CHINACHINACHAPTER 5CHAPTER 5

Early China – Shang on the Early China – Shang on the Hwang Hwang

Controlled the Yellow River valley from 1600 – Controlled the Yellow River valley from 1600 – 1100 B.C.E1100 B.C.E

Isolated from the west of the world, except some Isolated from the west of the world, except some trading with Mesopotamiatrading with Mesopotamia

Believed they were the center of the world and Believed they were the center of the world and superior to others –ethnocentricsuperior to others –ethnocentric

Bronze, horse-drawn chariots, developed the Bronze, horse-drawn chariots, developed the spoked wheel; pottery and silk production; spoked wheel; pottery and silk production; decimal system; calendardecimal system; calendar

Patriarchal family structure w/ multiple Patriarchal family structure w/ multiple generations in the same householdgenerations in the same household

Dead ancestors advocated for them with the gods Dead ancestors advocated for them with the gods

Enter the Zhou nowEnter the Zhou now Zhou = ChouZhou = Chou Ruled China 900 years (beginning in 1100 B.C.E); Ruled China 900 years (beginning in 1100 B.C.E);

maintained traditions of the Shangmaintained traditions of the Shang Mandate of Heaven – Heaven gave the Zhou Mandate of Heaven – Heaven gave the Zhou

power as long as they ruled justly and wiselypower as long as they ruled justly and wisely Developed a feudal system; king rules entire Developed a feudal system; king rules entire

empire, gives smaller regions to nobles to control empire, gives smaller regions to nobles to control and protection in exchange for their loyaltyand protection in exchange for their loyalty

Developed bureaucracies – small units within the Developed bureaucracies – small units within the government assigned to particular tasksgovernment assigned to particular tasks

Eventually the nobles claimed their own Eventually the nobles claimed their own independent kingdoms and fought among each independent kingdoms and fought among each otherother

Era of Warring StatesEra of Warring States403-221 B.C.E.403-221 B.C.E.No clear central control of China; No clear central control of China;

individual regions warring with each individual regions warring with each other (like the Greek city states!)other (like the Greek city states!)

Three Schools of Thought emerged to Three Schools of Thought emerged to end fighting: Confucianism, Daoism, end fighting: Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalismand Legalism

ConfucianismConfucianism Confucius – lived from 551 to 479 BCEConfucius – lived from 551 to 479 BCE Felt China needed the right kind of leadershipFelt China needed the right kind of leadership Ren (appropriate feelings) and li (correct actions)Ren (appropriate feelings) and li (correct actions) Filial piety – respect for one’s parentsFilial piety – respect for one’s parents Leaders had a moral duty to set the example so Leaders had a moral duty to set the example so

that people would behave properly.that people would behave properly. Five key relationships:Five key relationships:

Ruler to subjectRuler to subject Father to sonFather to son Husband to wifeHusband to wife Older brother to younger brotherOlder brother to younger brother Friend to friendFriend to friend

Man is fundamentally goodMan is fundamentally good

DAOISMDAOISM LaoziLaozi Dao = way of nature or way of cosmosDao = way of nature or way of cosmos Human beings should exist in harmonyHuman beings should exist in harmony Wu wei = act by not acting; do nothing and Wu wei = act by not acting; do nothing and

problems will solve themselves, like natureproblems will solve themselves, like nature Believed that government structure was Believed that government structure was

useless; caused competition and fighting; useless; caused competition and fighting; less government is betterless government is better

Cultivate patience, selflessness and concern Cultivate patience, selflessness and concern for allfor all

War should only be used for defensive War should only be used for defensive purposespurposes

LEGALISMLEGALISM Man is inherently evil and needs strict laws and Man is inherently evil and needs strict laws and

punishment to behave properlypunishment to behave properly Need strong central government with an Need strong central government with an

absolute ruler with high taxes to provide absolute ruler with high taxes to provide stabilitystability

Best professions are farming and militaryBest professions are farming and military Man is fundamentally badMan is fundamentally bad

HAN DYNASTYHAN DYNASTY

Followed the Qin dynasty; harsh regime Followed the Qin dynasty; harsh regime who had Confucian books burnedwho had Confucian books burned

206 BCE – 220 CE206 BCE – 220 CESoftened legalist ideas with Confucian Softened legalist ideas with Confucian

ideas – ruler has authority over empire ideas – ruler has authority over empire like father rules over familylike father rules over family

Expansionist – North Vietnam, Korea Expansionist – North Vietnam, Korea and Central Asia became part of the and Central Asia became part of the empireempire

HAN DYNASTYHAN DYNASTY Increased military strength established Increased military strength established

peace and order which = increase in tradepeace and order which = increase in tradeSilk Roads – series of roads that allowed Silk Roads – series of roads that allowed

trade to connect with Central Asia, India trade to connect with Central Asia, India and the Roman empireand the Roman empire

Canal system within ChinaCanal system within China

HAN DYNASTYHAN DYNASTYSocial StructureSocial Structure

Patriarchal; women subordinate to Patriarchal; women subordinate to father’s and husbandsfather’s and husbands

Upper class women were educatedUpper class women were educated

Highest class = scholar-gentryHighest class = scholar-gentry peasantspeasants

merchants (lived off labor of merchants (lived off labor of others)others)

HAN DYNASTYHAN DYNASTYFall of the EmpireFall of the Empire

Invading nomadsInvading nomadsConscription failed and the government Conscription failed and the government

had to hire soldiers who were not very had to hire soldiers who were not very loyalloyal

Government corruptionGovernment corruptionInfighting among powerful aristocratic Infighting among powerful aristocratic

familiesfamilies

Parallels between Roman & Han Parallels between Roman & Han EmpiresEmpires

Patriarchal; family loyaltyPatriarchal; family loyalty Agricultural with farmers available for military serviceAgricultural with farmers available for military service Started out in small homogeneous regions and spread Started out in small homogeneous regions and spread

to vast populationsto vast populations Created a cultural unity that persistedCreated a cultural unity that persisted Created systems to administer areas far awayCreated systems to administer areas far away Road systems for the spread of communication, trade Road systems for the spread of communication, trade

and beliefsand beliefs Civil service systemsCivil service systems Capital cities acted as a model for all cities and townsCapital cities acted as a model for all cities and towns Defense issues (trying to maintain long distance Defense issues (trying to maintain long distance

borders)borders)