Ancient ChinaAncient China

Was made up of Was made up of over 200 small over 200 small kingdomskingdoms

First united by First united by Emperor Ch ‘inEmperor Ch ‘in

Covers an area of Covers an area of 3,691,500 sq. 3,691,500 sq. miles.miles.

33rdrd largest country largest country in the world.in the world.

Worlds largest pop. Worlds largest pop. over 3 billion over 3 billion people.people.

ConfuciusConfucius

Was a philosopher in Ancient China Was a philosopher in Ancient China (his real name was Kong Qui)(his real name was Kong Qui) born around born around 551 B.C.551 B.C.

Taught that “what you do not wish Taught that “what you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.”for yourself, do not do to others.”

Said that 5 relationships were key to Said that 5 relationships were key to a stable society. Ruler/Subject,a stable society. Ruler/Subject,

Father/Son, Husband/Wife, Father/Son, Husband/Wife,

Older Brother/Younger Brother,Older Brother/Younger Brother,

and Friend/Friend.and Friend/Friend.

Stressed virtue which is shown by how Stressed virtue which is shown by how people act, not what they say.people act, not what they say.

His teachings became knownHis teachings became known

as Confucianism.as Confucianism. Confucianism Confucianism

applied to all applied to all

areas of Chineseareas of Chinese

life until thelife until the

1930’s.1930’s. Started 1Started 1stst tests tests

(meritocracy) rather than aristocracy.(meritocracy) rather than aristocracy.

Family Life!Family Life!

Dads were the bossDads were the boss! They told ! They told everything to do, even who you would everything to do, even who you would marry (they could also sell you into marry (they could also sell you into slavery…yikes!).slavery…yikes!).

After Dad, the After Dad, the oldest sonoldest son was the boss. was the boss. You didn’t call your brother/sister by You didn’t call your brother/sister by

name but by title “oldest brother”, “#2 name but by title “oldest brother”, “#2 brother”, and “younger brother”, etc.brother”, and “younger brother”, etc.

Focused on RESPECT.Focused on RESPECT.

Family life (cont.)Family life (cont.) Most Chinese lived in Most Chinese lived in 33 room houses. room houses.

One main room in the middle, with the One main room in the middle, with the parents bedroom on the left and parents bedroom on the left and all all the childrenthe children sharing the bedroom on sharing the bedroom on the right. the right.

IdeallyIdeally grandparents, parents, and grandparents, parents, and kids would all live in the same house.kids would all live in the same house.

The wealthy built elaborate houses The wealthy built elaborate houses with courtyards.with courtyards.

Important RiversImportant Rivers

Yellow RiverYellow River-located in Northern -located in Northern China. Is the most important river in China. Is the most important river in China. Floods frequently due to silt China. Floods frequently due to silt which also explains how it received which also explains how it received its name. Also called the its name. Also called the

“ “River of Sorrow.”River of Sorrow.” Yangtze RiverYangtze River-located in Southern -located in Southern

China. It is the 3China. It is the 3rdrd longest river in the longest river in the world (over 3,900 miles long). world (over 3,900 miles long). Contains the worlds largest dam (3 Contains the worlds largest dam (3 Gorges Dam).Gorges Dam).

The Grand CanalThe Grand Canal

Built between 604-610 by the Sui Built between 604-610 by the Sui DynastyDynasty

(although it connected several older (although it connected several older canals begun by previous Dynasties)canals begun by previous Dynasties)

Connected several of China’s most Connected several of China’s most important cities (Beijing & important cities (Beijing & Hangzhou). As well as the Hangzhou). As well as the YangtzeYangtze & & Yellow RiversYellow Rivers..

Boosted the economy (since goods Boosted the economy (since goods could travel more easily).could travel more easily).

Helped to unify ChinaHelped to unify China

The Grand Canal (cont.)The Grand Canal (cont.)

It’s over 1100 miles long (1114 to be It’s over 1100 miles long (1114 to be exact).exact).

Like Like The Great WallThe Great Wall is was built by is was built by conscripted peasants.conscripted peasants.

