1. Ancient China Notes
World History

2. 4 Philosophies of Ancient China
Buddhism (Imported from India)
Confucianism: (official state belief system)
Daoism: (stressed harmony with nature)
Legalism: (strict laws, severe punishments, & a strong central government)

3. Dynastic China Zhou (Joe) Dynasty (1027-256 BCE)
Rulers claimed the Mandate of Heaven (permission to rule was granted by the divine power)
Mandate of Heaven was later used to explain the Dynastic Cycle: (dynasty remained in power as long as it was providing good government)
Developed manufacture and trade of silk
Developed bookmaking

5. Qin (Tsin) Dynasty (221 – 206 BCE)
Unified China
Qin Shi Huangdi was known as the “First Emperor.”
Developed cavalry
standardized the language, writing, currency, & measurements
Great Wall of China built

6. Confucianism
Confucius was a scholar, taught history, studied music, and had an upstanding moral character.
Thought order could be attained through development of 5 relationships: 1 ruler and subject, 2 father and son, 3 husband and wife, 4 older brother and younger brother, and 5 friend and friend.
People should practice filial piety (respect for their parents.

7. Confucius led the way for the creation of a bureaucracy – a trained civil service that rain the government.
Confucianism is NOT a religion it is an ethical system.

8. Environmental Challenges
The Huang He (Yellow River) and the Yangtze River flood frequently . The Huang He’s floods were especially disastrous which led to it being called “China’s sorrow.” (Three Gorges Dam)
Natural boundaries did not protect them from repeated invasions.

14. Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) Considered China’s Golden Age
economic development: the Silk Road
~ main export: silk
~ imports: glass, cloth, food, architecture, gold, camels, Buddhism
Confucianism was the state belief system
Civil Service Exam: the Merit System
accurate clocks, ship rudders, & PAPER

15. Buddhism
Developed out of the personal religious questioning of Siddhartha Gautama
Buddha means “the enlightened one”
The “Four Noble Truths”
Life is filled with suffering
Suffering is caused by desire for the pleasures of this world
To end suffering, one must end desire
The was to overcome desire is to follow the Eight-fold Path

16. By following the Eight-fold Path one could reach Nirvana
Nirvana is the release from selfishness and suffering.

17. Tang Dynasty:
strict social structure
dev. of gunpowder, block printing
Song Dynasty:
movable type printing
200 yrs. before Gutenberg