1. Unit 2: The Classical Period
China

2. China, India, Mediterranean
What’s the Big Deal?
China, India, Mediterranean

3. What’s In the Classical Period?
Built on RVC predecessors
But larger geographically
Culturally deeper AND broader
More trade, complex economy
More political consolidation

4. Why Was the Classical Period Bigger and Better?
Stronger militaries
Iron weapons, c. 1,500 B.C.E.
More outreach, contact for trade
Han—Middle East and India
Alexander (Greeks)—Middle East and India
Formalized religion and philosophy
Hinduism (older, but develops more)
Buddhism
Christianity
Improvements in infrastructure
New Canals
Safer Transportation (Postal Service—Persia)

5. Durable Cultures Chinese more accepting authority
Confucius
Modern-day examples:
One child law
Internet censorship
One-party rule
India’s diversity makes centralization difficult.
Ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences
Partition
The government’s inability to regulate birthrates.

6. Durable Cultures, pt. 2 Romans: Greeks
law and concepts of citizenship
Habeas corpus?
Roman Catholicism
Greeks
Democracy
Science and philosophy
Theater
^English language roots in both^

7. Durable Cultures Pt. 3 The Middle East…gets conquered a lot.
Alexander
Rome
Byzantines…
Persia…always trying to assert itself

8. When Distinctiveness Collides
Syncretism: Buddha in Greek clothes
Conflict: Christianity v. paganism

9. Classical Continuities
No massive technological improvements.
No great changes in transportation (just better roads)
Rural folk often maintained older religions.
Continuation of RVC practices:
Money
Law codes
Interest in science (esp. Astronomy)

10. Classical China
Zhou, Qin, Han

11. Political Patterns
Dynasty cycle (Vigor, Stagnation, Decline—often internal rebellions)
Mandate of Heaven
Rise of Confucian order and bureaucracy

12. Why China is Special Isolation BUT magnificence
Advanced civilization contrasts from Aboriginal Australians.
Han the most effective bureaucracy before the modern era.
Technology
Language; writing
ALL WITHOUT MUCH CONTACT WITH OTHER CIVILIZATIONS
No missionary spirit

13. Dynasty Cycle Notion of the ‘Mandate of Heaven” begun by the Zhou
a) Emperors refered to as ‘Sons of Heaven’
b) Connecting rulers to divine power/inspiration/oversight
(1) At the start: Strong institutions, honest bureaucracy
(2) Later: Internal rebellions, corruption, external invasions, poor weather, poor flood control, famine—Lose Mandate
With the decline of one dynasty, another would rise.
a) Successful invaders, leaders of rebellions, strong generals.

14. Dynasty Cycle: Zhou Northern people, replaced Shang Dynasty
Closest ties to RVC
Mandarin language
Zhou had no cohesive bureaucracy
Ruled by alliances with regional princes and noble families
Zhou authority unravels c. 8th century B.C.E.
Political conflict
Social turmoil
Nomadic invasions
Context for Confucius

15. Dynasty Cycle: Zhou to Qin
The Zhou have lost the Mandate of Heaven.
Shi Huangdi, 3rd Century B.C.E., warrior strongman
Tyranical/Brutal
Legalism
Conscripted labor and taxes
Son and advisors lose support of people (& Mandate of Heaven)
Peasant revolt lead to rise of the Han…etc.

16. Qin Dynasty Qin=China Shi Huangdi undercuts aristocrats
Provinces ruled by bureaucratic appointments; not noble families
Bureaucracy not tied to nobility
Expands beyond Zhou borders
South to modern-day Hong Kong
Great Wall in North

17. Qin Legacy Use of conscripted (but not enslaved) labor
National census (for tax and labor purposes)
Standardized weights and measures
Good for trade
Standard axles promote standard roads…
Uniform written script
Promotion of irrigation (still happening)
Promotion of industry (silk)—(Still happening)
Intolerant of criticism:
Burned many books
Feared opposition from intellectuals (Still happening!)

18. Han Legacy Peasants topple a dynasty… Centralization without brutality
Wu Ti and Confucius
Expansion:
Korea
Indochina
Central Asia
Decline:
Weakened central control
Invasions from Central Asia (Huns!)

19. What’s Important About Chinese Political Structures?
Central authority
Emperor with a Mandate from Heaven
Uniform legal codes
Uniform tax system
Uniformity…
Supportive and expansive bureaucracy
Use of appointed governors for provinces
Embrace of Confucianism; Civil Service Exam
Sponsorship of industries and public works

20. Chinese Religion and Culture
Many religions, esp. among masses; polytheism
Tolerated if not political
Daoism promotes withdrawing from politics
Buddhism will suffer later
Emphasis on harmony, balance (yin/yang)
Emphasis on rituals and ceremony
Han worship Confucius as a god

21. Religion and Culture, Pt. 2
Confucius NOT a religious leader
Emphasis on relationships &
Ruler and subject
Father and son
Elder brother and younger brother
Husband and wife
Friend and friend
Hierarchy is natural and good.
It’s about knowing your proper place—harmony.

22. Religion and Culture, Pt. 3
Daoism
“The Way”
Lao Tzu
Concept of Yin-Yang, order in all things
Nature-based, quiet, withdrawn life
Not endorsed by Emperor or bureaucracy, but apolitical so left alone.

23. Religion and Culture, Pt. 4
Legalism
Pragmatic guide to maintaining order
Human nature is evil; must be restrained
Harsh central rule
Severe punishment for crimes
Limited thought; anti-intellectual

24. Religion and Culture, Pt. 5
Art
Decorative, stressing detail, craftsmanship
Reflect geometric qualities, as in Chinese writing
Music
Scholars studied the mathematics of tone

25. Classical Chinese Economy
Agriculture
Wheat in North
Rice in South
Internal trade (isolation)
Iron mining
Manufacturing (e.g. textiles: silk, porcelain)
The Silk Road

26. Classical Chinese Technology
Skilled ironworks
Pulleys and winding gear
Yokes sans choking
Ox-driven plows
Increased production=increased population
Largest cities in the world
Water-powered mills
Paper
Chinese science and astronomy focused on practical application (e.g. calendars)

27. Classical Chinese Families
Tightly organized (Confucius!)
Patriarchical (Confucius)
“There are no wrongdoing parents.” (Confucius)
Primogeniture (Confucius)
Order and control start in the family (Confucius)

28. Classical Social Groups
Mandarins/Land owners; bureaucrats and scholars
Laborers and peasants
Mean People (traders and merchants; performing artists; dirtiest jobs)
Why are Merchants and traders so low?
Harsher punishments for crimes
Had to wear green scarves?

29. Big Picture Politics and culture
Emphasized order and stability (guess who)
Divergence of Confucianism, Daoism, and (eventually) Buddhism
Technology, religion, philosophy, political structures: despite isolation
Practical science=useful technology=improved economy
Longest lasting civilization in world history

30. Expansion

31. Expansion

32. Shi Huangdi

33. Wanna Play a Game?

34. Qin Architecture

35. Han Architecture

36. Confucius

37. The Silk Road

38. The Silk Road

39. Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

40. Terra Cotta Army

41. Han Chinese Art