Lesson 1: Ancient China Overview

The Shang Dynasty

• Ruled for about 600 years (c. 1600-1046 BCE)

• Known for bronze work and oracle bones

• First Chinese dynasty with written records

The Zhou Dynasty

• Longest-lasting Chinese dynasty (1046-256 BCE)

• Introduced the "Mandate of Heaven" concept

• Saw the rise of influential philosophies (Confucianism, Taoism)

The Qin Dynasty

• Short but impactful (221-206 BCE)

• United China under Emperor Qin Shi Huang

• Built much of the Great Wall

• Standardized writing, currency, and measurements

The Han Dynasty

• Golden age of ancient China (206 BCE - 220 CE)

• Expanded territory and trade (Silk Road)

• Advancements in art, science, and technology

Lesson 2: Geography

China's Geography

• Located in East Asia

• World's 3rd or 4th largest country by land area

• Stretching from east to west

Major Rivers

• Yangtze River: Longest river in Asia, crucial for agriculture

• Yellow River: Cradle of Chinese civilization

• Xi River

• Pearl River

Natural Boundaries

• Great Wall: Northern border

• Gobi Desert

• Pacific Ocean

Lesson 3: Social Hierarchy

Social Structure

• Hierarchical system with 4 main classes

1. The Shi (士) → The Nobles: ruled and administered

2. The Nong (农) → Peasant farmers

3. The Gong (工) → Artisans and craft people

4. The Shang (商) → Merchants and traders

• Most people belonged to lower groups

• Rigid system with limited social mobility

• Based on Confucian principles

• Total population of ~60,000

The Emperor

• Most important person, ruled the 4 groups

Peasants

• 90% of population were peasants

• Highly valued class

Lesson 4: Daily Life in Ancient China

Food and Drink

• Staple foods: rice, millet

• Common vegetables: soybeans, broad beans

• Domesticated animals: pigs, dogs, sheep, oxen, cattle

Clothing

• Varied based on social status

• Silk for the wealthy, hemp and ramie for commoners

• Robes were common

Housing

• Varied greatly depending on social class

• Peasants: simple mud huts

• Wealthy: grand houses with courtyards

• Heating methods: charcoal braziers

Entertainment

• Music and dance were popular

• Board games like Go and Liubo

• Festivals and celebrations

Education

• Confucian classics were the core curriculum

• Focused on moral education and government service

• Writing and calligraphy were highly valued

Lesson 5: Religions

Daoism

• Founded by Laozi

• Emphasis on harmony with nature

• Concept of "The Way" (Dao)

• Balance and non-action (Wu wei)

Confucianism

• Ethical system and way of governance

• Emphasis on relationships, virtue, and moral conduct

• Official religion of the government

Buddhism

• Introduced from India

• Teaches the Four Noble Truths

• Aims to end suffering

• Concepts of karma and rebirth

• Nirvana as the ultimate goal

• Spread rapidly, adapting to Chinese culture

Lesson 6: Ancient Life

Domestic Life

• Extended family system

• Patriarchal society

• Respect for elders

• Ancestor worship

• Women's roles limited (mostly domestic)

Agriculture

• Backbone of the economy

• Rice cultivation in the south

• Millet and wheat in the north

Trade and Commerce

• Silk Road established during Han Dynasty

• Trade with Central Asia, Middle East, and Rome

• Exported silk, jade, and other luxury goods

• Imported horses, wool, and glassware

Technology

• Four Great Inventions: compass, gunpowder, papermaking, printing

• Advanced irrigation systems

• Seismograph invented by Zhang Heng

Lesson 7: Everyday Life

Clothing & Fashion

• Hanfu: traditional garment

• Varied based on social class and era

• Silk for the wealthy, hemp for commoners

Food

• Tea: important drink

• Regional cuisines developed

• Use of chopsticks for eating

• Importance of balance in flavors

Architecture

• Use of wood and brick

• Emphasis on symmetry and enclosed courtyards

• Distinctive roof styles (curved, tiled)

City Life

• Walled cities with grid layouts

• Markets and trading centers

• Complex urban planning

Lesson 8: Burial Practices

Funerary Customs

• Elaborate preparations for death

• Belief in afterlife influenced burial practices

• Items buried with the deceased to use in afterlife

Tombs

• Varied based on social status

• Nobility had elaborate tombs with extensive decorations

Terracotta Army

• Famous burial site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

• Thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors buried with the emperor

Lesson 9: The Growth of the Empire

Territorial Expansion

• The Shang Kingdom covered about 250,000 square kilometers

• Gradually expanded through conquest and alliances

• Under the Han, China grew to about 6 million square kilometers

Frontier Regions

• Northern frontiers faced nomadic threats

• The Great Wall was expanded as a defensive measure

• Southern expansion into tropical regions

Farming Methods

• Irrigation systems developed

• Terracing of hillsides for agriculture

• Iron tools improved farming efficiency

• New crops introduced through trade

Lesson 10: Silk and the Silk Road

Silk Production

• Chinese kept the secret of silk production for centuries

• Process: silkworms fed mulberry leaves, cocoons harvested

• High-value product used for:

  • Luxury clothing

  • Diplomatic gifts

  • Currency

  • Musical instruments

• Exported to other Asian and European countries

The Silk Road

• Network of trade routes connecting China to the Middle East and Europe

• Named after the lucrative silk trade

• Facilitated exchange of goods, technologies, and ideas

• Lasted for over 1,500 years

• Significant impact on cultural and religious exchange

• Introduced Buddhism to China from India

Lesson 11: Science and Technology

The 4 Great Inventions

• Paper

• Printing

• Gunpowder

• The compass

Other Significant Inventions

• Cast iron production

• Kites

• Tea cultivation

Agriculture and Food

• Irrigation systems improved farming

• Tea processing methods developed

Medicine and Health

• Traditional Chinese medicine developed

• Use of herbs and acupuncture

• Concept of balance in health (yin and yang)

Mathematics

• Development of the decimal system

• Use of the abacus for calculations