chinese history ancient edition. what’s important about china? one of the four cradles of...
TRANSCRIPT
Chinese HistoryAncient
Edition
What’s important about China?
• One of the four Cradles of Civilization.
• Many inventions that led to the advancement of society were invented in China.
• Over one billion (1,000,000,000) people out of six billion live here today. Reminder- we have about 300 million in the US today.
What’s a dynasty?
• It is a family that rules a nation for numerous generations.
• Remember the Romanovs from Russia? They’re a dynasty.
Why was the Shang Dynasty Important?
• It was the first dynasty
• Developed a system of writing, a form of it is still used today.
• Developed silk, a very important trade item.
• Used bronze for art as well as weapons.
• Created art using jade and ivory.
The Secret of SilkAncient China had an important secret—silk. Long
ago, no one else knew how to make this soft cloth. Silk thread is spun from the cocoons of silkworms. These caterpillars live on mulberry trees. One cocoon can produce a thread 1,000 yards long. Chinese legend says that the secret of silk was discovered about 2700 BC by Xilingshi. She was the wife of the Emperor.
Silk was a valuable export throughout Chinese history. It was brought to Europe by the Silk Road. China is still the world’s biggest silk producer.
Who cares about the T’ang Dynasty?
• You should.
• China was richest, most powerful nation in the world during T’ang rule.
• All gov’t employees had to pass test to prove they could do the job. We do this today.
• Started printing 400 years before Europeans.
Emperor Taizong made the T’ang dynasty great. Years of civil war had destroyed most local government. Taizong restored it. He set up local schools. There, students studied the teachings of Confucius. Interested students could take civil service exams. Until then, nobles had held most government jobs. Over time, civil servants took power away from the nobles.
What did the Sung Dynasty Ever Do For Me?
• Invented gunpowder. – Changes warfare forever. Also, fireworks.
• Invented the compass.
• Invented porcelain, or china.
How About that Great Wall?
• The Great Wall of China is over 4,000 miles long.
• Built to protect China from the Mongols.