(over ½ of them died (over ½ of them died

during construction)during construction) Can you name anotherCan you name another

famous canal?famous canal?

The Great WallThe Great Wall Build by China’s 1Build by China’s 1stst

Emperor Qin Shi Emperor Qin Shi HuangdiHuangdi

Combined several older Combined several older walls.walls.

Was completed in 11 Was completed in 11 years, 221-210 b.c.years, 221-210 b.c.

Built to keep out the Built to keep out the “Northern Barbarians.”“Northern Barbarians.”

Stretched 2,600 miles.Stretched 2,600 miles.

The Great Wall (cont.)The Great Wall (cont.)

Built by over 1 million people, mostly Built by over 1 million people, mostly peasants and people that couldn’t peasants and people that couldn’t pay their taxes (conscripted pay their taxes (conscripted workers).workers).

Made the emperor Made the emperor veryvery unpopular. unpopular. Modern “Great Wall” was built by the Modern “Great Wall” was built by the

Ming Dynasty between 1368-1644 Ming Dynasty between 1368-1644 a.d. and improved upon the original a.d. and improved upon the original wall. Stretched 3,997 miles.wall. Stretched 3,997 miles.

Made the Ming’s Made the Ming’s veryvery unpopular. unpopular.

Chinese Inventions

• Paper (it was used for clothes at first, then for writing…seriously).

• Printing with carved wooden blocks

(called moveable type printing).

• Gunpowder…then Fireworks! (watch out Great Wall)

• Porcelain (that’s why it’s called China)

SilkSilk

Discovered by Queen Si Discovered by Queen Si Ling-Chi perhaps aroundLing-Chi perhaps around

6000 b.c. 6000 b.c. Made from the cocoons Made from the cocoons

of Silkworms (poor of Silkworms (poor silkworms).silkworms).

Silk was reserved for Silk was reserved for only the Emperor but only the Emperor but gradually its use spread gradually its use spread to the elite.to the elite.

Silk (continued)Silk (continued)

The beautiful & delicate thread soon The beautiful & delicate thread soon began to be demanded all around began to be demanded all around the Ancient World (think Egypt, the the Ancient World (think Egypt, the Middle East, and even Europe). Middle East, and even Europe).

It was a Chinese secret. If you tried It was a Chinese secret. If you tried to sneak Silkworms out of China you to sneak Silkworms out of China you could be executed…gulp.could be executed…gulp.

Silkworms only ate Mulberry leaves Silkworms only ate Mulberry leaves so it was very hard to smuggle out so it was very hard to smuggle out silkworms.silkworms.

Which leads us to the Silk Which leads us to the Silk Road!Road!

The Silk RoadThe Silk Road was neither made out was neither made out of silk or a road…discuss.of silk or a road…discuss.

The Silk Road (cont.)The Silk Road (cont.) was really a series of trade routes was really a series of trade routes

that traded almost everything: that traded almost everything: precious stones, spices, textiles, and precious stones, spices, textiles, and even dogs.even dogs.

Used Used continuouslycontinuously for almost 2,000 for almost 2,000 years.years.

Spread culture & religion.Spread culture & religion.

& We can’t forget Festivals!& We can’t forget Festivals!

Chinese New Year (follows the lunar Chinese New Year (follows the lunar calendar which is based on the calendar which is based on the moon).moon).

Usually falls in January or February.Usually falls in January or February. The Chinese shoot fireworks to scare The Chinese shoot fireworks to scare

away misfortune.away misfortune. The Chinese Zodiac goes in a 12 year The Chinese Zodiac goes in a 12 year

cycle. It contains the rooster, dog, cycle. It contains the rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, pig, rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep and monkey.snake, horse, sheep and monkey.

On Chinese New Year families get On Chinese New Year families get together and have a large meal.together and have a large meal.

Children receive little red envelopes Children receive little red envelopes with $ inside (oh-yeah).with $ inside (oh-yeah).

You clean your house and decorate it You clean your house and decorate it with pieces of red paper with pieces of red paper

(before New Years, (before New Years,

otherwise you mayotherwise you may

sweep out your good sweep out your good

luck).luck).