• 10/23 Focus:
• Chinese rulers followed the dynastic cycle.
This was the understanding that dynasties
would rise and fall over and over again.
• Do Now:
– Define the term ethnocentrism and explain
how geography lead to ethnocentrism in
China
China
Dynasties
The Shang Dynasty
• 1650 B.C.
• Shang gain
control of N.
China
• Government
– Ruled by Kings
– Establish first
dynasty
• A ruling family
The Shang Dynasty
• Religion
– Polytheistic
– Worshiped ancestors
– Used oracle bones to try
to communicate with them
• Bones inscribed with
pictographs
• Priests could read them for
messages from ancestors
– Offered ancestors gifts
for the afterlife
The Shang Dynasty
• written language
– used pictograms
• symbols that represent
pictures
– Ideograms
• symbols that represent
ideas.
• used on the Oracle
Bones, but only few
people learned how to
read and write
The Shang Dynasty
• Early class systems
• small warrior class ruling over the peasants
• Patriarchal Society
• Male dominated
The Shang Dynasty
• Technology/Achievements/Developments:
– Bronze production for weapons and ceremonial
vessels (not tools)
– chariots
– Silk production
– Irrigation systems
Closure
• What is a dynasty?
• Explain what oracle bones were.
• What is meant by term patriarchal?
The Zhou Dynasty
• 1029 -258 B.C.
• Overthrow the
Shang
King Wen, The founder of the
Zhou dynasty
– Told people that the
gods had become
angry with Shang
misdeeds & Gods had
chosen the Zhou to
rule
– Leads to the
Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven
• divine approval to rule
• Used by rulers to claim
authority over people
• Was used to explain the
dynastic cycle
– New dynasties were good
and just to the people
– Overtime the dynasty
became corrupt and unfair
to the people
– Lost approval of gods
– New dynasty would take
over
Zhou Government
• Zhou kings called
themselves “Sons of
Heaven
• Kings granted large
areas of land to their
supporters
– Feudalism
• Local lords controlled
their own land
• Owed military service to
the ruler
• Feudal lords became the
real holders of power in
China
Zhou Accomplishments
• Built roads and canals to
expand trade
• Silk production
– Produced from cocoons of
silkworms
– Became a major export
• Made the first books
– Bound thin strips of bamboo &
wood
– The I Ching
– Book of Songs
• Astronomy
– Developed an accurate calendar
– Studied eclipses and movement
of planets
Closure
• How was the Mandate of Heaven used
to justify the overthrow of a
government?
• What was the dynastic cycle?
• 10/24 Focus:
– The Great Wall of China was created
during the Qin Dynasty and is an example
of Chinese ethnocentrism.
– The Han Dynasty built a large civilization
by using roads. They expanded trade
routes and made a great deal of money
that helped them expand.
• Do Now:
– Explain the Mandate of Heaven
Qin Dynasty
• 221 B.C.
• Shi Huangdi
– “The First Emperor”
– Conquers the Zhou
• Zhou government was
weak
• Feudal lords divided
and at war
Centralized Power
• Shi Huangdi centralizes power and
establishes autocracy
– Power from one central area
– Autocracy
• A government in which the ruler has absolute or
total power
– Abolishes the feudal states
– Divided the country into military districts
– Harsh rules
• Rules about being on time
• Forced labor to build public works
• High taxes
The Great Wall of China
• Extended from the
Yellow Sea to the Gobi
Desert
• Forced labor used to
construct the wall
• Ethnocentrism
• Built to keep out
nomads and invaders
• Keep out foreign
influences
• Limits cultural
diffusion
•
The famous Terracotta Soldiers were built to guard the Emperor’ s
tomb
The Han Dynasty
• 206 B.C. -220 B.C
• Shi Huangdi dies in 210
B.C.
• People revolt against the
Qin
• Liu Bang established the
Han dyansty
–
–
–
–
Peasant leader
Takes the name Gau Zu
Reduced taxes
Changed harsh Qin laws
Han Rule
• Emperor Wudi
• 441 B.C
• Strengthens China’s
government and
economy
– Establishes civil service
system
• Government workers
• Civil service exam was
required to work in
government
• Based on teachings of
Confucius
– Opened the Silk Road
The Silk Road
• Becomes a major trade route
– Stretches from China to Mediterranean Sea
• Brings China in contact with other civilizations
– Cultural diffusion
– Buddhism from India
• New ideas, foods, animals , and products are spread
along the silk road
Han Golden Age
• Expansion of trade and strong government
under Han rule brought peace and
prosperity
• Technological Advances
–
–
–
–
Made paper from wood pulp
Iron production
Water powered mills
Invented:
• Wheelbarrow
• Fishing reel
• Rudder
Han Golden Age
• Advances in Science and
Medicine
– Acupuncture and herbal
remedies to treat illness
– Develop anesthesia
• Advanced astronomers
– Developed accurate clocks
• Wrote science texts
– Chemistry, botany, and
Zoology
Closure
• How is the construction of the Great
Wall of China an example of Chinese
ethnocentrism?
• Why did the Silk Road increase
cultural diffusion?