China in the Shang and Zhou Eras

Shang Era

•Culture develops–Divination, Shamans use bones, shells–Silk worms, silk fabrics–Ancestor worship–Pictograms

3000 characters

–Paper used by 100 C.E.

•Religion–Fertility central–Human sacrifice

Zhou Era

• Zhou – 1100 BCE–Feudal

Oaths of allegiance, fiefs for military service

• 2 Things weaken feudal order–Mandate of Heaven–Professional bureaucracy (government

officials)

•Movement along Huanghe, Huai, Yangzi•Non-Chinese displaced

Cultural Change in the Early Zhou Period

• Patriarchy reinforced•Correct behavior, ritual important•Decline by 8th

• Xian city abandoned

The Era of Nomadic Incursionsand Warring States

Kung Fuzi (Confucius)

• Late 500s B.C.E.•Wandering scholars• Analects, collected sayings•Correct behavior• Filial piety•Duty, order, obedience• Stability, peace• Education is important

Daoist Alternatives

• Laozi–Philosopher and founder

•Retreat from society–State cannot solve all problems

•Nature–Dao, cosmic force

•Meditation• Education not important

Qin andImperial Unity

•Qin Dynasty–Originally nomadic, marginal–Shi Huangdi

c. 200 B.C.E.

•Reforms• Improved technology• Peasants freed• Bureaucracy

China from the Later Zhou to the Han Era

The Transformation of a “Barbarian” Land

•Military transformed– Influence of nomads–Cavalry–Crossbow

• Legalism–All to serve the state–People are bad and need harsh laws and

punishments

Shi Huangdi, Emperor of China

•Unification by 221 B.C.E.

•Unification–Common writing–Coinage, –Weights and measures

•Great Wall begun• Killed by son• Shortest dynasty–ends 207 B.C.E.

The Han Dynasty

• Liu Bang (Gaozu)–Peasant–202 B.C.E., becomes first Han ruler

• Strong centralized state• Expansion to Korea and Vietnam

–Assimilation Education common

Scholar Gentry

• Legalists replaced by scholar gentry (educated bureaucrats)•Dominance of Confucianism• Education

–Examination system Based on Confucianism

–Meritocracy – earn your job

Class and Gender

• Peasants–Production increased

Horse collar, wheelbarrow

•Mean people• Below peasants – no land, no training

•Women–Upper classes

Arranged marriages Education common

Towns and Traders

• Xian, capital–Walls, towers–Grid pattern–approx. 100,000 citizens

approx. 100,000 in hinterland

–"Forbidden city“

• Trade as far as India, Rome on the Silk Road

Arts and Sciences

• Invention–Paper–Compasses–Watermills–Rudders

• Art–Calligraphy

• Science–Calendar: 365.5–Medicine: acupuncture