Chapter

7
China Builds an
Empire
(Part 1)
MAP OF EUROASIA
a)  Pacific Ocean
b)  Indian Ocean
c)  Mediterranean Sea
d)  Tigris River
e)  Euphrates River
f)  Nile River
g)  Red Sea
h)  Indus River
i)  Ganges River
j)  Arabian Peninsula
k)  Arabian Sea
l)  Huang River (Yellow River)
m)  Chang River (Yangtze River)
n)  Grand Canal
o)  Yellow Sea
p)  Gobi Desert
q)  Taklimakan Desert
r)  Plateau of Tibet
s)  Himalaya Mountains
t)  India
u)  China
v)  Beijing
w)  Xian
x)  Shanghai
y)  Hong Kong
z)  Taiwan
 Dynasties of China
•  At around 3,500 B.C.E. a group of people called the Yangshao were some of
the first people to build settlements in the Huang Valley of China near the
Yellow River.

•  Dynasty means ruling family, rulers from the same group.

Xia Dynasty
•  At around 2,200 B.C.E. an engineer named Yu saved the people from
floods, and was crowned the king.
•  King Yu’s dynasty became known as Xia (shee-ah), and ruled for 400 years.

Shang Dyansty
•  At about 1760 B.C.E., the Shang conquered the Xia, and ruled for 600 years.
•  The Shang had written records, food surplus, large defensive buildings, and
skilled artists.

Zhou Dynasty
•  At approximately 1050 B.C.E., King Wen of Zhou defeated the last Shang
ruler.
•  The Zhou believed in Mandate of Heaven, which meant it was from the
gods in heaven that gave their dynasty the right to rule.

WATCH Lonely Planet Great Wall of China
 Dynasties of China (Part 2)
Era of Warring States
•  From 481 to 221 B.C.E. different groups battled each other for
control of China.

Qin Dynasty
•  In 221 B.C.E., the Qin unified China after more than 200 years of
fighting during the Era of the Warring States.
•  The Qin ruler declared himself to be Shi Huangdi, which means
“First Emperor.”
•  Shi Huangdi began construction of the Great Wall of China, and
before he died he ordered the Terra Cotta Warriors to be built.

Han Dynasty
•  In 206 B.C.E., a general named Liu Bang would fight against the
Qin, and started the Han Dynasty.
•  The Han Dynasty ruled China for 400 years.
•  Today, the Chinese call themselves “the people of the Han.”

WATCH Lonely Planet Terra Cotta Warriors
DISCUSS How can they open Shi Huangdi’s tomb without damaging
the artifacts?
 Family and Religion
•  During the Era of the Warring States family and religion helped hold China’s
social structure together.

•  China honor the sprits of the dead in what is known as ancestor worship.

Legalism
•  Legalism was started by a teacher named Hanfeiz, who believed that people
who obey the law should be rewarded, and those who do NOT follow the
law should be punished.
•  The key to social order is a strong legal system.

Confucianism
•  Use right relationships to produce social order.
•  Respect family and older generations.
•  Educate individuals and society.
•  Act in morally correct ways.
•  The teachings of Confucius were written in The Analects.

Daoism
•  Belief system that seeks harmony with nature.
•  2 great forces called yin and yang (earth and heaven) are at work in the
universe.

WATCH Asian commercial to cite evidence

An example of ______ was when _______.
 The Origins of Buddhism
•  Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama.

•  Siddhartha became known as the Buddha or “Enlightened One.”

•  Buddhists believe in the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.

•  Siddhartha was born as a prince at around 563 B.C.E., in what is today the
country of Nepal.

• According to a Buddhist legend, a fortuneteller predicted 2 possible futures

for Prince Siddhartha
①  Become a mighty king OR
②  Become a religious leader

•  The King wanted his son to become a mighty king so the King lied to his son,
and told him there is nothing to see outside do NOT leave the palace.

•  Siddartha left the palace with only his chariot driver, and witnessed people
suffering in “the Four Passing Sights.”

DISCUSS What lies have your parents told you? (My Mom lied when_____.)
DISCUSS Why do you think parents lie to their kids (In my opinion______.)
WATCH “My Dad is a Liar Commercial”
DISCUSS What is karma?
WATCH Thai Commercial on Karma