1. Dynasties of Ancient China
Pre AP Social Studies

2. Geography Geographically isolated to some extent.
Huang He (Yellow River) and Chiang jiang (Yangtze) rivers flood quite often.

3. Xia Dynasty (Approx. 4000 yrs ago)
Ruler: Yu
Irrigation and drained floodwaters
Beginning of Chinese civilization
No written records – existence is by legend

4. Shang Dynasty (1750-1122B.C.) Ruler: Wu Ding
Developments: impressive cities & mastery with the art of bronze casting
Farming society ruled by a king and an aristocracy
Capital was Anyang
Warlords governed territories
Veneration of ancestors developed

5. Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 B.C.) (era of warring states)
Developments: longest lived dynasty (800+ years); claimed the Mandate of Heaven
Emperors called themselves “Sons of Heaven”
Linguistic unity – Mandarin was standardized
Daoism & Confucianism - related to politics
Trade expanded to distant regions
Set up an agricultural system (nobles & peasants) A.K.A. feudalism

6. Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 B.C.) (era of warring states)
Expanded Chinese territory to Yangtze River Valley (wheat & rice growing areas added)
Increased food production and use of iron
Concept of the family grows in importance
Chopsticks
Use cavalry & crossbow
Took steps to centralize government, but local leaders ignored central government

8. Qin Dynasty ( B.C.)
Ruler: Qin Shi Huangdi (1st Emperor) – brutal ruler
Qin name applied to country’s name
Unified the Chinese world
Legalism – favored government force; viewed human nature as evil
A highly centralized government
Standardized coinage, weights, and measures
Irrigation

9. Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.) Uniform writing system & a law code
Tomb at Xian (Chang’an) is built
Manufacture of silk cloth is encouraged
Nucleus of the Great Wall is constructed
Burned books and attacked culture
National census, tax, and labor service
Downfall: high taxes, attacks on intellectuals, killed men, brutal punishments, & revolts after Qin’s death

11. Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 221 A.D.) Rulers: Han Gaozu & Wudi/Wu Ti
Kept centralized power, but reduced repression
Developments: textiles & sailing technology
Rapid population growth (20–60 million)
Government bureaucracy grew
Empire expanded into Central Asia, Korea, and Indo-China (Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam)
Silk Road expanded – trade to India, Mediterranean, and Middle East (luxury goods)
Abandoned Legalism

12. Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 221 A.D.)
Strengthening of patriarchal society – father had unquestioned power
Led to Pax Sinica (period of peace)
Iron production increased
Government sponsored canals and irrigation systems
Stratification: (top) elite class, peasants and laborers, and (bottom) unskilled labor
Paper & wheelbarrows invented
Water powered mills, ox-drawn plows w/a non-choking collar
Downfall: invasions by Huns; expansion led to weak administration and overspending

13. Similarities Centralized government w/bureaucracy
Confucianism & Daoism
Production of silk
Uniform writing system (pictograph)
Patriarchal
Filial piety
Veneration of ancestors
Stratification: (top) elite class, peasants and laborers, and (bottom) unskilled labor

14. Civil Service Corruption in govt. led to its establishment
Open to all applicants – rich and poor
Candidates for govt. positions took long, difficult written exams
Those with the highest scores were appointed
130,000 bureaucrats in the Chinese government
Actually favored the wealthy (Why?)
Jinshi
Three levels of exams