1. What are each of these photos of? 2. What do they have in common? 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages in each example? AB C GPISD WH SCC #6 SE 16B, 27A, 31A

The Dynasties of China

Like Greece and Rome, China would flourish during these centuries. Chinese history is generally divided into periods based upon the dynasty that governed China at the time. From 1027 BC to 220 AD, China was ruled by three main dynasties.

Zhou Dynasty 1027 BC – 221 BC -the Zhou Dynasty started in 1027 BC - the rulers of the dynasties were chosen as the Mandate of Heaven -the Mandate of Heaven said that Heaven picked and could remove leaders -scholars taught that if a ruler became selfish & thought of himself first, before the people, then heaven would bring floods, riots, and revolts to end his reign -land was given to nobles in exchange for their military service -the nobles ended up too powerful and a civil war erupted -the greatest legacy of the Zhou Dynasty was the work of Chinese philosophers Confucius and Lao Tzu

Zhou Dynasty (con’t) Confucianism -Confucianism is named for its founder Confucius -traditional values such as obedience & order are stressed -each person should live up to his or her name and fulfill their social obligations -family is important & the kids should show devotion to their parents (filial piety) -family is a model for emphasizing duties, good deeds, & a civilized way of life Major Beliefs of Confucianism Natural Order—there is a natural order to the universe & every person has a role in society Mandate of Heaven—if a ruler benefits his people & provides them with food & protection, then the people will obey their ruler who will continue to hold the Mandate of Heaven Role of Each Person—each person’s role in society has obligations & if everyone fulfills their obligations, then peace & harmony will result Relationships—in each relationship there is a superior & an inferior…superior must show love & responsibility while the inferior must show loyalty & obedience

Zhou Dynasty (con’t) Daoism -based on the teachings of Lao Tzu -Daoists believe that nature has a “way” (the Dao) in which it moves & that people should accept the “way” of nature rather than trying to change it -they have a deep respect for nature & harmony, & accept things rather than trying to change them -if you fight against nature, your actions may have results opposite of what you intended -people can achieve enlightenment only by “non-striving”, enjoying nature, & using contemplation to abandon earthly concerns

Qin Dynasty 221 BC – 206 BC -Shih Huang-ti, the lord of Qin was the ruler that unified China through conquest -1 st Chinese ruler to all himself emperor -he believed that all power should rest in the hands of a single powerful leader -he believed that people were naturally bad & a strong government was needed to punish those who committed bad acts -he was very harsh, he rejected all that is Confucianism and persecuted scholars -although he was not in power very long, he accomplishments were very important Shih’s Accomplishments -centralized power by dividing China into districts -constructed roads and canals to unite distant parts of the empire -built the Great Wall of China (1500 miles long, 22 feet tall, and 15 feet thick) -Shih was buried with an army of clay soldiers surrounding his tomb

Terra-Cotta Army of the Qin Dynasty A total of over 7,000 pottery soldiers, more than 100 chariots, 4,000-plus pottery horses and as many as over 100,000 weapons

The Great Wall of China

Han Dynasty 206 BC – 222 AD -following Qin’s death, people rebelled against his harsh rule and after several years of civil war, a new dynasty emerged -the Han emperors kept China unified for over 400 years -the Hans are given credit for inventing paper & lead-glazed ceramics & with advances in silk-weaving -they used an examination system to hire people for imperial service, which helped spread Confucian ides -the examination system made it possible commoners to work their way up & nobles could not claim high status as a right any more -Confucian ideals came to unite all government officials & the Chinese upper classes -the Han rulers established trade routes like the “Silk Road” (China to Roman Empire) -ideas were exchanged in the many new towns that were created along the Silk Road -the Chinese traded their silk, iron, & bronze for gold, linen cloth, glass, ivory, animal hides, horses, & cattle

The Silk Road China The Roman Empire

Han Dynasty 206 BC – 222 AD Children and Women in Han China -wealthy families in early Han China had many children so that their sons could serve in the government & their daughters could marry into other wealthy families -marriages were arranged & families prepared daughters to serve their husbands -wealthy women were generally well-treated & influential -under Confucian teachings, women were subordinate to men -women…as a child, she obeyed her father…adulthood, she obeyed her husband…in old age, she obeyed her son -public schools were opened for boys only -Confucian ideals such as respect for elders & looking after one’s parents in old age, were taught

Han Dynasty 206 BC – 222 AD The Fall of the Han Dynasty -the Han Dynasty ruled over an immense territory for 400 years -towards the end, the Han emperors were weakened by a series of rebellions -to help crush the rebellions, the government gave more power to provincial governors the ability to tax & raise their own armies -some governors used their powers to become local warlords -in 221 AD, the last Han emperor turned over power to an independent warlord -Han China finally collapsed into a series of civil wars and split apart

Han Dynasty 206 BC – 222 AD The End of Empires (Rome / Han Comparison) -Why do empires decline & fall? -empires start out successfully & gradually spread over a very large area -because of the lack of fast communication & transportation, it is very hard to govern over a large area -early on, the emperors are usually more talented than the later emperors who usually lose power to generals or local warlords -the spread of corruption, which creates instability in the gov’t combined with the dissatisfaction with unequal distribution of wealth usually results in major problems -vast differences between the rich & the poor leads to uprisings -the constant threat of invasion from outside groups is another empire killer

Notes Dynasties of China -China’s history is divided into dynasties -Zhou dynasty—believed their ruler was in power due to Mandate of Heaven -Mandate of Heaven =ruler was chosen by or removed by heaven -Qin Dynasty—First emperor of China & one of the most successful -unified China under his rule -built the Great Wall of China -Han Dynasty--kept China unified over the next 400 years -selected officials based on an examination policy (fair for all) - established trade along the Silk Road

Zhou Dynasty (con’t) Confucianism -traditional values= obedience & order -each person should live up to social obligations - filial piety=family is important & the kids should show devotion to their parents -family is a model for emphasizing duties, good deeds, & a civilized way of life Major Beliefs of Confucianism Natural Order —there is a natural order to the universe & every person has a role in society Mandate of Heaven —if a ruler benefits his people & provides them with food & protection, then the people will obey their ruler who will continue to hold the Mandate of Heaven Role of Each Person —each person’s role in society has obligations & if everyone fulfills their obligations, then peace & harmony will result Relationships —in each relationship there is a superior & an inferior…superior must show love & responsibility while the inferior must show loyalty & obedience