Early China

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Chapter 7: Early China Chapter Overviews China's first civilization developed in the Huang He valley. The Shang and Zhou dynasties ruled China from about 1750 B.C. to 221 B.C. Chinese rulers claimed they had the Mandate of Heaven. Zhou kings believed that the gods gave them the right to rule in China. This Mandate said that the king must rule by the proper Way, known as the Dao. The kings duty was to honor and please the gods.

Ancient Chinese society was divided into 4 distinct social classes. A social class is a group of people in a society with the same economic and social position. 1. Aristocratsa. Small number of people b. Wealthy and owned large plots of land 2. Farmers a. Most people b. Worked on the land owned by aristocrats c. Paid rent in the form of crops d. Paid taxes e. Served as soldiers in wartime f. Worked one month per year on public projects like roads 3. Artisansa. Skilled workers who made useful objects like tools and silk cloth b. Learned skills from fathers and taught them to sons 4. Merchants a. Shopkeepers and traders b. Lived in towns

c. Provided goods and services to aristocrats d. Some wealthy, but not respected because merchants made money only for themselves. The family was the building block of China's society. The Chinese practiced filial piety, which required that children respect their parents and older relatives. After violence weakened the Zhou kingdom, the three Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism grew out of a need for order. Confucianism Confucius People should put the needs of their family and community first Daoism Laozi People should give up worldly desires in favor of nature and the Dao, the force that guides all things Legalism Hanfeizi Society needs a system of harsh laws and strict punishment.

Founder Key Ideas

The Qin dynasty was ruled by a harsh leader who practiced Legalism. Qin Shihuangdi used force to unify China. Accomplishments of the Qin dynasty include a strong central government, creation of a single form of currency, and the construction of roads and a canal. Despite these advancements, the people of China hated Qin Shihuangdi, and four years after his death, they overthrew the dynasty. The Han dynasty was founded by Liu Bang. Under the Han dynasty, China's empire grew in size and population. Han inventions included the waterwheel, paper, acupuncture, and the rudder. The invention of the rudder allowed the Chinese to travel to the islands of Southeast Asia and into the Indian Ocean. Chinese merchants also used the Silk Road to transport goods as far as Greece and Rome. The Silk Road was a network of trade routes. When it was completed, it stretched from China to the Mediterranean. Travel on the Silk Road was difficult and dangerous. Traders had to cross high mountains and vast deserts. Robbers and thieves also traveled the roads. Over the years, China came into contact with other civilizations. Chinese inventions, such as paper, traveled along the Silk Road to civilizations in the West.

After the fall of the Han dynasty, many Chinese began to practice Buddhism to cope with stress and fear. Question 1. Where did Chinas first civilization develop? 2. How long did the Shang and Zhou dynasties rule in China? Describe the Mandate of Heaven.

Answer in bullet points

3.

4.

What do you think would happen if the king did not rule by the Dao?

5.

What is a social class?

6.

Name the 4 social classes of the Chinese society.

7. Which of the social classes had the most people? Which had the least?

8. How was the family viewed in China?

9. Why did the 3 philosophies develop in China?

10. Examine each philosophy above. Which philosophy does not look at the needs of the people?

11. How was the Qin Dynasty different from the Han Dynasty?