China Ancient Cultures

CWC with Mr. Atkinson

 XIA
 The first prehistoric dynasty (2100-1600 B.C.)
 Scientific excavations (1960’s-1970’s) helped
separate myth from reality. Archaeologists
uncovered urban sites with bronze artifacts and
tombs, proof of Xia
 Locations cited in ancient Chinese texts.
 Seen as a link between late Neolithic period and
the Chinese urban civilization of the Shang
dynasty.
Shang (1700-1027 B.C.)
 Location-
 Government- Ruled
by a King
- Performed
-Consulted
-Priests helped
 Religion-Polytheistic
 Shang Accomplishments
 Writing System
 Accurate Calendar
 Bronze Metallurgy
 Zhou (1027-221 B.C.)
 Longest lasting dynasty.
 Government instituted doctrine known as

the Mandate of Heaven:

 771 BC: Zhou Court

 Power of the Zhou-

 475 BC: “Warring States Period”

Warring States Period (475-221
B.C.)
 7 Most powerful states battle for supremacy
 Over 200 years of ruthless destruction

 Out of this chaos:

 Qin (221-206 B.C)
 The Qin-
 Relied heavily on-

 Shi Huangdi “First Emperor”

 Standardized-
 Controlled-
 Confucian scholars-
 Burned-
 Qin Tarracotta Soldiers

Army of 7000 life-size terracotta soldiers archaeologists

found guarding the tomb of Qin Shihuandi
Took thirty-four years to build, 700,000 workers involved
 Great Wall of China

Zhou- Vassal states started walls as separate defenses

Oin-Joined the walls to hold off the invaders from the north. A) Extended
them to more than 5,000 kilometers B) 70% of population helped build.
1million died in its construction
Ming-Began a major renovation in 1368 AD, it took 200 years to complete.
The wall today is the result of this effort.
Has a total length of over 6,000 kilometers
 Han 206 BC-220 AD
 Emperor Han Wu Di
 Decentralized rule by granting some control to
vassal principalities.
 Rulers modified-
 Confucian ideals-
 Confucian scholars-
 Exam-
 Flourished-
 Han Achievements
 Sima Oian (145-87 BC)
 The empire expanded:

 The “silk road”

 Technological advances

-
-
 Other Dynasties
 Sui (581-618 AD)
 Tang (618-907 AD)

 Song (960-1280)

 Yuan (1280-1370) Mongolian

 Ming (1368-1644 AD)

 Qing (1644-1912) Last Emperor

 Bibliography
 http://www.nga.gov/education/chinatp_s109.htm
 http://www~chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html#xia
 http://www.chinavista.com/travel/greatwall/greatwall.html
 http://www.anton~heyboer.org/I_ching/websites/ancient_vi.htm