1. Chinese Dynasties

2. Review What are the geographic features of China?
How did the Chinese change their environment to make it work for them?
Mountains, deserts, ocean and jungles
Terrace farming to farm on the hill and mountains
Explain the importance of the Silk Road
What are the basic guidelines of the Confucius belief system?
Trade and cultural diffusion between China and Rome
Silk road and Indian Ocean (Monsoon Marketplace
Five Relationships
Filial Piety- Respect for elders

3. Shang Dynasty
Most of China was isolated by a variety of geographic features
It was the Shang that first united a chunk of China near the Huang He and helped China prosper
Under the Shang Dynasty the Chinese developed a writing system

4. The right to rule granted by god
Zhou Dynasty
Mandate of Heaven:
The right to rule granted by god
Overthrew the Shang family
Created support by claiming god was angry with the Shang’s cruel rule and chose the Zhou to rule instead
They called this the Mandate of Heaven

5. Mandate of Heaven

6. Think about it…
Thinking back to the Egyptian and Mesopotamian God-Kings, why do you think the Chinese Dynasties would claim a “Mandate” from heaven?

7. Zhou Fuedalism
The emperor would give large areas of land to loyal lords.
The lords would allow peasants to farm the land in exchange for a part of the crop and military service

8. Zhou Economy
The Zhou introduced money to the Chinese, changing from bartering to money
Increased canals, road systems and irrigation systems
Discovered how to make silk

9. Qin Dynasty
The Qin furthered trade along the Silk Road but dealt with frequent invasions
Began the Great Wall to stop invasions
The Emperor also placed thousands of Terracotta statues to ‘protect’ his tomb and wall

10. Period of cultural and intellectual achievement.
Han Dynasty 206 BCE- 220 CE
The Han dynasty created a Golden Age in China
The Han Dynasty gained the mandate of heaven by lowering taxes and easing government regulations
More freedom
Lower taxes
Golden Age:
Period of cultural and intellectual achievement.

11. Han’s Golden Age Led by Wudi/ Wuti Expanded Silk Road
Established Confucianism as the official belief system
Civil Service exams- qualified employees not just friends
Wrote books on zoology, biology, chemistry and astronomy
Created acupuncture

12. Civil Service Exams
Before the exams, most government jobs were provided based on close relationships
Government jobs are now based on merit
Do you think Civil Service Exams are a good idea or not?

13. Tang Dynasty 618 CE-907 CE Reunited China after years of Civil War
Created a strict social structure
Invented Gun powder
Invented block printing- allowed for quicker and cheaper copies

14. Block Printing
Creating Block Printing allowed the Chinese to quickly reproduce books and sell them for less money

15. Song Dynasty (related to Tang)
The Song Dynasty focused on trade:
-fine porcelain
-landscape paintings
-Pagoda
-spinning wheel
-increase Rice production

16. Ming Dynasty CE
Population boomed as new foods were introduced from the Americas
Restored many traditional values and ideas
Explored sea trading routes and established trade from China to Africa

17. Zheng He
Zheng He led expeditions along Southeast Asia, India and East Africa
Trade=cultural diffusion
The Chinese felt superior to the cultures they encountered. When Zheng He dies the emperor stops ALL trade and the Chinese become isolated

19. Review
The Ancient Chinese viewed outsiders are barbarians. This is an example of
1) Cultural diffusion
2) Materialism
3) Imperialism
4) Ethnocentrism

20. Review
In China, the development of ethnocentrism was most influenced by
1. its geographic isolation
2.its historic reliance on foreign nations
3.a long history of democratic government
4. a strong belief in Christianity

21. Review
Which statement best supports the idea that cultural diffusion has greatly affected Southeast Asia?
1) The population of SE Asia is concentrated in rural areas
2) Monsoon climates affect food production in Indonesia
3) A reliance on subsistence agriculture remains a problem for many SE Asian economies
4) Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam are practiced throughout SE Asia