Chinese History Study Guide

Neolithic Dynasty

Yangshao & Longshan

Xia Time Period

2070 - 1600 BCE

Shang Time Period

1600 - 1046 BCE

Zhou Time Period

1045 - 771 BCE

Spring and Autumn Period

771 - 481 BCE

Warring States Period

475 - 221 BCE

Qin Time Period

221 - 210 BCE

Han Time Period

202 BCE - 220 CE

Three Kingdoms Time Period

220 - 589 CE

Sui Tang Time Period

618 - 907 CE

Song Time Period

907 - 1276 CE

Yuan Time Period

1271 - 1368 CE

Yangshao Longshan River

Yellow River (Upper)

Liangzhu River

Yangzi River (Lower)

Xia Dynasty Founder

Yu the Great

Xia Three Sages

Yao, Shun, and Yu

Fall of Xia Dynasty

Lost Heavens Support

Shang Dynasty Founder

Tang (Cheng Tang)

Shang Dynasty Culture

Human Sacrifice

Ancestor Worship

Bronze Items & Jade Items

Logographic Writings

King Zhou (Di Xin)

Last ruler of Shang Dynasty

Creation of God Story

Shang Capitals

Bo

Yin

Zhou Dynasty Founder

King Wu of Zhou

King Wen of Zhou

Leader of Zhou State weakened Shang Dynasty

Mandate of Heaven (Zhou)

Ruler could only rule as long as heaven mandated. Heaven showed displeasure if natural disasters, rebellion, and social unrest occurred.

Zhou Feudalism

King gave land to nobles who then governed those territories in his name

Duke of Zhou

Brother of King Wu, who served as regent until nephew came of age then relinquished throne.

Western Zhou Capital

Haojing

Eastern Zhou Capital

Luoyang

Confucius

Emphasized moral leadership, proper behavior, and social harmony. Taught benevolence and Filial Piety.

Filial Piety

People must show respect, loyalty, and obedience to parents and ancestors

Mencius

Follower of Confucius who are argued that human nature is fundamentally good and rulers should govern with passion

Xunzi

Confucian thinker who argued human is selfish and must be improved through education and ritual discipline

Laozi

Transformative (Water VS Stone)

Daoism

Harmony with nature and importance of non forced action

Zhuangzi

Expanded Daoist ideas and human perspectives and the importance of living freely with nature

Legalism

Government runes on punishment and discipline, must follow rulers laws

Han Feizi

Said humans are selfish, short sighted, and need strong control

Warring States

Qin

Chu

Qi

Yan

Zhao

Wei

Han

Qin Dynasty Founder

King Zheng the first “Emperor” (Qui Shi Huang)

Qin Capital

Xianyan

Qin Politics

Legalism reigned supreme

Qin downfall

Heavy taxation

forced labor and harsh punishments

rebellion

Han Dynasty Founder

Liu Bang (Liu Ji) took title of Emperor Gaozu

Western Han Capital

Chang’an

Eastern Han Capital

Luoyang

Han Culture

Confucian main ideology

Lu Zhi

Empress dowager

Killed Consort Qi

Han Economy

Silk road expansion

urban markets in capitals

government monopolies on salt, iron, and liquor

Sima Qian

Wrote Shiji (Records of Chinese History)

Emperor Wu (Han Wudi)

Expanded Dynasty through military campaigns

imperial academy for officials

expanded silk road

Emperor Guangwu

Moved Han capital to Luoyang

Restored Han Dynasty

Fall of Han Dynasty

Economy collapsed

Eunuchs made emperor weak in government

Buddhism

Originated in India

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths in Buddhism

Dukka

Samudaya

Nirodha

Magga

Karma

Present to future; this life to next

Samsara

Rebirth (good karma led to good rebirth)

Nirvana

Enlightenment, to break out of the cycle

Sui Dynasty Founder

Emperor Wen (Sui Wendi)

Sui Capitals

Chang’an (primary capital)

Luoyang (secondary capital)

Sui Politics

Strong Imperial Administration

Emperor Wen reduced power of regional elites and expanded control over both northern and southern China

Sui Economy

Grand Canal which allowed for government to transport grain, and connected north and south

rebuilt roads, irrigation systems

Sui Culture

Invented civil service exam system, which allowed people to test for positions into government

Tang Dynasty Founder

Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu)

Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin)

626 Xuanwu gate incident

expanded territory with military campaign

Empress Wu Zetian

Only female Emperor in history, known for promoting talented officials

Tang Dynasty

Emperor Xuanzong

Peak of Tang Dynasty

Faced An Lushan Rebellion which weakened dynasty

Tang Capital

Chang’an - one of largest cosmopolitan cities in world

Tang Politics

Three departments and Six ministries

Expanded civil service exams

Three departments

Central Secretariat, Chancellery, and department of state affairs

Six ministries

Personnel, Rites, War, Justice, Works, and Revenue

Tang Economy

Silk Road

Chang’an two commercial districts

• East Market

• West Market

Equal Field System

Equal Field System (Tang)

Attempted to distribute land more fairly among farmers to maintain agricultural productivity and support state tax system

Famous Tang Poets

Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi

Tang Religion

Buddhism Dominant

Xuanzang

Monk traveled to India to study Buddhist text and bring back to China

Story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei

Emperor obsessed with Yang Guifei led to An Lushan Rebellion

Song Dynasty Founder

Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu)

Northern Song Capital

Kaifeng (Bianjing)

Southern Song Capital

Hangzhou

Emperor Shenzong

Song Dynasty

Supported policies of Wang Anshi

Song Politics

Strengthen Civilian rule and limited power of military to prevent warlords

Government relied on large bureaucratic systems staffed with official from civil service exams

Wang Anshi

Introduced major reforms including

• aimed to strengthen state and improve economy

• included loans to farmers, market regulation, and new military organization

• strongly opposed by Sima Guang and Su Shi

Northern Song Captured

Jurchen Jin Dynasty invaded in 1127 forcing Song to move south

Song Culture

Literati

• civil exam gives both opportunity and challenge

• Women faced challenges such as foot binding and female virtue

Neo - Confucianism

• reinterpreted traditional Confucian ideas in response to spread of Buddhism and Daoism

Song Economy

Mint Coins

issued Paper Money

Guild to set prices

Night market in capital

Chinggis Khan

Son of Chieftain

father poisoned to death

murdered younger brother for food

Siege of Xiangyan

ended the Song Dynasty in 1268 - 1273

Kubilai Khan

Founder of Yuan Dynasty

Conquered all of China

Grandson to Chinggis Khan

Yuan Capital

Dadu (Modern day Beijing)

Yuan Religion

Confucianism

Buddhism

Daoism

Islam

Christianity

Four Class System

Mongols - ruling class

Semu - Central and West Asians

Hanren - Northern Chinese

Nanren - Southern Chinese

Yang Economy

Silk road

Merchants able to travel across all of China safely to allow goods to trade in economy

Macro Polo

Venetian traveler

wrote stories about Yuan dynasty riches and power

Ming Start and End

1368 - 1644

Founded Ming Dynasty

Zhu Yuanzhang

Zhu Yuanzhang Rule

Favored Peasants, Distrusted Officials

Ming throne fight

Zhu Yunwen VS Zhu Di

Ming Culture

Civil exams, eight - legged essays, and wealthy merchants

Wang Yangming

School of Mind - True knowledge is in everyone’s mind, no need to explore externally

Ming Maritime Trade

Zhu Yuanzhang - forbid

Zhu Di - allowed overseas for political and legitimacy reason