Life in Ancient China
Mrs. Assini
Honors SS, 1-2
Clay Goldsmid
Chris Zeck
Adin Kolansky
Jack Clark
Chris Cooper
Seven Features of Civilization
Cities
Public Works
System of Writing
Culture
Ancient
China
Social Classes
Organized Religion
Central
Governments
Cities
• Xi’an- It was a cultural centre along the Silk Road.
Xi’an was the capital for 12 dynasties. These
dynasties include the Zhou, Qin, Western Han, and
the Tang.
• Chengdu- It has been a government administrative
center since ancient times. It was the capital of Liu
Bei’s Shu kingdom during the Three Kingdoms
period. Chengdu marks the beginning of the
southern Silk Road Route
• Anyang- Anyang was the first capital of northern
China.
Culture
• Ancient Chinese culture consisted of polytheistic beliefs.
• Weavers used silk to make colorful clothes.
• People always needed to find enough food to support the
large population.
• They carved statues from jade.
• There was a large gap between the wealthy and poor.
• They greatly honored their ancestors
• Inventions include gun powder and paper
• Chinese also cultivated silk.
• The Shang were big producers of bronze
Social Classes
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Kings
Aristocrats
Nobles
Artisans
Traders
Farmers
Slaves
Central Government
• The Shang dynasty started off with a weak central
government, which was based on agriculture
• The Zhou dynasty lasted the longest of all Ancient Chinese
dynasties. It also split the kingdom into smaller territories.
Aristocrats were the rulers of each territory. This was based
on the Shang government.
• Bureaucracy
System of Writing
• Ideographs
• Pictographs
• Symbol writing system
Organized Religion
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Shang Ti
Polythesism
Oracle Bones
By 220 A.D. Buddhism became a common
religion.
Buddah
Philosophers
• Confucius-Confucianism
• Laozi- Daoism
• Hanfeizi- Legalism
Primary Source
• “There are those who act without knowing; I will have none of
this. To hear a lot, choose the good, and follow it, to see a lot
and learn to recognize it: this is next to knowledge”
–
Confucius
• “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
-Confucius
• “Higher good is like water: the good in water benefits all, and
does so without contention. It rests where people dislike to
be, so it is close to the Way. Where it dwells becomes good
ground; profound is the good in its heart, Benevolent the
good it bestows.” –Laozi
• “I have brought order to the mass of beings.” -Qin Shihuangdi
Time Line
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1750 B.C. - Shang Dynasty Begins
1045 B.C. - Wu Wang Creates Zhou Dynasty
551 B.C. – Confucius is born
300 B.C. – Laozi’s ideas of Daoism become popular
221 B.C. – Qin Dynasty begins
202 B.C. – Liu Bang founds Han Dynasty
200 B.C. – Hanfeizi develops Legalism
A.D. 1- Silk Road is established
A.D. 190- Rebel Armies attack Han capital
China Physical Map
China Political Maps
Role of Slavery
Location
• Absolute Location• Relative Location-
Sources
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http://www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall/
http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/ancient_china/land_of_china/cities/index.shtml
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/zhou.html
http://sunwalked.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/confucius.jpg
http://www.china-tour.cn/images/Chinese-History/Laozi.jpg
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=hanfeizi&form=QBIR&qs=n#
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=china+buddha&form=QBIR&qs=n#
http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/AncientChinaCurriculum/Transparencies/HansTransSlaves.jpg