Ancient ChinaThe Beginnings

The First Chinese Dynasties Xia Dynasty

› Located in the Huang He Valley

› First Chinese Civilization

Shang Dynasty› First Chinese

Cities› Mostly farmers› Worshiped

gods and spirits

Chinese Language/Art Pictographs

› Characters that stand for objects

Some characters stand for sounds, but most still represent whole words

Ideographs› Characters joined

together to represent an idea

The Shang are best known for their works of bronze

Dao (Dow)/Tao› “Way”, road, path,

etc.› Yin/Yang

Qin (CHIHN) would defeat the Shang “Period of the Warring States”

Life in Ancient China Filial Piety

› Children had to respect their parents and older relatives

› Family needs before personal desires

› The head of the family was the oldest male

Chinese Thinkers› Confucianism

Sense of duty The Golden Rule

› Daoism Known Taoism Teachings of Laozi

(LOWD ZOO) Give up worldly desires

and turn to nature› Legalism

Taught by Hanfeizi (HAN FAY DZOO)

Following law

Zhou Dynasty Qin Dynasty Wu Wang (founder) Longest Dynasty in

Chinese History A king was

considered the link between heaven and earth

Mandate of Heaven› Chosen to rule

because of talent and virtue

Based on Legalism – Very strict!

Created one currency

Started the “Wall” Empire would last

until he died Terra-Cotta army

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Han Dynasty Started by Liu Bang Created Civil Service The Era of

Inventions The Silk Road The rise of Buddhism

began as a result of a weak and foolish government

Paper Printing Gunpowder Compass Rudder Saddle Plow Harness Wheelbarrow Kite Abacus Mechanical Clock