Early China
[ 1200-250 BCE ] - Isolated from other civilizations - China relied on tight-knit *patriarchal families* for land, power, organization ancestor worship - landed nobles provided courts of justice and organized military troops - *specialization of emperor's ministers* *Imperial Government* : very active in economy and society - managed productions of Iron & Salt - storing grain and rice : in caution of unsuccessful harvests - sponsored irrigation systems - tax peasants -> source of incredible physical work/labor (build temples, Great Wall, sculptures, etc.) - China most urbanized of classical civilizations - towns of 10,000+ people - Balance of opposites : Yin-Yang [ 300 BCE ] Classical Chinese history begins around 700 BCE.
Confucius (Kong Fuzi)
[ 551-478 BCE ] : believed in obedience and respect as the way of living; make education accessible to all *Analects* : collection of Confuscius sayings
Confucianism
: *system of ethics* (not a religion, a belief on how to live) Beliefs : - advocated rule by highly educated; exclusive *male elites* - established norms of all aspects of Chinese life - stress *respect for elders* - importance of art, music, *calligraphy* - stressed *harmony of nature* (every feature balanced by an opposite; *Yin-Yang*) - *rank not by birth*; *education accessible* to all talented & intelligent members of society - cannot permanently conquer with force; kindness towards people and protection of ritual interests is key - Rulers shouldn't be greedy; stressing true happiness rests in doing good for all, not individual gain - *Idea of gentlemen*; man always courteous and eager for service and anxious to learn - Upper-class Confucianism discouraged notion of temples soaring to the heavens
Confucian Social System
- scholar (gentry) aka Shi - laboring masses, peasants, artisans -> silks, jewelry, leather goods - women; *merchants* : wealthy but low class
Zhou Dynasty
[ 1122-256 BCE ] : Longest of dynasties - territorial expansion to Yang Zi River Valley - ruled through alliances with landed families - *Feudal Period* : provide troops and tax revenues to Central Government -> grants of land given - relied heavily on loyalty of regional supporters (because of land expansion; hard for central government to manage) *The King* : ruler of feudal monarchy - local leaders began to pull away - numerous invasions *Greater Cultural Unity*: - Heaven -> Zhou emperors aka. *Sons of Heaven* - banning human sacrifice -> more restrained ceremonies to worship gods - Mandarin Chinese (pretty much formal language at the time and still is today) - *Chopsticks* : end of Zhou Dynasty; symbolize respect *Cultural unity lead the empire to fail* : - Regional rulers formed -> independent armies - Emperor = just a figure head; so far away couldn't do anything about it.
Feudalism
: the allocation of a certain area or region to a specific individual who becomes the *established leader of that region.* (refers to Feudal Period in Zhou Dynasty)
Middle Kingdom
: stretched from Huang He to north; Yang Zi to south 2 Main Agriculture: - wheat (north) - rice (south) - Confucius set central beliefs and political ethics throughout Middle Kingdom
Shi
"Shi Class" : scholars/administrators - gentlemen
Era of Warring States
[ 402-201 BCE ] : mass chaos between China's people trying to overthrow - Legalism idea formed
Qin Dynasty
[ 221 : 202 BCE ] - expanded territory to present day Hong Kong - local power effaced; provinces established -> selected officials from non-aristocratic groups (make sure they follow under his rule; never betray; trust) - gave China its name *Shi Huangdi* : emperor of Qin Dynasty (first emperor) - *National Census* : data for calculating tax & labor services - standardized coinage - *Silk Cloth* manufacturing - *burning Confucius books* - Shi punished many and killed intellects (always worried he wouldn't be able to catch'em all) - started to build Great Wall; 3000 miles - regulation of cart axle lengths (carriage road regulations)
Han Dynasty
[ 200 BCE - 220 CE ] - expanded territory to Korea, Indo-China, & Central Asia - closer contact with India & Pathia Empire in Middle East - shrines build -> worship Confucius as a god - *Examinations* : Chinese literacy & law exam; Chinese political tradition : *test to become bureaucrat* - 2 centuries, control weakened invasion from Central Asia *Xiong Nu* : [ 220-589 CE ] - nomadic people who invaded China *Pathia Empire* : major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Iran and Iraq *Xi'an* : Han capital - 100,000 people within walls - 250,000 people outside walls and neighboring villages
Wu di
[ 140-87 BCE ] : forced peace throughout Asia : *emperor of Han Dynasty* - supports Confucianism
Menice (Meng Ko)
: as a Chinese philosopher who is the most famous Confucian after Confucius - emphasized goodness of human nature - legitimate for peasants to rebel against oppressive rulers
Daoism/Taoism
: (religion rather than set of ethics) spiritual alternative to Confucianism; includes *natures mystery* - don't worry about politics or academics - strong Buddhists influence from India - many emperors favored Daoism because no threat to overthrow of government - founder *Lao Zi*
Chinese Innovations/technological advancements
- Ox-drawn plows [ 300 BCE ] - Compasses - *Silk production* : strongly successful in world trade of that period -> *Silk Roads* - developed accurate calendar [ 444 BCE ] - collar : animals, pull wagons without choking - pulleys / winding gears - lamps - iron tools, textiles, pottery During Han Dynasty: - *First water-powered mills* - Paper invented
Primogeniture
: practice of the *oldest male child* inherited property and position. (due to hierarchical family order)
5 Classics (Art)
: treaties, speeches, other political materials, discussion of etiquette, ceremony, calligraphy art form - bronze, pottery, jade, ivory, silk screens - early part of Zhou Dynasty - Class of Songs : 300 poems