Global I * Mr. McEntarfer * HSLPS
• Aim: What are the aspects of Ancient
Chinese civilization?
• Do Now: Copy terms
– Mandate of Heaven – Claim by Chinese
emperors that they had the right from the
heavens to rule.
What does the Mandate of
Heaven tell you about the
relationship between
government and religion
in China?
The Geography of China
• China was an isolated country from the
rest of the civilized world because of
distance and natural barriers separating it
from Egypt, Mesopotamia and India. This
isolation contributed to the Chinese belief
that they were the center of the civilized
world.
What are some positive and
negatives of being isolated or
having no contact with other
cultures?
The 4 Old-World
River Valley Cultures
Geography
• Rivers: Yangzi and Huang He (Yellow)
• Natural Barriers: Himalayan Mountains,
Gobi Desert
Why did Chinese
civilization begin
around the Yangzi and
Yellow River?
What would a natural
barrier such as the
Himalayan Mountains
prevent?
What natural boundaries
isolated China from the
rest of the world?
Writing in Chinese - Activity
• Choose 3 of the symbols from Chinese
Calligraphy on the next slide that you feel
is most important to you. Create a linear
personal statement on the paper provided.
– Write Large
– Use dark colors
– Write definitions nest to the symbols.
Calligraphy (Chinese Writing)
The Shang Dynasty
• Around 1650 B.C. a people called the
Shang controlled the Huang He Valley of
China. They are best known for their
bronze work
Religious Beliefs
• Ancient Chinese practiced ancestor
worship in which they worshiped their
dead relatives. The Chinese used oracle
bones to communicate with these
ancestors.
What questions do
you think the
ancient Chinese
asked their
ancestors?
The Zhou Dynasty
• Overthrew the Shang and justified their
rule by promoting the idea of the Mandate
of Heaven or divine right to rule.
• Claimed the cruelty of the last Shang
Emperor had forced the gods (heaven) to
overthrow him and put them in charge.
Aim: How did the Dynastic Cycle explain the
rise and fall of Chinese Dynasties?
• Do Now: List three things that would make
people unhappy with their government.
“T’ien Ming”
The Mandate of Heaven
1.The leader must lead by ability and
virtue.
2.The dynasty's leadership must be
justified by succeeding generations.
3.The mandate could be revoked by
negligence and abuse; the will of
the people was important.
The Dynastic Cycle.
The Chinese expanded the idea of the Mandate
of Heaven to explain the dynastic cycle, or the
rise and fall of dynasties. As long as a dynasty
provided good government, it enjoyed the
Mandate of Heaven.
Start here
Emperor is
defeated !!
Rebels find
strong leader and
Rebel against
Emperior.
Poor lose
respect for govt.
They rebel.
A new
dynasty
comes to power.
The emperor
improves government.
The
Dynastic
Cycle
Droughts,
floods,
famines occur.
Govt.
corruption.
People’s lives
improved;
taxes reduced.
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Economic problems,
high taxes
How are the Dynastic Cycle and
the Mandate of Heaven related?
The
Dynastic
Cycle
Activity: Create storyboards showing
the Dynastic Cycle visually. (p.64)
1
4
The
Dynastic
Cycle
3
2
Activity: Create storyboards showing
the Dynastic Cycle visually. (p.64)
• Show a dynasty or ruler going through the
dynastic cycle
– NEW DYNASTY - Show the new dynasty/ruler taking
charge and being supported by the people.
– GOLDEN AGE – Show the Dynasty bring peace and
prosperity
– DARK AGE – Show the decline of the dynasty where
the leader is losing the Mandate of Heaven. Wars,
Famine/Starvation, Natural Disasters, High Taxes
– REBELLION – Show in some way the people
rebelling against the Dynasty/Ruler and taking them
off the throne of leadership.
Exit Slip
• How can we apply the dynastic cycle to
American politics?
Instructional Objectives
• Describe the impact of geography on
Ancient China.
• Understand the mechanics of Chinese
Writing.
• Understand the Mandate of Heaven.
• Describe the purpose of the Dynastic
Cycle.
• Graphically show the