (cont). Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) Only 10% of China could be farmed - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Ancient Chinese Civilizations
Mountains cut off China from the west Isolated, China developed its own
distinctive culture.
GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES
Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)Only 10% of China could be farmedOne of the greatest food-producing
areas of the ancient world
Geography (cont)
Had an established bureaucracyIntroduced simple irrigation and
flood control systemsBelieved in animism and ancestor
worshipUsed oracle bones
Shang Dynasty
Overthrew Shang Dynasty about 1050 B.C.
No centralized form of governmentgranted territories
Believed in the Mandate of Heaven – “God of Heaven determines who should rule”
Zhou (joh) Dynasty
Came to power through military might
Ruled by Cheng – ‘1st Emperor’Word China comes from Cheng
Qin (chin) Dynasty
Autocracy – emperor had total power
Began a 1,500 mile long section of what is now the Great Wall of China
Lasted only 15 years
Qin (cont)
Liu Bang, peasant who became general, led overthrow of Qin Dynasty
Lasted 400 years
Han Dynasty
Created civil serviceSystem of exams
to select most qualified person
Leveling – govt price controls to balance economy
Silk Road – trade route across Asia
Han (cont)
Wu 1750 B.C.Xia
Confucianism – taught importance of family, respect for one’s elders, and reverence for the past and one’s ancestorsIdeas were political and
ethical, not spiritualCivil service was born
out of Confucianism
Philosophies
Daoism – people should withdraw from world & live in harmony Do not strive for material
wealth & should not seek power
The way to follow the Dao is inaction, not action
People should act spontaneously and let nature take its course
Philosophies (cont)
Legalism – believed in power, not virtue and in harsh laws People are selfish and untrustworthySocial order requires a strong ruler and
harsh, impersonal laws, both of which made people obedient through fear
Philosophies (cont)