History of China

Humans have been living in China since at least 19,000 BCEFarming of grains begins approx 7,000 BCE, with rice and soybeans at 5,000 BCE.Chinese history begins along the Yellow River (3,000 BCE).Cultural Hearth for East Asia

Early civilization

Earliest form of writing dates back to 5,500 BCE.

Pictographic

Later used in Chinese character symbols

Early States of China

Most early Chinese governments were Dynasties (ruled by a select few or royal family).

Xia- (2100-1600BCE) Probably oldest, but poorly recorded or understood.

Shang Dynasty- (1600-1046BCE)

Known for keeping records on Oracle Bones

Development of Chinese Pictograms

Shang Dynasty

Fought constant wars with nomads of the steppes

Developed bronze as a metal

Shang Zhou is the last Emperor- faces rebellion, commits suicide.

Lost the “Mandate of Heaven”- fell out of favor with the Gods and could be replaced by the Gods.

Zhou Dynasty- (1027-221BCE)

Longest of the Chinese DynastiesTended to weaken over time; rival warlords and governors created chaos and disorderKung-fu Tzu (551-479BCE)Philosophy based on Relationships (Filial Piety)Proper rituals time the dayKnown as Confucianism

Rise of Daoism

Sometimes spelled TaoismDeveloped by Lao Tzu (600sBCE)Means “the Path” or “Way”Focus on nature, and living in harmony with natureMan is unhappy because he is unbalancedLive in moderation, simplicity, compassionBelief in spirits and many gods.

Qin Dynasty (221-206BCE)

Brutal warlords that unite much of northern ChinaLegalism- EVERYTHING must be put into law, under the power of the Emperor.Qin: Ying Zheng became Shi Huangdi after uniting China- possibly crazy, built both the Great Wall of China and a Terra Cotta Army.Wanted to be immortal, and burned books and banned any ideas other than Legalism.

Qin Accomplishments

Han Dynasty (202BCE-220CE)

Continue to unify China

Open the Silk Route to the West.

Confucianism becomes the dominant Chinese philosophy.

The Silk Road

Buddhism arrives in 1st Century

Heated debates as to whether Buddhists should be allowed into China

Granted in the 400’sCE.

Becomes the dominant religion during the 600’CEs.

Rise and fall of Chinese Dynasties

Various families take control of China from 220-1211.

Mongols invade in 1211-1376

Ming Dynasty (1300’s-1644)are vast builders-

Canals connecting the Rivers

Completed the Great Wall

Built a huge military Navy and Army.

“Forbidden City”

Ming Dynasty Construction

Forbidden City

The Ming Navy-

Set out under Admiral He to explore the Indian and Pacific Oceans in 1403

Visited and traded with Africa, India…and North America!

So..why didn’t China colonize America?

Think about and this and share with the class.

So, why don’t we speak Chinese?

After the death of Admiral He, money is diverted to other projectsConquest of Vietnam draws off troops and fundsCourt distrust of men like He (he’s Muslim)Mongol invasions in the North

Results:

Chinese ships pulled out of water; allowed to rot.

Court records about He’s expeditions are burned.

All trade with the outside world was cut.

Canals were allowed to be filled.

Other Ming innovations ended.

End of the Ming Dynasty

Europeans arrive in 1513Reign of Wan Li (1572-1620)Emperor withdraws into studying ConfucianismEarthquakes, plagues, crop failure and economic collapseManchu soldiers revolt; overthrow the Emperor

Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)

Will rule China until overthrown in the 20th Century

“Queue Order”- get a haircut- on pain of death!

Writing heavily censored

Reigns are marked with serious rebellions

Growing outside control of China

Europeans gain control of China

1793- China refuses to buy European goods; only wants silver, gold

1838- Opium War

1842- China surrenders; Treaty of Nanking open ports to Europeans

Europeans divide China into Mandate areas

“Boxer Rebellion” (1898-1901)

Monarchy Overthrown (1911)

Revolution is led by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen

Republic of China declared

Republic begins to dissolve into warlordoms

Power passes to Nationalist and Communist Rivals

Chinese Civil WarFought between 1927-1950Stopped during WWII (1937-45)Fought between General Chang Kai-Shek (Nationalists)Mao Tze Dung (Mao Zedong)- leading the Communists

China & WWII (1937-45)Invaded by Japan in 1937Major war crimes committed by JapaneseLiberated by Russian forces, 1945Allied nation during the WarMember of the United Nations Security Council

End of the Chinese Civil War

Chang Kai-Shek’s Nationalists are defeated after WWII

Flee to Formosa (Taiwan)

China becomes a Communist People’s Republic of China

Fights in the Korean War against the United Nations/United States

China in Korean War

Images of the Civil War

Modern China

China remains divided between Taiwan and Mainland ChinaChinese Communist Party remains in control of ChinaCommunism abandoned in the 1990’s- moving toward market economyMajor industrial and financial leader todayOwn’s over half of the United States Debt.

Modern China

The world’s most populous country.

In the 1870’s there was a terrible drought. Crops failed and people began to starve.

10 million die of starvation.

Modern ChinaIn the 1980’s, China became the first country to reach 1 billion people.

Feeding a huge population is challenging.

China is working to achieve a zero population growth. This happens when a the number of births match the number of deaths each year.

Modern ChinaChina is working to achieve a zero population growth. This happens when a country’s population stops growing.

One-Child Policy implemented by Mao Zedong.

Families receive benefits, including cash, for having just one child.