Golden%20Ages%20of%20China

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Golden Ages of China
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Dynasty

• a family of rulers who rule over a country for a
  long period of time

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First Dynasty of China

• Shang Dynasty
• Built the first cities in China
• King- practiced absolute power political,
  religious, and military leader
• Grew to rule the people of the Huang He River
  valley

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Warlords

• Kings relied on warlords to govern conquered
  territories
• Military leaders, exercised civil power by force
  in a limited area

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Lifestyle

• King, warlords, and royal officials made up the
  upper class
• Aristocrats- people of noble birth
• Most people were farmers raised cattle, sheep,
  chickens, and grew grains millet, wheat, and rice
• Polytheistic, but the god Shang Ti ruled as
  supreme god gave offerings of food and gifts
• They also worshipped their ancestors, hoping
  theyd bring them good luck

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The Zhou Chinas Longest Dynasty 1045- 256 B.C.

• The last Shang ruler was wicked, so he was
  overthrown by rebels led by Wu Wang
• Wu Wang began a new dynasty- The Zhou
• Dynasty lasted over 800 years
• The king led with the help of a bureaucracy
• Bureaucracy- group of non-elected government
  officials

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• China grew under the Zhou Dynasty- the rule
  effectively, the king divided the kingdom into
  territories
• The kings main duty was to carry out religious
  ceremonies, because they believed that the king
  represented the people before the gods

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Mandate of Heaven

• The Zhou Dynasty believed in the Mandate of
  Heaven- this was the belief that the kings right
  to rule came from the gods
• This changed what the people expected of their
  king- he must rule by the proper Way- the Dao
• The kings duty was to honor and please the gods
• Disasters were caused by the king failing to
  please the gods

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Period of the Warring States

• The aristocrats who ruled territories grew in
  power they began ignoring their kings commands,
  and took control of their own territories.
• These aristocrats began fighting each other for
  territory and power
• 200 years of fighting forced farmers to fight
  with swords, spears, and crossbows
• Horses were introduced- developed the saddle and
  stirrup
• Led to a new dynasty

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Qin Dynasty

• Strong fighting territory- Qin strong leader
  defeated all the other states 221 B.C.
• Qin ruler declared himself the First Qin
  Emperor
• Wanted to strengthen and unify China, so he took
  control of all the territories
• Now governors had to be appointed by the ruler

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Qin Shihuangdi (Chin Shee-hwahng-dee)

• Ruled with absolute control and harsh punishment
• He punished or killed those who disagreed with
  him
• Created a common currency for all of China and
  simplified and set a standard for rules
• Constructed many building projects palaces,
  roads, dams, and huge canal (connected two cities
  so they could transport supplies)

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Great Wall

• To protect China from the skilled warrior nomads
  of the Gobi desert, he connected already existent
  walls
• http//www.history.com/topics/great-wall-of-china

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End of Qin Dynasty

• After the death of Qin, aristocrats and farmers
  rebelled against his harsh rule fighting broke
  out throughout China
• 206 B.C. the Qin Dynasty was no more

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The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.A.D 220)

• One of the longest of Chinas major dynasties.
• It rivaled the Roman Empire in the West.
• With only minor interruptions it lasted a span of
  over four centuries and is considered a Golden
  Age in Chinese history especially in arts,
  politics and technology.
• Han Wudi- first strong emperor took great steps
  to improve Chinas government

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Hans Government

• Wanted to end the practice of putting family
  members in important roles, so he chose educated,
  dedicated, and skilled men for civil service
• Government workers were chosen on the basis of
  competitive tests

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Education

• Students were educated to prepare for future
  civil service
• Boys studied law, history, and ideas of Confucius

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• 60 million
• They needed more food, but farms were smaller due
  to families dividing land among sons
• Families had to sell their farms, and they became
  tenant farmers
• Tenant Farmers- men who work land own by someone
  else, very poor
• China expanded north, including Korea, Southeast,
  and west into northern India
• Eventually had 150 years of peace

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Han Culture

• During time of peace, literature and arts
  flourished
• Ideas of Confucius and filial piety became strong
• Inventions cast-iron plow, techniques to drain
  fields and direct water, waterwheels to grind
  grain, wheelbarrow, silk manufacturing, paper
  (written records), rudders in ships

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Medical Advancements

• Acupuncture- practice of inserting needles
  through the skin at specific points to treat
  disease and relieve pain
• Herbs to treat illnesses

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Silk Road

• They grew rich by sending expensive goods all
  over the world.
• Encouraged trade with other places in the world
• A network of trade routes 4,000 miles W. China
  to the Mediterranean
• Main link between Asia and Europe
• Spread knowledge, culture, and religions-
  Buddhism

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Fall of Han Dynasty

• Corrupt officials and weak , dishonest leaders
  caused people to rise up and rebel
• After the Han Dynasty collapsed in 220, Civil
  wars divided China into North and South.

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Social Unrest

• 300 years of no central government- lost many
  conquered lands, including Korea, Warlords fought
  each other
• A.D. 581 Sui (Sway) Dynasty tried to create
  stability
• Rebuilt and added to the Great Wall
• Constructed a Grand Canal to connect rivers
• Higher taxes, made farmers mad, so they revolted

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Chapter 17
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Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907)

• Restored uniform government throughout China and
  enlarged the civil service- brought back exams.
• China conquered many lands, like Korea, Tibet,
  and Vietnam.
• The most powerful emperor was Taizong (Ty-Dzung).
• Empress Wu ruled in the late 600s only woman to
  rule in China- strengthened the military

Empress Wu 624-705 A.D. Page 476
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Tang Dynasty

• Conquered lands became tributary states-meaning
  they remained independent but had to acknowledge
  Chinese supremacy.
• land reform-broke up land and redistributed it to
  peasants.
• Even though they were successful, the dynastic
  cycle took over and collapsed in 907.

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Inventions

• Gunpowder- explosives, weapons, and fireworks
  changed wars page 485
• Perfected the magnetic compass used in navigation

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Song Dynasty

• After the fall, military leaders controlled
  China. In A.D. 960, one general declared himself
  emperor and started the Song Dynasty. China was
  reunited, and they ruled for 319 years.
• Under the Song, the Chinese culture and economy
  expanded and trade flourished.
• They issued paper money due to their booming
  trade centers and became a very wealthy dynasty
  known for their economic success.

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Society During the Song

• Chinese society during this time was well
  ordered.
• At the top-the emperor and his court of
  aristocratic families
• Middle-The gentry (wealthy land owners)
• At the bottom- peasants
• Backed a new understanding of Confucianism- neo-
  Confucianism Concerned for the worldly life and
  after life included some Buddhist and Daoist
  beliefs
• Became a set of rules for good behavior
• Brought back civil service exams- very hard tests
• Began at 4 to write Chinese characters had to
  memorize Confucianism writings and recite them
• 1 in 5 boys passed the test

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Foot Binding

• During the late Song Dynasty, women had much
  fewer rights and the custom of foot binding
  began.
• This reinforced the Confucian tradition that
  women should stay inside the home.
• Women had a subordinate position that had to be
  enforced
• The tradition started in the aristocratic sect of
  society but eventually spread to lower classes
• Feet were bound with strips of cloth-as a result
  feet became half the size of a natural growing
  foot
• Tiny feet and an extended walk became a symbol of
  nobility and beauty
• Women feared not being able to find a husband if
  their feet were large
• The practice was extremely painful
• Peasants who had to work in the fields did not
  bind their feet because binding often prevented
  women from being able to walk

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Footbinding