1. Ancient China I. Achievements of the Ancient Chinese A. Great Wall of China-largest masonary construction in the world. construction in the world. 1. Defensive wall stretching 1400 miles, protecting China from enemies to the protecting China from enemies to the north. north. 2. Helped to keep the vast land of China unified. Great Wall to the north; desert unified. Great Wall to the north; desert to the west; Himalayas Mts. to the southwest; to the west; Himalayas Mts. to the southwest; ocean to the east. ocean to the east.

2. Ancient Chinese Achievements B. PaperJ. Umbrella C. GunpowderK. Paper money D. The wheelbarrowL. Playing cards E. The crossbowM. Use of petroleum and nat. F. Masts and Sailing gas as fuel G. KitesN. Acupuncture G. KitesN. Acupuncture H. ParachutesO. The hoe-for farming I. MatchesP. Martial arts Q. compass R. Silk Road-used to trade silks, rugs, bronze and other aspects of Chinese culture to the rest of the civilized aspects of Chinese culture to the rest of the civilized world west of China. world west of China.

3. The Great Dynasties of Ancient China The Shang A. First great dynasty in China was the Shang dynasty (1800 B.C. to 1123 B.C.) dynasty (1800 B.C. to 1123 B.C.) 1. Began along the Huang He river valley 2. During Shang rule-Chinese writing 2. During Shang rule-Chinese writing developed developed a. scribes wrote on narrow strips of a. scribes wrote on narrow strips of bamboo or wood and had to write bamboo or wood and had to write vertically rather than horizontally-Chinese vertically rather than horizontally-Chinese today write and read vertically left to right. today write and read vertically left to right.

4. The Shang 3. Early Chinese civilizations were polytheistic. a. Rulers claimed to have a mandate from heaven. b. During the Shang dynasty human sacrifice was carried out to show devotion and respect to the gods. The out to show devotion and respect to the gods. The Shang also believed they received wisdom for the gods Shang also believed they received wisdom for the gods in return for offering sacrifices. in return for offering sacrifices. c. Thousands of ancient skeletal remains have been found piled on top of each other near the palaces where the piled on top of each other near the palaces where the Shang dynasty ruled- show signs of being sacrificed. Shang dynasty ruled- show signs of being sacrificed.

5. The Shang 4. Archaeologists believe the Shang practiced slavery. 5. Made exquisite bronze jugs, urns, and bowls 6. Shang me of wisdom used oracle bones and oracle shells to learn about future battles, leaders, and possible disasters. learn about future battles, leaders, and possible disasters. a. Tortoise shells and bones would be heated over a hot fire until cracked. The cracks would then be fire until cracked. The cracks would then be interpreted. interpreted. 7. Developed silk- a process using silkworm cocoons from mulberry trees. Divulging the secrets of silk making led to mulberry trees. Divulging the secrets of silk making led to execution. execution.

6. The Shang 8. Most people living under Shang rule were very poor peasants. a. They farmed wheat, millet, and rice. b. Peasants were heavily taxed and always owned rent to their landlord- it was not uncommon that a father their landlord- it was not uncommon that a father would sell their children into slavery to pay the rent. would sell their children into slavery to pay the rent. 9. Because of poor leadership, the Shang dynasty collapsed in 1123 B.C. 1123 B.C.

7. The Chou Dynasty 1. The Chou dynasty ruled China from 1123 B.C. to 256 B.C. 2. The Chou dynasty ruled China during a time period called the Era of Warring States. Era of Warring States. a. Much of their rule was marked by constant fighting between the different states of the land of China. between the different states of the land of China. 3. Responding to the chaos and disorder of the time, three important thinkers established philosophies by which Chinese important thinkers established philosophies by which Chinese people could live a better life in a more harmonious China. people could live a better life in a more harmonious China.

8. The Philosophers A. Confucius- Confucianism

9. The Philosophers Lao-Tzu-Taosim (Daoism)

10. The Philosophers Han-Fei Tzu-Legalism

11. Ch’in Dynasty 1. Ruled land of China 221 B.C. to 206 B.C. 2. Forced China to unify-it is estimated that they executed 2/3 of their opponents. of their opponents. a. Suppressed the power of warlords and centralized gov’t b. Ch’in dynasty built Great Wall of China to help keep out invading enemies from the north. invading enemies from the north. 1. Built by 200,000 convicts and 100,000 soldiers 2. Thousands of laborers died and were buried as fill in the Great Wall. fill in the Great Wall. 3. Laborers were forced to work and would have to leave their families for several years. leave their families for several years.

12. Ch’in Dynasty 4. We believe many workers were put to death during construction so they would not reveal the during construction so they would not reveal the secrets of construction. secrets of construction. c. Unified written language d. Built 5000 miles of roads e. Passports were needed to travel f. Standardized the currency g. Buried alive 460 of the most distinguished scholars viewed as a threat to dynasty threat to dynasty 1. organized mass book burnings-many of the writings about Confucius were destroyed Confucius were destroyed a. Any writing supporting the state warlords were destroyed

13. Ch’in Dynasty H. Built a great military a. Many peasants joined the military under the Ch’in dynasty because it offered them the opportunity to dynasty because it offered them the opportunity to improve their station in life. improve their station in life. b. Some historians believe that the amount of heads cut off in battle directly increased a soldiers’ chances of off in battle directly increased a soldiers’ chances of moving up the military ranks. moving up the military ranks. 1. One story has it that in one battle 450,000 of the enemy was captured and all 450,000 of these enemy was captured and all 450,000 of these captives were beheaded. captives were beheaded.

14. “First Emperor”-Shi Huangdi I. The leader of the Ch’in dynasty was Shi Huangdi A. He was called “First Emperor” B. Took all the land from the warlords-became first emperor of china (China may be named after this emperor of china (China may be named after this dynasty) dynasty) 1. All brass spears, arrows, and chariots of warlords turned in turned in C. Shi Huangdi died in 210 B.C., after ruling for 11 years.

15. Terra Cotta Warriors 1. As soon as he became emperor, he already had 700,000 convicts working on a mausoleum (mausoleum found 1974). convicts working on a mausoleum (mausoleum found 1974). a. Automatic crossbows were set up for robbers b. Those who had worked on the mausoleum, Shi’s concubines, and his many prized material possessions concubines, and his many prized material possessions were sealed in the tomb. were sealed in the tomb. c. 7000 life size clay statues (each with a unique face) of his army were buried in battle formation, along with his army were buried in battle formation, along with clay horses and chariots. clay horses and chariots. 1. Legend has it that if a soldier was asked to pose with the statue and refused they would suffer with the statue and refused they would suffer death. death.

16. Han Dynasty 1. Ruled China for over 400 years- (140 B.C. to around 220 A.D.) A. Han leaders used diplomacy as their guiding principle for ruling the states of China-relied less on warfare. for ruling the states of China-relied less on warfare. B. Trade occurred with Europe and the Middle East- by way of the Silk Road by way of the Silk Road C. Time of great wealth and population explosion in China China D. The arts and scholarship flourished.

17. Han Dynasty 1. They adopted Confucianism-which strongly influences China today China today 2. The religion Buddhism spread from India into China during this time during this time 3. Daoism also thrived during the Han dynasty.