Ancient China

Dynasty

A series of rulers from a single family.

Shang Dynasty

1532 BC - 1027 BC

Zhou Dynasty

1027 BC - 256 BC

Qin Dynasty

221 BC - 202 BC

Han Dynasty

202 BC - 220 AD

Shang Dynasty Government

Large palaces & tombs, kings let warriors into battle, kings governed only a small portion of the land.

Shang Dynasty Capital

Anyang

Shing Dynasty Social Classes

{Royal family, nobles, warriors} {Artisans-jade, jewelry, silk, bronze, Merchants} {Peasants- lived in farming villages, entire family worked in fields}

Shing Dynasty: Major god

Shang Di

Yin Yang

Yin: Earth, darkness, female forces
Yang: Heaven, light, male forces

Ideographs

Signs that expressed thought or ideas

Oracle Bones

Animal bones or shells- priests wrote questions to the gods / spirits, heated till cracked, interpreted the cracks.

Calligraphy

Fine handwriting- considered an art form, only done by scholars

Reason for Mandate of Heaven

Used to justify Zhou’s rebellion against the Shang

Mandate of Heaven Meaning

Divine right to rule > the cruelty of the last Shang king outraged the gods that they sent ruin on the Shang & passed the Mandate of Heaven to the Zhou

Feudal State

Rewarded supporters by them control of certain regions.

Feudalism

A system of government in which local lords governed their won lands but owned military service and other forms of support to the rule.

Zhou Dynasty Achievements

Ironworking, increased trade, silk making, Silk Road, first books, increased population as a result.

Qin Dynasty Ruled By Whom?

Shi Huangdi

Qin Dynasty Acheivements

Abolished feudalism, standardized weight & measures & new coins, called for uniformity in writing, improved transportation, Terra Cotta solders.

Great Wall

During Qin Dynasty, several pieces of the wall were to be joined. Thousands worked regardless of weather, and it is Shi Huangdi’s most remarkable & costly achievement.

Qin Dynasty Collapse Reason:

Revolt led by Liu Bang who claimed the Mandate of Heaven and founded the Han Dynasty.

Han Dynasty

Strong Confucian ideas, improved roads & canals, built granaries, built government monopolies.

Wu Di

Added outposts by fighting nomads, arranged marriages between nomad chiefs and noble women- not always happy.

Silk Road

Linked the West & China, traded food for silk, dangerous, relay system.

Han Dynasty Society

Confucianism, obedience and submission were expected from women.

Han Dynasty Collapse

Warlords became too powerful, peasants revolted due to harsh taxes, Han dynasty falls and China divides.