•Mountains & Deserts in the north &
west & Pacific in the east isolated
China from outsiders
•Ethnocentrism-China was the
center of the world
•All foreigners were Barbarians
•Lacked interest in foreign cultures
Founded by Confucius
th
6 Century B.C.
Texts – Analects/ writings of
Confucius
•Filial Piety Respect for elders
•5 relationships Father/son,
Ruler/subject, husband/wife, older
brother/ younger brother, friend/friend
Founded by Lao-tzu
rd
3 century BC
•Tao- “The Way” of the universe
•Live in Harmony with nature
•Balance between Ying & Yang
•Rejected government
•Highly powerful government is the
key to social order
•Punishment for offenses should be
severe
Siddartha Gautama
5th Century BC
•Eightfold Path, ethical behavior
& good deeds (Meditation)
•Ultimate goal is Nirvana
•Rise, decline, and replacement of
dynasties
•Mandate of Heaven- Rule by
divine right.
•210BC-220 AD
•Legalism/confucianism
•Centralized government
•Civil Service Exam
•221BC-210BC
•Legalism/ unified China
•Shi Huangdi
•Burned rival books/regulated
coinage
•Unified Great Wall of China
•618-907 AD
•Revived Confucianism
•Expanded Trade (Silk Road)
connected china to the Middle East