Ancient China

Characteristic of Chinese Dynasties Geographic in Chain

1. Ruled by family clans 1. Unification of China
and impact
- Xia (1) 2. Earliest dynasty - Qin (4) 2. Legalism practice
3. Mythological rulers 3. Shortest lived dynasty
- Yellow River(s): Civilization, Strongest
unity, and trading route
1. Writing unify -
1. Confucianism as a
- Shang (2) Ideographic
2. Ancestor veneration - Han (5) principal idea - Mountain ranges & deserts (2/3rd of
2. Paper and steel
3. Oracle bones China): Protect themselves from invasion.
3. Constructed silk roads
1. Decentralized
- Zhou (3) Government - Center of Asia: More trading and fighting
2. The mandate of Heaven
3. Society - Filial piety
led to become stronger

Silk roads Philosophers and their Ethical sysytem

Confucius (Confucianism)
It stretched from China to Rome with many side - Social order, harmony, and good government
branches landing to the north and the south. should be based on family relationships.
5000miles away from the end. - Respecting elders and parents in a well-ordered
Silk Roads got its name from the luxurious, society.
brightly colored cloth that was China's biggest - Education is important.
export; fabric, silk.
Other than Chinese fabric, it has also been Lao Tzu (Daoism)
trading of ideas, religion, culture, language, and - The natural order is important than the social
army. order.
- Human beings should live simply and in
harmony in nature.

Han Feizi (Legalism)

- Punishments are useful to maintain social order.
- A highly and powerful government is the key to
social order.
- Thinkers and ideas should be strictly controlled
by the government.