The Bronze Age
China
Geography
One of the greatest food-producing areas of
the ancient world developed in the valleys of
two rivers in China–the Huang He (Yellow
River, so named for its rich, yellow silt) and the
Chang Jiang (Yangtze River).
Early Yellow Valley Civilization
Developed out of
Neolithic settlements in
Yellow River Valley
1750 – 1122 BC
SHANG DYNASTY
Yellow River Economy
Only 10% of China can
be used for farming b/c
of mountains and
deserts
The yellow river valley
in particular lacked
written language for an
extensive period.
Because of this,
documented economics
are rare. What is known
is that the civilization
primarily focused on
day to day agriculture,
rather than
spontaneous growth.
Yellow River Government
ZHOU DYNASTY
1045 – 256 BC
King was believed to
connect Heaven and
Earth
Yellow River Government
• Mandate of Heaven:
• Rulers had special
permission from the
gods to rule but this
permission could be
revoked and given to
another family if the
current rulers misused
their authority
Yellow River Social Structure
• King ruled from the
capital city of Anyang.
• His kingdom was
divided into different
territories that were
ruled by aristocratic
warlords(military
leaders).
Yellow River Family Life
• Family is very important
for the Chinese culture.
The authority of the
family belongs to the
father.
• A typical Chinese family
contains a mother,
father the sons and the
unmarried daughters
live in the home
together.
Warring States Period
• Around 300 BC, the
northwestern state of
Qin began to conquer
neighboring states
• Known as the Warring
States Period in Chinese
History
Consolidation of China
• Qin Shi Huangdi:
The First Emperor
Shi Huangdi
• He introduced the following to
China under the Qin Dynasty
• Centralized administrative
system
• Standard system of weights
and measures
• Uniform coinage system
• Simplified standard alphabet
• Began work on the Great Wall!
The Great Wall
• Shi Huangdi
accomplished his work
in only ten years
• Drove his people
mercilessly
• Imposed heavy taxes,
imposed forced labor,
and brutally crushed all
hints of dissent
Fall of the Qin Dynasty
Emperor Qin
Shi Hunagdi
• He became obsessed
with finding a magic
potion that would give
him eternal life in last
years
• Died in 210 BC while on
a quest to find magic
potion.
• His empire collapsed
immediately in the
midst of civil war
Yellow River New Ruler
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Han Dynasty
206 BC-220 AD
Founded by Lui Bang
Former bandit leader
Lui Bang continued
centralizing policies of
Shi Huangdi but went
easier on his people.
Han Dynasty
• Restored Confucian
principals
• Period of prosperity
• Lowered taxes
• Curtailed forced labor
• Lightened up on
repression
• Put Han Dynasty on
firm foundation that
would last 400 years
Han Dynasty
• Greatest of the Han
emperors
• 157-87 BC
• Extended Han power into
Tibet, Korea, and
Mongolia
• Established relations with
Japan
• Began work on the “Silk
Road”
• Trade route that
stretched from China,
through India and the
Middle East, and into
Europe
The Silk Road and Cultural Diffusion
Yellow River Religion
• From 500 to 200 B.C., three schools of thought
about human nature and the universe
developed in China–
• Confucianism
• Daoism
• Legalism
Yellow River Religion
• Daoism’s chief ideas are
in the book Tao Te Ching
(The Way of the Dao).
• Daoists believe that the
way to follow the Dao is
inaction, not action.
• People should act
spontaneously and let
nature take its course.
Laozi.
(the founder)
Daoism/Taoism
Yin/Yang symbolized
harmonious action of nature
and duality
light and dark
high and low
hot and cold
fire and water
life and death
male and female
sun and moon
Confusionism
• Confucius was known to
the Chinese as the First
Teacher.
• He was born in 551 B.C.
• Motivated by Chinese
society’s moral decay
and violence, Confucius
tried to convince those
in power to follow his
ideas
Confuciuism
• Duty & Humanity Ideas
5 Constant Relationships:
• Parent to child
• Husband to wife
• Older sibling to younger sibling
• Older friend to younger friend
• Ruler to subject
• His ideas were political and
ethical, not spiritual.
Legalism
• Unlike Confucianism or Daoism, Legalism
believed human beings were essentially evil.
• Legalism’s formula for social order was having
a strong ruler and harsh, impersonal laws,
both of which made people obedient through
fear