China Third largest country in area Largest population Oldest continuing civilization Has existed for over 3,500 years Land consists of mountains, desert, green hills and plains Only a tenth of the land is good for farming In the third century, the lead of the state deemed himself Emperor expanding China and creating a great empire In the third century, the first Great Wall of China was completed Writing system developed from pictographs Pictographs are simplified drawings of objects Since 3,000 B.C. silk has been produced in China

Chinese Dynasties Shang ( B.C.) –Headed by a king to which they were loyal –Warrior Nobles –Loved warfare and hunting –Loyal to king, family, and ancestors –Honored ancestors with sacrifices –Learned art of making silk into cloth –First to leave written records

Chinese Dynasties continued Chou (1050 – 221 B. C. ) [jo] –Overthrew Shang Dynasty –Longest Dynasty in Chinese history –Time of great expansion and feudalism –Confucius praised the early Chou Dynasty as a model society –Dynasty declined during the “Warring States” period Lords fought each other Tribes from north invaded

Chinese Dynasties continued Ch’in ( B.C.) –Origin of the name China –Ch’in king declared himself the first Emperor Ruled cruelly –Subdued internal conflicts –Conquered invaders –Centralized the government –Built extensive roads and created standards for weights and measurements –Forced peasants to build the Great Wall –Murdered scholars and burned books –Dynasty ended in revolt after Emperor’s death

Chinese Dynasties continued Han (206 B.C. – A.D. 220) –Lasted over 400 years –Lasting influence on China Government, education, culture, and commerce Technology, agriculture, arts, and literature flourish –Buddhism spread from India to China –Political, social, and economic problems occur –Dynasty disintegrated into three rival kingdoms

Chinese Dynasties continued T’ang (A.D ) –Promoted foreign trade –Restored government and civil service system –Golden Age of poetry and painting –Had a woman emperor who ruled during her husband’s illness Murdered Emperor’s wife and married him Ruthlessly ambitious and cruel –Dynasty falls due to weaker Emperors and falls to rebel forces

Chinese Dynasties continued Sung (A.D –Education Spread –Literature, calligraphy, and painting flourished –Careful study of human anatomy –Inventions of moving type, paper money, and magnetic compass –Chinese culture spread throughout Asia –The position of women declined –Dynasty fell to the Mongols

Religions and Philosophies Confucianism –Family Relationships –Societal Order –Virtue in all interactions –Value of learning, respect, and duty Taoism –“the Way” of the universal life force –Focus on humility, simplicity, and harmony in nature Buddhism –Originated in India –Detachment from earthly life to reach enlightenment –Siddhartha Gautama

Confucius B.C. Born at a time of crisis and violence Sought instruction in Chinese classical arts, traditions, music, archery, math, calligraphy, poetry, and history. Never gained the political reform he desired His ideas became a foundation for Chinese thought for over 2,000 years Passion to restore order and moral living Left home and taught for almost 12 years Taught rule should come from moral commitment, not from hereditary status Eventually gained a following and was respected for his ideas of good character and the need for order and authority in all areas of life. Ideas and sayings were preserved by his disciples

Lao-tzu (500s B.C.) Not proven to have existed Credited as first philosopher of Taoism Legend says he lived to be 160 years old Said to be keeper of sacred books Sought virtue and harmony with universe over fame View on virtue, simplicity, and harmony with nature still valued (over 2,000 years) Scholars now believe the Taoism writings were created by more than one author

Gautama Siddhartha (563 B.C.) Creator of Buddhism Born into the ruling class Left wife and son to find truth at age 29 Supposedly achieved enlightenment six years later Legend says Hindu gods encouraged he preach to others his learning Ultimate goal of Buddhism is Nirvana Four Nobel Truths Living the 8 Fold Path