Unit VI – Early China

With Hinduism and Buddhism Added

Copyright 2006, C. Pettinato, RCS High School, All Rights Reserved

1. A Map of Early China

2. The Middle Kingdom

• A. Why was China called Zhongguo or the Middle Kingdom?

• B. What river valleys was this kingdom located in?

• C. Why was the Hwang He called the river of sorrows?

3. Video

4. Early Governments

• A. The Shang (1650-1027BC)

• B. The Zhou Dynasty (1027 – 256BC) 1st dynasty, Mandate of Heaven, Confucianism

• C. Qin Empire (221 -210BC)– Shi Huangdi, The Great Wall, unity, legalism

• D. Han Dynasty ((210BC – 220AD), Wudi,• unity, economic growth, canals, the Silk Road,

expansion, the first “Golden Age”

5. The Great Wall of China

6. Shi Huangdi’s Buried Army

7. Belief Systems

• A. What is Confucianism and who started it?

• B. What is legalism and who started it?

• C. What is Daoism and who started it?

• D. In what ways do we see these philosophies at work in China today?

8. Beliefs of Hinduism

• A. atman• B. reincarnation• C. karma• D. dharma• E. ahimsa• F. moksha

• G. caste system• Brahmin• Kshatriyas• Vaisyas• Sudras• Untouchables

• Vedas, Upanishads, epics

9. Buddha – The Enlightened One

10. Beliefs of Buddhism

• A. 4 Noble Truths• 1. life-pain/suff.• 2. cause of pain is

desire• 3. eliminate

desire-elim. pain• 4. follow 8 fold

path to righteous.

• B. 8 fold path to righteousness

• C. Tripatika• D. reincarnation• E. Nirvana• F. ahimsa• G. Theravada• H. Mahayana

11. The Silk Road

12. Achievements of the Han Dynasty (1st –Golden Age )

• A. texts on chemistry, zoology, botany

• B. better calendars based on astronomy

• C. early clocks• D. scientific explanation

of comets and eclipses• E. Wang Chong – proof

for scientific theory

• F. durable paper• G. shipbuilding – rudder• H. iron stirrups, fishing

reels, wheelbarrows, suspension bridges, chain pumps

• I. herbal remedies, anesthetics, acupuncture

• J. jade, ivory carvings, ceramics, bronze art

13. Important Terms (does not include religious terms)

• A. loess• B. mandate of

heaven• C. ideograph• D. calligraphy• E. dynastic cycle• F. feudalism• G. yin\yang

• H. caste system• I. The Great Wall• J. Confucianism• K. Legalism• L. Daoism• M. civil service

exams• N. silk road