1. Ancient China Timeline of Chinese Dynasties (ruling families)

2. Geography of China

3. Shang Dynasty  1500 B.C.E. = Shang Dynasty = 1st of a long line of dynasties lasting until 1912. Dikes & drainage canals prevented floods; irrigation systems carried water from Huang He United more than 1,000 city-states Used war chariots & advanced weapons to protect kingdom; captured new territories & spread Chinese civilization Written records kept for the first time (symbol for each word); need to learn over 10,000 symbols; hard to read & write Economy based on agriculture; people raised silkworms & wove thread into fine silk cloth Calendar based on phases of the moon Religious ceremonies in spring & fall to hope for/thank for good harvest Ancestor worship = reverence for elders & relatives who died Rulers governed by “Mandate of Heaven”—orders from the spirits

4. Chou Dynasty  1028 B.C.E. = Chou overthrew Shang & created longest dynasty in China’s history  Metal usage = Iron used to make tools & plows; copper & gold coins  People belonged to one of three groups: Nobles = wealthy landowners Merchants = lived in towns & sold goods to nobles & ruling family Peasants = most of population; lived in farming villages; gave some crops to landlord as rent  Became most populous country during these years  Two philosophers influenced Chinese thought: Confucius & Lao-tzu Confucius = called for good rulers who would avoid needless war & reduce taxes; everyone should develop personal morality & goodwill toward others; “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” *Influenced Chinese thought for 2,000 years Lao-tzu = formed the basis of Taoism; stressed the importance of balance between the “yin” (peace, darkness, coldness) & “yang” (fury, light, heat); war, disease, famine, & floods occurred when yin & yang were out of balance.

5. Ch’in Dynasty  256 B.C.E. = Warring city-states  221 B.C.E. = Ch’in came to power by conquering all Chinese city-states (name “China” comes from Ch’in) Ch’in leader = Shih Huang Ti = “first emperor” = absolute ruler who permitted no opposition United city states under one strong central government Captured new territories & established 1st Chinese Empire Completed the Great Wall of China; guarded against invasion Simplified system of writing Building of roads, bridges, & canals improved transportation Legalism = stressed authority, efficient government, & strict laws Ordered the burning of books & killed Confucian scholars= end knowledge of China’s past political freedom People resented forced labor, high taxes, & lack of freedom Peasant named Liu Pang led a revolt to topple the Ch’in dynasty

6. Han Dynasty  206 B.C.E. = Warring city-states  202 B.C.E. = Han Dynasty set up another strong central government Chinese empire expanded into Manchuria, Korea, Indochina, & central Asia Government jobs given to people scoring highest on civil service exams Astronomers studied sunspots & the moon’s orbit, drew maps of the stars Doctors used “acupuncture” to relieve pain Wrote histories, poems, & world’s first dictionary Linked with India, the Middle East, Greece, & Rome by camels; Silk & jade traded for glass, tin, wool Missionaries from India spread Buddhism to China  220 C.E.