Ancient Chinese Dynasty

Shang Dynasty• 1750 B.C -1045 B.C.• Ruled by a king with territories governed by warlords• Royal family was at the top, aristocracy came next,

peasants, and then artisans, merchants and some slaves• Believed in supernatural forces that could help/hurt –

priest asked questions of the gods by writing the question on a bone and then breaking it and reading the shape of the break (much like fortune teller of today)

• Best remembered for their bronze art work• No specific people mentioned• Last Shang ruler was wicked and the neighboring Zhou ruler

revolted and established a new dynasty

Zhou Dynasty• 1045 B.C to 256 B.C.• Political structure was much like the Shang but the major

difference was the Mandate of Heaven – the belief that the king got his power from Heaven as a link between heaven and earth. King was expected to rule with goodness and efficiency (Dao).

• Similar to the Shang – peasants worked the land owned by the lords. Merchants also were controlled by the local lord. Also a slave class

• Three major schools of thought – Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism

• Irrigation was used by controlling the flow of rivers, iron plows, creation of silk, written language, also crossbow

• No specific people mentioned• Leadership declined intellectually and morally – the kingdom was

divided into several small territories and some challenged the Zhou ruler. Civil war broke out and the Qin took control

Qin Dynasty• 221 B.C. to 206 B.C.• The First Qin Emperor was Qin Shihuangdi• Politically – aggressive in foreign affairs – expanding the territory

to present day Vietnam – Change to Legalism – a strict new way of government – positions were based on merit, not family

• Accomplishments – Art – Terra-cotta soldiers discovered in 1974 – The Great Wall – built to protect and keep out invaders from the north (the great wall we know today was built 1500 years later but some of the original wall exist

• Social Structure – N/A Philosophy – Legalism (see )• Qin Shihuangdi was the only ruler of the Qin – his harsh rule

turned many against. Four years after his death the dynasty ends

The Han Dynasty• 202 B.C. to 220 A.D.

• One of the greatest Chinese Dynasties – founded by Liu Pang (aka Han Gaozu – Exalted Emperor of Han), other ruler – Han Wudi

• Got rid of Legalism and reapplied Confucian principles – kept division of government (military, civil service, and censorate) – Also kept merit system of offices – Civil Service exam

• Peasants began to suffer – taxes, military service, forced labor – forced to sell their land

• Technologies in textile manufacturing, water mills, windmills – iron casting – invention of rudders and other ship items made sailing easier – also known for art and cultural achievments

• Began to fall into a period of decay – weak rulers – peasant uprisings – civil war