2. Dynasties: Zhou 1029-258 BCE No powerful government – rules by alliances with regional noblemen Weak rulers who lacked the means to control their territory directly Could only hope that local rulers would support them Came from the north and displaced the Shang Extended territory into Yangtze River valley The “Middle Kingdom” Heightened focus on central government Known as the Sons of Heaven (gods chose them to rule)
3. Dynasties: Qin Qin Shi Huangdi, or First Emperor Brutal, but effective Forced regional nobles to join his court and gave their land to peasants who owed him their power Built the Great Wall by forced labor Ordered national census Standardized coins, weights, and measures (including cart axle length) Made Chinese script uniform Shi Huangdi believed that thinking was likely to be subversive to his autocratic rule He was a fiercely unpopular ruler
4. Dynasties: Han 202 BC-220 CE Retained the centralized government but diminished brutal repression Expanded terriroty into Korea, Indochina, and central Asia Allowed for contact with Parthian Empire Wu Ti (140-87 BCE) Most famous ruler Enforced widespread peace throughout most of Asia
5. Confucianism Kung Fuzi (Kung the philospher) 551-478 BCE Emphasized personal virtue Reverance for tradition Stressed for ones superiors (fathers and husbands) Insistence that leaders should behave well also: Mostedty Shunning abusive power Treating their people courteously Love of wisdom, veneration of custom
6. Legalism Authoritatian state that rules by force Human nature is evil and requires restraint and discipline The army should control and the people should labor Pleasures in educated discourse or courtesy are frivolity Was often combined with Confucianism to produce a leader with a cultured veneer who employed strong-arm tactics
7. Daoism “the way of nature” Laozi (Daoist leader) True human understanding comes in withdrawing from the world and contemplating the life force Daoist ethics: Harmony with nature Humility and frugal living Policical activity and learning were irrelevant General conditions of the world were of little importance
8. Art Decorative, highly detailed, stressed craftsmanship Reflected precision and geometric qulities of Chinese writing Calligraphy and painting were huge Other popular mediums: Bronze Pottery Jade Ivory Silk Did not produce monuments (aside from tombs and Great Wall) Absence of a single religion
9. Science Astronomy Other Science Accurate callendar (444 BCE), based on a year of 365.5 days Calculated the movements of Saturn and Jupiter and charted sunspots Purpose: to make cellestial phenomena predictable Stressed harmony bewteen heaven and earth Invented a kind os seismograph during the Han dynasty Developed precise anatomical knowledge Studied principles of hygiene to extend average lifetime
10. Technology Ox-drawn plows and collars that didn’t choke the animal Pulleys and winding gear for iron mining Iron tools and lamps Advanced production methods in textiles and pottary Water-powered mills Paper and writing utensils
11. Work Cited Stearns, Peter N. "Classical Civilization: China." World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 5. Pearson Education, Inc., 2007. Print.
