1. Ancient China

2. China  About 1000 years after the Indus valley people built their first cities, another civilization began in China.  Started in the fertile valleys between the Yellow River and the Yangtze Rivers.  -This made China very isolated from other civilizations.  -Only other outsiders near them were the Mongols.

3. China  SOCIETY  Family was central to society and greatly honored, and everyone had a clear role in society.  The elderly had privileges and power  The young had very little privileges or power.  Women were subservient to men.  Society was divided between the nobles and peasants

4. China  Religion and family were linked together.  Spirits of family were worshipped and were thought to bring good or bad fortune  Every family paid respect to its ancestors and made sacrifices in their honor.

5. China  The Rulers  People also gave obedience and respect to the ruler.  The ruler had supreme responsibility for the welfare of the people.  Like Egypt, China’s history was marked using dynasties. (rulers)  From Ancient Times until the 1900’s, China has been ruled by one dynasty after another.  Shang, Chou, Ch’in, and Han

6. China (Shang Dynasty)  Developed writing  -Each character stood for an idea and not a sound, making it very difficult to learn.  -People could read it without knowing how to speak it, allowed people with different languages the ability to communicate.

7. China They needed someone to steer them the right direction…. 3 people emerged

8. China  CONFUCIUS One philosopher that urged social harmony was named CONFUCIUS

9. China  Confucius

10. China  He believed that order and good government could be restored if society was reorganized around five basic relationships:  o The relationship between ruler and subject  o The relationship between father and son  o The relationship between husband and wife  o The relationship between older brother and younger brother  o The relationship between friend and friend

11. China  Another philosopher was Lao Tzu,  Believed that nature was the key to order and harmony.  Believed that a universal force guides all things: rivers, breezes etc.  His followers adopted Taoism

12. China  Lao Tzu

13. China  The third philosopher was Leglists.  Believed that a highly efficient and powerful government was the key.  Leglists stressed punishments and rewards

14. China  Leglists

15. China Together the ideas of these philosophers would eventually helped unite China

16. China  Han Dynasty led by Wu-ti  proclaimed Confucianism the official set of beliefs of the government  Created a university for people to study writing  Created a 4000 mile trade road to Persia and the Mediterranean world that came to be known as “The Great Silk Road”