Ancient China Ch 3 and 4
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dynasty
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a line of rulers belonging to the same family
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Shang Dynasty
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(1766-1122 BCE) First significant Chinese dynasty. United the Huange He (Yellow) River Valley. Advancements include pictographic writing system (on oracle bones) and bronze metallurgy. Declined when overpowered by the Zhou
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oracle
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a priest who is believed to tell the future
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oracle bone
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A group of inscribed animal bones and shells discovered in China, and used originally to tell the future by the ancient Chinese, especially during the Shang dynasty; first examples of writing in China
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Anyang
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the ancient Chinese capital of the Shang Dynasty
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Zhou Dynasty
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this dynasty is China's Classical Age- a time of great growth and creativity; they overthrew the Shang Dynasty; used a feudal system; overtook Yangtze River Valley (Middle Kingdom); invoked the \"Mandate of Heaven\"
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feudalism
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a social, political, and economic system based on land, loyalty, and protection, not centralized...nobles hold much power
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Warring States Period
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time of warfare between regional lords following the decline of the Zhou dynasty in the 8th century B.C.E. lasting until unification by Shihuangdi of the Qin dynasty
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Qin Dynasty
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China's first empire; established by Shihuangdi; very strict legalism; Great Wall built
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Shihuangdi
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he created China's first empire; strong centralized government (strict...legalism) single system of writing, roads size, weights and measures, and money; connected and extended four old fortification walls along the north of China to begin the Great Wall of China; tomb clay army
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The Great Wall of China
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massive defensive structure made from mounded earth, rock, and masonry; designed to defend China from the nomadic invaders of the North; more than 4,000 miles long; begun by Shihuangdi
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terracotta army/ Silent Army
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Shihuangdi's tomb -had a huge number of clay soldiers built (rediscovered in 1974) 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses; 210 BCE;
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censorship
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banning or destroying material or information (often written); example- book burning; Shihuangdi burned many books during the Qin dynasty
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dissent
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difference of opinion or feeling; disagreement; the refusal to conform to the authority
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Mandate of Heaven
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the belief that the Chinese emperor's right to rule came from the gods, so a gov't. must rule fairly or be overthrown
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Liu Bang
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peasant who led rebellion to overthrow the Qin dynasty and establish the Han dynasty; justified rebellion with the Mandate of Heaven
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Han Dynasty
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(226 BCE-220 CE) Chinese dynasty that replaced the Qin. under Han rule, the empire expanded; based gov't on Confucian ideas; founded a bureaucracy for which officials had to take an exam; invented paper, seismograph, wheelbarrow; made advances in silk making and fine china; Pax Sinica and Silk Road
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Wudi
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greatest emperor of the Han dynasty; expanded the empire
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Silk Road
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trade route that connected China with western Asia (Fertile Crescent) ; silk was brought to the west
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Pax Sinica
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Chinese peace; under the Han Dynasty, China experienced 400 years of prosperity and stability
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The Five Classics
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the books that formed the basis of Chinese literary style; used by Confucianism as the basis of study
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Sima Qian
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a historian during the Han dynasty who wrote first true history of China
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Civil Service system
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the practice of hiring goverment workers on basis of open competitve examinations and merit
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bureaucracy
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the administrative structure of a large or complex government composed of bureaus or departments staffed with nonelected officials
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Mandarins
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a class of well-educated civil servants that controlled the government bureaucracy in imperial China
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Confucius
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(551-479 BCE) Chinese philosopher and writer of The Analects, a collection of moral and social teachings, including the concept of the Five Relationships. He also stressed the need to respect tradition and that education is the key to happiness. Also known as Kong Fu Zi.
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Confucianism
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Chinese philosophy that advocates the need to respect tradition and family, and that education was the key to happiness
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5 Relationships Of Confucianism
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1. ruler to subject 2. husband to wife 3. father to son 4. elder brother to younger brother 5. friend to friend
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filial piety
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In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors
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the Analects
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Collection of moral and social teachings of Confucius, including the concept of the Five Relationships.
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Legalism
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philosophy that rejected Confucian ideas, emphasized strict laws and harsh punishments, believed humans were evil by nature & required a strong, forceful government to make them attend to their duties, and justified force and power = used by the Qin Dynasty
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Daoism (Taoism)
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philosophical system developed by of Lao Zi advocating a simple, honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events
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Lao Zi
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606-530 BCE Chinese philosopher and the founder of Daoism ( Taoism )
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Yin and Yang
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the two opposing forces of nature; for harmony the 2 elements had to be in balance
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Four Occupations
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1. Shi = gentry scholars 2. Nong = peasant farmers (90%) 3. Gong = artisans and craftsmen 4. Shang = merchants and traders
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Chinese inventions:
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paper, silk, wheelbarrow, seismograph, suspension bridge, gunpowder, compass
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Chinese seismograph
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instrument used by the ancient Chinese to measure earthquakes
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Dynastic Cycle
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rise and fall of Chinese dynasties according to the Mandate of Heaven
