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    Yonny Quispe Levano
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    Ancient Chinese civilization flourished from 1500 BC to AD 589 under four major dynasties: Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han. China developed in isolation due to its geography of mountains and deserts. Writing was standardized under the Qin dynasty and the Terracotta Army was built under Qin Shihuangdi. The Han dynasty lasted 400 years and established a civil service system, while trade prospered along the Silk Road connecting China to the Mediterranean. Key Chinese inventions included paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, and porcelain.

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    past simple China

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    past simple China

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    Ancient Chinese civilization flourished from 1500 BC to AD 589 under four major dynasties: Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han. China developed in isolation due to its geography of mountains and deserts. Writing was standardized under the Qin dynasty and the Terracotta Army was built under Qin Shihuangdi. The Han dynasty lasted 400 years and established a civil service system, while trade prospered along the Silk Road connecting China to the Mediterranean. Key Chinese inventions included paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, and porcelain.

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    37 views20 pages

    Chapter 4 - Ancient Chinese Civilization

    Uploaded by

    Yonny Quispe Levano
    Ancient Chinese civilization flourished from 1500 BC to AD 589 under four major dynasties: Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han. China developed in isolation due to its geography of mountains and deserts. Writing was standardized under the Qin dynasty and the Terracotta Army was built under Qin Shihuangdi. The Han dynasty lasted 400 years and established a civil service system, while trade prospered along the Silk Road connecting China to the Mediterranean. Key Chinese inventions included paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, and porcelain.

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    of 20

    CHAPTER 4 –

    ANCIENT CHINESE
    CIVILIZATION
    Section 1: Geographic and Cultural Influences

     Ancient Chinese civilization flourished from


    1500 BC to AD 589
     Four major dynasties existed during this time:

     Shang
     Zhou
     Qin
     Han
    Three major rivers:

     Yellow River
     Yangtze River

     Xi River
    Geography:
     The Yellow River has been nicknamed
    “China’s Sorrow” because of many
    devastating floods
     China developed isolated from India and the

    West:
     Farther away, rugged mountains, and harsh
    deserts
     Influenced by fewer other cultures than any

    other ancient civilization


     Considered nomads to the north and west to
    be culturally inferior
     Called themselves the “Middle Kingdom”

     Thought they were the center of world


     Strong sense of identity and superiority
     Believed people were only fully civilized if
    they learned Chinese language and adopted
    Chinese customs
     Invaders eventually lost identities and were

    absorbed into China’s population


    Chinese Writing

    • Chinese writing has been found


    dating back to the Shang Dynasty,
    around 1200 BC. Writing was
    originally done on oracle bones,
    usually turtle shells or ox scapulae.
    Bones with writing were put in the
    fire and the cracks formed were used
    to answer questions as a form of
    “fortune telling.”
    • Writing was eventually done on
    bronze and later paper.
    • Writing was standardized during the
    Qin dynasty (221 BC).
    • Today, educated Chinese people know
    about 4000 characters.
    The Xia
     Chinese legend tells of Yu, a mythological figure
    who drained away floodwaters so people could live
    in China
     Yu established a line of kings called the Xia
     The Xia rule over the region starting in about 2200
    BC
     The developed agriculture and used written
    symbols
     They lacked methods to control irrigation and
    floods
    Shang Dynasty
     Swept into Yellow River valley between 1750
    – 1500 BC
     First dynasty

     Strengthened their rule by introducing

    irrigation and flood control systems


     Used war chariots and bronze weapons to

    defend kingdom’s borders


     Economy based on agriculture
     Continuously battled warlike neighboring
    states
     Military was finally exhausted

     Overthrown by Zhou dynasty in 1050 BC


    Zhou Dynasty
     Longest-lasting dynasty
     No centralized government

     Believed in “Mandate of Heaven”

     God chose rulers

     Local leaders fought amongst themselves

     One of the Warring States, the Qin, took over

    as rulers
    Qin Dynasty
     Came to power through military force, around
    221 BC
     Lasted only 15 years

     Name “China” comes from Qin

     Established autocracy – emperor held total

    power
     Forced people to build Great Wall of China

     Discontent caused a rebel army to overthrow

    the empire – founded Han dynasty


    Great Wall of China
    Terracotta Army
     The terracotta army is located in the tomb of the
    first Qin Dynasty ruler Shihuangdi
     It represents the emperor’s ability to control the
    resources of the newly unified China.
     It also shows his attempt to recreate and maintain
    that empire in the afterlife.
     The Terra-Cotta Warriors - YouTube
    Han Dynasty
     In power for 400 years
     Many Chinese today call themselves “People

    of Han”
     Empire larger than the Roman Empire

     Established a civil service system to run

    government
    The Han Empire
     Trade prospered along Silk Road
     Stretched from China across central Asia to
    Mediterranean region
     Camel caravans carried jade, silk, and paper to Greeks
    and Romans
     Caravans returned to China with gold, silver, and wool
     Fell to nomadic people around AD 220
     A Chinese general reunified China in AD 581
    The Silk Road
    Culture:
     Mostly small village farmers
     Inventions include:

    SEISMOGRAPH PRINTING
    PAPER ACUPUNCTURE
    SUNDIAL COMPASS
    GUNPOWDER PORCELAIN
    SILK
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmHkOHs
    00Bo

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