Untitled Notes

Location: China is located in East Asia.
River: The river that separates Northern and Southern China is the Yangtze River.

Natural Resources: The region important because of its natural resources is the Northeastern region of China, particularly the Manchurian area rich in coal, iron, and various minerals.
Belief Systems: The belief systems that developed or influenced China include Confucianism, Daoism (Taoism), and Legalism.

Great Wall Purpose: The Great Wall of China was built to protect against invasions and raids from northern groups like the Mongols.
Great Wall Length: The Great Wall is approximately 13,171 miles (21,196 kilometers) long.
Three Gorges Dam Purpose: The purpose of the Three Gorges Dam is to generate hydroelectric power, improve river navigation, and control floods on the Yangtze River.
Negative Effect of Three Gorges Dam: One negative effect of building the Three Gorges Dam is the displacement of over 1.3 million people and the loss of cultural heritage sites.

Isolation of Ancient China: Ancient China was isolated from other early civilizations mainly due to its geographic barriers such as mountains and deserts, which hindered trade and cultural exchange.
Name of Civilization: The ancient Chinese referred to their civilization as the "Middle Kingdom" (Zhōngguó), believing it was the center of the world.
Dynasty Definition: A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family or lineage that maintain political power over a period of time.
Emperor Qin's Importance: Emperor Qin Shi Huang is important because he unified China, established the Qin Dynasty, standardized measurements and currency, and began construction on the Great Wall.

Dynastic Cycle Stages: 1. Rise: A new dynasty emerges, is strong, and receives the Mandate of Heaven; 2. Decline: Over time, corruption and natural disasters lead to unhappiness among the people, resulting in the loss of the Mandate of Heaven.
Unhappiness with Ruler: When people become unhappy with a ruler, it often leads to rebellion or challenges against the ruling dynasty.
Mandate of Heaven: The Mandate of Heaven is a traditional Chinese philosophical concept that asserts that a ruler's legitimacy derives from their ability to govern well and maintain harmony; if they fail, they can lose this divine right to rule.
Zhou Dynasty Justification: The Zhou Dynasty used the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rule by claiming that they were divinely sanctioned to replace the previous Shang Dynasty due to its moral decline.

Three Main Philosophies: The three main philosophies of ancient China are Confucianism, Daoism (Taoism), and Legalism.
Founder of Confucianism: Confucianism was founded by Confucius (Kong Fuzi).
Filial Piety Definition: Filial piety refers to the virtue of respect and loyalty to one's parents and ancestors, a key value in Confucianism.
Confucius's Five Key Relationships: Two of Confucius's Five Key Relationships include:
1. Ruler and Subject
2. Father and Son
Text Recording Confucius’s Ideas: The text that recorded Confucius's ideas is the "Analects" (Lunyu).

Founder of Daoism: Daoism was founded by Laozi (Lao Tzu).
Meaning of Dao: The Dao (Tao) means "the way" or the path, referring to the natural order of the universe.
Ch’i (Qi) Definition: Ch’i (Qi) is the vital life force or energy that flows through everything in the universe.
Yin and Yang Representation: Yin and Yang represent the duality and balance of opposites in the universe, like light and dark, male and female, and active and passive.
Text Recording Daoist Ideas: The text that recorded Daoist ideas is the "Tao Te Ching" (Dao De Jing).

Founder of Legalism: Legalism was founded by Han Feizi.
Control of Society by Legalists: Legalists believed that society should be controlled through strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order and obedience.
Anti-Legalist Writings: Anti-Legalist writings were often banned and destroyed by Legalist rulers to eliminate dissent and maintain control.