Aim: Does the Han deserve to be called a “Classical” civilization? Do Now: Which technologies that you use today comes from China? NY State Standards 2 Common Core Standards RS 5, 7, 9, WS 1, 4, 8

Timeline of Chinese History so Far… Shang Dynasty Shang Dynasty 1650 – 1027 BCE Earliest Chinese river valley civilization Near the Yellow River Earliest form of Chinese writing Zhou Dynasty Zhou Dynasty 1027 – 256 BCE Believed Emperors receive the Mandate of Heaven. If they lost it, then a new dynasty would take over (Dynastic Cycle). Warring States Warring States 403 – 221 BCE Conflict between rival dynasties, in the eastern part of the Zhou Dynasty. *This is when Confucius and Laozi began Confucianism and Taoism.

II Qin Dynasty 221 – 207 BCE A) During the Warring States period, Emperor Yingzheng defeated the other 6 warring states. B) The Qin Dynasty was the first centralized Chinese government, ruled by an Emperor. C) Believed in the philosophy of legalism. D) Began the Great Wall of China. To suppress any opinions against the Empire, the Qin Emperor burned many books deemed “forbidden”. He also buried 460 scholars alive for owning the forbidden books. Legalists believed that law and order is more important than anything else in society. In order to do this, a strong government and police force is necessary.

Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is a system of defensive walls and towers. It was built in stages between 476 BCE and 1644 CE miles long Built to protect China from Mongol invasions. The Great Wall did not succeed in keeping out invaders. However, it has become a symbol of Chinese achievement. The Great Wall of China is often called the “longest cemetery on Earth”, as over 1,000,000 workers died while building it. Archaeologists have even discovered human remains buried under sections of the wall.

Great Wall Watch Tower

The Terra Cotta Army The first Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, had an “army” of life-size statues of soldiers, chariots, horses and weapons buried with him. Amazingly, each statue’s face is different!

III Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE

A) Trade along the Silk Road grew under the Han Dynasty. Below were stops along the Silk Road, in Afghanistan and Iran.

The Han Dynasty continued… B) Confucianism became the official belief system of China. If you wanted to work in the Han government, you had to pass a very difficult civil service exam, based mostly on Confucianism. Who in the United States has to pass a civil service exam? Should the president or members of Congress have to pass such an exam?

C) The Han invented paper from wood pulp

D) Han physicians developed acupuncture to alleviate pain and to treat various illnesses. - Needles are inserted into specific points on your body.

IV After the Fall of the Han A)After the Han Dynasty fell in 220 CE, China did not have a strong central government. B)Amazingly, China did not fall to chaos. Farming & technology improved! Buddhism spread. C)Why? Invaders were so impressed by Chinese culture they would adopt it, rather than destroy it. If our central government in Washington D.C. were ever to fall, would the United States fall to chaos? Or would we make improvements in the arts, science and economy?

V The Sui Dynasty 589 – 619 CE The Sui Dynasty is famous for building the Grand Canal, the world’s longest man-made waterway! It stretches over 1000 miles in length, and links the Yellow and Yangtze rivers.

The Grand Canal

VI Rise of the Tang! 618 – 907 CE

Achievements of the Tang Dynasty A) Invented gunpowder, a mixture of saltpeter, charcoal and sulfur. It was first used to make fireworks. Only later was it used as a weapon.

Achievements of the Tang Dynasty continued… B) Block Printing & Movable Type: Pre-cut characters that were combined to form a page.

Achievements of the Tang Dynasty continued… C) Invented the process of making porcelain. Porcelain is a type of pottery made from clay, that is glazed and “baked” at extremely high temperatures.

VII Rise of the Song Dynasty

Achievements of the Song Dynasty A)Invented the world’s first paper currency (money) B)Invented the mechanical clock: used wheels, shafts & pins, turning at a steady rate to tell exact time.

Achievements of the Song Dynasty continued… C) Invented a vaccine for smallpox. Which other civilization that we have discussed also invented a smallpox vaccine?

VIII Foot Binding A) Foot binding was a cultural practice that began during the Tang Dynasty. B) Wealthy girls would have their feet bound to make a small, lily shaped foot. It was a status symbol. Women with bound feet were disfigured & could not work in the fields. Do people today ever do extreme and possibly harmful things to be beautiful?

Key Vocabulary Shang Dynasty Zhou Dynasty Warring States Qin Dynasty Legalism Han Dynasty Sui Dynasty Tang Dynasty Song Dynasty Silk Road Confucianism Civil service exam Acupuncture Porcelain Vaccine Foot binding Great Wall of China