ancient china

yellow river

“river of sorrows.” soil is left on flood planes where China grows their crops

yangzi river

the commercial “heartbeat” of China that transports goods.

xia dynasty

first Chinese dynasty. social class, religion, and government is unknown

shang dynasty

second chinese dynasty. had walled cities, palaces, burial tombs for the elite.

shang dynasty government

theocracy- king/high priest

shang religion

god named Di- monotheistic

shang divine right

the belief that the king’s authority comes from the gods.

shang human sacrifice

done to appease gods

oracle bones

tells the future, first examples of Chinese writing, and done by the priest

shang yin yang

symbol representing light and dark. Balance with working and resting. 

fu hao

shang female general/military leader and advisor to the king (her husband).

fu hao tomb

2,000 artifacts and oracle bones with her name on it

zhou dynasty

longest lasting Chinese dynasty, introduced Tian, beginning of dynastic cycle, introduced feudalism and coinage

feudalism gone wrong

nobles and princes took control over the emperor’s land and claimed it as their own leading to the emperor’s loss of authority

tian

concept of heaven. started from Zhou dynasty.

mandate of heaven

the heavens blessed the rule of the emperor. if not achieved, the people can rebel

meritocracy

the idea that people advance based on ability rather than by personal connections or family relations

Qin Shi huangdi

emperor of unified China. Calligraphy, mount li, terracotta army, legalism, simplified coinage

liu bang

first emperor of western han dynasty, rewards family, China is individualized

empress lu

wife of liu bang. Took over her son’s rule, killed people who were a threat

han wudi

apex of han dynasty, law passed that landowners had to divide land to all sons, did not like foreign trade, promoted confucianism

wang mang

proclaims himself as emperor, follower of legalism and confucianism- doesn’t satisfy the rich or the poor

lao zi

daoist philosopher, believed nature is the way, made Dao Da Jing

confucius

believed that human society need to reflect heaven’s structured society

mencius

expanded confucianism, puts more emphasis on natural goodness of human beings, expected rulers to behave positively

Li Si

legalist philosopher, believed that humans are weak and corruptible (Hobbes)

Sui yangdi

short lived Sui Dynasty, murdered brothers and father, tried to conquer Korea

Shotoku taishi

Japanese prince, used grid patterns of chinese capitals, took confucianism principles into Japanese constitution

tang taizong

greatest emperor, forced dad out of throne, religious diversity flourished, open minded to his subjects

wu zetian

taizong’s 14 year old wife, Buddhism spreads

tang xuanzong

grandson of wu zetian, improved economy on silk road

wang anshi

emperor and reformer, forced to advocate, too much too fast

step 1

Honeymoon period, taxes are low, government provides for the people

step 2

the aging dynasty, higher taxes, losing control of the government, signs of loss of mandate of heaven, people revolt

step 3

natural disasters occur that shows that the king/high priest is unfaithful, opens the floor for new dynasty to claim the mandate of heaven

step 4

new dynasty, claims the mandate of heaven, restores peace, and cycle restarts

europe divine right

can’t revolt because of the monarch’s authority comes directly from god so the people listen to the ruler

western han

apex, has good achievements

eastern han

period of decline caused by Wang Mang

eunuchs

castrated men who gained the trust of the rulers and rose to positions of great power like advisors, ministers, and military leaders

bi sheng

invented the movable type system for printing. Led to a flourish in education for china

legacies of han

silk road, cai lun, civil service exams, han name- people identify themselves as the Han ethnicity

cai lun

inventor of paper; led to a spread of knowledge and literacy

medieval period

sui dynasty- violent, cultures and Civilizations are willing to adapt to Chinese culture but not their rule

song dynasty

period of peak confucianism and advancements like printing press and gun powder

zhonggou

a term that means middle earth, China thought they were superior and everything revolves around them

legalism

the idea that strict laws and harsh punishments are necessary for a successful empire

confucianism

the belief that a structured society that reflects heaven’s society is elite. It appeals to the ruling class.

filial piety

following the desires of one’s parents and ancestors

daoism

the belief that nature is the elite way and human society aspects like kings, lords, armies, taxes, etc. are not worth honoring. appeals to the lower class