The document summarizes the major dynasties of ancient China from the Shang dynasty to the Tang dynasty. It provides key details about each dynasty, including their ruling philosophies, technological and cultural developments, and reasons for decline. The dynasties established China's early political and social structures, as well as innovations like silk, writing, and gunpowder. Internal conflicts and external invasions eventually weakened centralized control leading to periods of division.
The document summarizes the major dynasties of ancient China from the Shang dynasty to the Tang dynasty. It provides key details about each dynasty, including their ruling philosophies, technological and cultural developments, and reasons for decline. The dynasties established China's early political and social structures, as well as innovations like silk, writing, and gunpowder. Internal conflicts and external invasions eventually weakened centralized control leading to periods of division.
The document summarizes the major dynasties of ancient China from the Shang dynasty to the Tang dynasty. It provides key details about each dynasty, including their ruling philosophies, technological and cultural developments, and reasons for decline. The dynasties established China's early political and social structures, as well as innovations like silk, writing, and gunpowder. Internal conflicts and external invasions eventually weakened centralized control leading to periods of division.
The document summarizes the major dynasties of ancient China from the Shang dynasty to the Tang dynasty. It provides key details about each dynasty, including their ruling philosophies, technological and cultural developments, and reasons for decline. The dynasties established China's early political and social structures, as well as innovations like silk, writing, and gunpowder. Internal conflicts and external invasions eventually weakened centralized control leading to periods of division.
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 30
Dynasties of China
Shang (1700-1027 BC) (Hammurabi, Hittites,
Olmec) • First recorded Dynasty (Xia-no written records) • •Ruled by aristocracy: were of the warrior class • •created silk by using silk worms • •Honored ancestors: They had connection to the gods • Used oracle bones: first writing etched • Shang authority: • bronze vessels for sacrifices to the gods • Horse-drawn chariot • Trade networks Shang Dynasty Chou (Zhou) (1027-250 BC) Persia & Greece
• Longest lasting Chinese Dynasty
• Beginning of Mandate of Heaven: wise, and good care-taker • Early: Feudal system, lords had total authority • Later: City-states • Separation of religion from political dealings: developed important secular philosophies Zhou Dynasty Chou (Zhou) (1027-250 BC) • Daoism and Confucianism introduced • Confucius: Family is fundamental to society & individual freedom! • Yin & Yang: male and female roles in the natural order • Decline: Inefficient rulers can’t control fighting between city-states • Period of Warring States Qin (221-207 BC) (Rome & Carthage)
• Qin Shi Huangdi (first emperor): first & only
emperor • Adopted Legalism: strict rules of punishment • Standardized currency, language, measurements, laws • Built first Great Wall • Women--lived with the husband's family Qin (221-207 BC) • Brutal ruler executed dissenters, burned books • Cracked down on Confucians: freedom • Many enemies, dynasty falls after his death • Buried in his elaborate tomb Where they think Qin is Buried! Guarding His Tomb: Terracotta Warriors—Pit 1 Han (202 BC-221 AD) (Roman Empire)
• Legalism replaced by Confucianism
• Introduced civil service examination (scholar gentry) • Silk Roads developed, opens trade • Capital city was Chang'an, urban, well-planned Han (202BC-221AD) • Buddhism introduced, paper invented • Great increase in population, landholdings • Nomadic raiders • Corruption, weak leaders • Han make up 90% of the people Roman Vs. China Chang’an: Han Capital Liu Sheng Tomb (113 BC
Jade suit has 2,498 pieces
Life under Wu Di: Power in 141 BC • Had defense on the Great Wall using smoke and flag signals • Regular mail delivery • Trained police dogs • Developed the Silk Road The Silk Road General Ban Chao: Han General and Colonial Administrator • 1. Smooth communications along Silk Road • 2. Aware of Rom--China and Rome both consider themselves the center of the universe • 3. Began to trade silk through Persia to Rome 221-581(AD) • War lords control China-no centralized gov’t • •Non-Chinese nomads control much of China • •Buddhism becomes popular-Confucianism failed Sui (581-618AD) (Rome in Shambles-- Germanic) • Completed Grand Canal • High taxes, forced labor: public works expensive • Military failures (couldn’t conquer Korea)-- overextend in territory • Assassination ends dynasty The Grand Canal The Grand Canal Today Sui Dynasty Tang (618-907AD) (Maya, Anasazi, Charlemagne, Kiev & Christianity) • High point of Chinese culture: cosmopolitan- trade, different cultures accepted • Invention of movable print, gunpowder • Tributary system: acknowledged supremacy of the emperor Tang (618-907 AD) • Wu Zetian-Only Empress in Chinese history • Decline • Weak emperors, nomadic incursions, economic difficulties • War lords take control Foot Binding: Tang China • Broken toes beginning at age 3-5 years • Large toe for stabilization