World Civilizations
The Global Experience
AP* Sixth Edition
Chapter
2
Classical Civilization:
China
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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2100-1600 B.C. Xia
1600-1050 B.C. Shang
1046-256 B.C. Zhou (Chou)
221-206 B.C. Qin (Ch’in)
206 B.C – 220 A.D. Han
220 – 259 Six Dynasties
581-618 Sui
618-906 Tang (T’ang)
907-960 Five Dynasties
960 – 1279 Song (Sung)
1279 – 1368 Yuan (Mongols)
1368-1644 Ming
1644-1912 Qing (Ch’ing)
1912 – 1949 Republic period
1949 – Present Peoples Republic of China
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Establishment of Political Order
New order from 700s B.C.
–New political structures
–Zhou (joh), Qin (chin), then Han rule
–Establishment of enduring institutions
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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China from the Later Zhou to the
Han Era
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Patterns in Classical China
Zhou (joh) Dynasty (1029-258 B.C.)
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Came from the north, replacing Shang
System of indirect rule
Territorial expansion
Some centralization
 Linguistic unity
 Religious practices reshaped
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Patterns in Classical China
Qin (chin) Rule
–Originally nomadic, marginal
–Shi Huangdi
 Zhou rival
 Rules from about 200 B.C.
 Great Wall
 Great centralization
 Death of Shi Huangdi in 210 B.C.
• Leads to a period of conflict
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Chinese Translation
Wade-Giles – Thomas Wade and Herbert Giles
developed a system to translate Chinese
into English since 1892.
Pinyin System – System created by the Chinese in
1958 to translate Chinese into
English. Has replaced Wade-Giles.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Patterns in Classical China
The Han (Han) Dynasty
Emperor Wu Ti
aka – Liu Che
– Territorial expansion
 Contact with India
 Trade with Roman Empire
– Wu Ti (140-87 B.C.)
– 7th Han Emperor
 Establishes peaceful rule and
Made China the most powerful
Nation in the world.
Han rule strong until about 220
A.D.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Establishment of Political Order
Han Dynasty
– Overthrew Qin in 207 B.C.
– Ruled for four centuries
– Long-lasting, stable bureaucracy
– Rise of Chinese sense of uniqueness
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Establishment of Political Order
Cultural traditions
– Broad isolation
– Enduring philosophy of yin and yang
• Chinese view of the harmony
of nature.
Yin – Female – cold, moon,
earth.
Yang – Male – warm, sun
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Patterns in Classical China
Pattern established
–New dynasty
Begins rule strong, economic
strength
Dynasty weakens, revenues decline
Internal rebellions and invasions
–Succeeding dynasty emerges
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Patterns in Classical China
Government allows rule of large
territory
–Reliance on family structure
Ancestor worship
–Local rule weakened
Single law code over all
Rule from center out
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Patterns in Classical China
Strong Bureaucracy
–Power of warrior-landlords lessened
–Examination system put in place by Wu
Ti
–Highly-integrated system
Trained bureaucrats
Some limits on imperial power
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Ancient Capitals
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Patterns in Classical China
Roles of the state
–Military role not preeminent
–Economic role
Weights, measures, currency
–Public works
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Religion and Culture
Confucianism (Kong Fuzi c. 551-478 B.C)
–Concern with stability, peace
–An ethical system
–Role of moral elite
 Education central
–The Confucian Gentleman
 Moral rectitude
 Public and private spheres equally important
 Kings should be reminded of duties
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Religion and Culture
Legalism – Shang Yang
– Favored a strong state, ruling through force
– Belief that human nature was basically evil
– In opposition to Confucianism in many ways
 Yet the two often combined in exercise of
power
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Religion and Culture
Popular religion
–Confucianism has limited appeal
–Polytheism persists
Conciliation of spirits
Family ceremonies
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Religion and Culture
Laozi (400s B.C.) “old master”
–Philosopher – Founder of Daoism (Taoism)
–Retreat from society
–State cannot solve all problems
–Nature
 Dao, cosmic force OM ॐ
–Meditation
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Variations of Laozi
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Lao Tzu
Lao Tse
Lao Tu
Lao Tzu
Lao Tsu
Laotze
Laosi
Laoazi
Laocius
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Religion and Culture
Literature, Art, and Science
– Five Classics
 Combination of genres
 Basis for government examinations
– Decorative arts
 Calligraphy
– Science concentrated on the practical
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Economy and Society
Confucian Social System
– Landowning aristocracy and bureaucrats
– Laboring masses: peasants and artisans
– The “mean people”
 Unskilled laborers
 Performing artists
 Slaves
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Economy and Society
Trade and technology
– Trade increases under the Zhou and Han
 Little respect for trade and merchants
– Technology
 Plows, new collar for draft animals
 Iron tools
 Water-powered mills
 Paper
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Economy and Society
Gender and Family Life
– Great emphasis on authority
– Parental authority especially upheld
– Women subordinate to men
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
How Chinese Society
Fits Together
Isolation
– View of surrounding peoples as inferior
– No missionary desires
– Buddhism an exception
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
How Chinese Society
Fits Together
Social and Cultural Links to Politics
– Society viewed as a whole
– Government and society seen as one
– Agriculture tied to government through revenue.
– Rice – Oryza Sativa – Asian Rice.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
How Chinese Society
Fits Together
Complexities in Classical China
–Confucianism versus Daoism
Many points of overlap
But some antagonism
–Balance often upset
Overpopulation might lead to uprisings
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Global Connections:
Classical China and the World
Qin and Han China
– Agriculture permits large population
– Development of technologies
– Influence through the Silk Road
 China connected with other areas
 Trade mostly by nomadic merchants
– The “Middle Kingdom”
 Influence on surrounding peoples
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth Edition
Stearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.