1. Classic China 1800BC to 220AD

2. Geography

3. Shang dynasty: BC
Xia was the first civilization but little is known about it and it was quickly replaced by the Shang dynasty
Shang dynasty was a farming society, ruled by an aristocracy, divided into territories
In the Shang dynasty people believed in life after death, which developed into ancestor worship
Known for using bronze in art
Ended, possibly due to weak leadership

6. Zhou Dynasty: 1045- 256BC Longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history
King was link between heaven and earth
Like the Shang dynasty, the country was divided into territories, each ran by an official
“Mandate of Heaven”
Economic and social life began to develop: irrigation, plow, trade, silk, filial piety
403 BC: civil war broke out: horseback and crossbow

9. Contributions of ancient China
Written language
Confucianism (political and ethical)
Daoism (duty and humanity; the way)
Legalism (human beings are evil, impersonal laws)

10. Qin Dynasty BC
The Qin dynasty defeated other warring states after a bloody civil war
Adopted legalism
Highly centralized (civil, military, censorate) (provinces, counties)
Monetary system, roads, militarily aggressive

12. The Great Wall
Concerned with the northern border due to nomadic tribes that rode on horseback
Project: keep them out!
Wall we know today wasn’t built until 1500 years later
Fell due to angry citizens; civil war again

14. Han Dynasty: 202BC-220AD Discarded harsh policies of the Qin dynasty
Used Confucianism
Kept centralization and local government
Chose government officials based on merit
Population growth
Empire expanded southward
Prosperous, but life was hard for peasants

16. Technology in the Han Textile manufacturing Water mills Iron casting
Paper
Rudder and rigging

18. Fall of the Han Weak rulers wasted time and money on “court life”
Central government lost power, nobles gained power
Corruption and social decay
Nomadic raids
Peasant uprisings and rebel armies led to…

20. of no official government…
…four hundred years
of no official government…

21. Ancient Chinese Culture
Schools
Confucian classics
Terra cotta sculpture