WH China Lecture PDF

China Lecture TOPIC/IDEAS NOTES Rivers 2 Major Rivers 1. Yellow River a. Sediment seeping into the river after flooding b. China’s sorrow i. Flooding killed many people...

China Lecture TOPIC/IDEAS NOTES Rivers 2 Major Rivers 1. Yellow River a. Sediment seeping into the river after flooding b. China’s sorrow i. Flooding killed many people 2. Yangtze River When flooding recedes nutrients are left behind Early Writing Large oracle bones 1. Fortune tellers would write questions on the bones 2. Heat them and wait for the bones to crack 3. Depending on how the bones were cracked would determine the answer to the questions Writing using pictographs Wrote on turtle shells → seeing pictographs on t-shells was common Governance of Mandate of Heaven → Political ideology, in which the gods choose the China next leaders to rule over the empire Confucianism (Kong Fuzi) a. Followers wrote the analects b. His most famous follower was Mencius c. Emphasized education and moral integrity d. Filial piety → superior: cares for and is responsible for the people under their supervision; subjects: show respect and obedience (different relationships) Daoism/Taoism → the “way” of nature 1. Founder was Laozi 2. Critic of Confucius 3. Founded in 6th BCE 4. Seek harmony with in oneself and nature and society will have harmony 5. Yin and Yang → Opposites balancing and creating “perfect” harmony Legalism 1. Practical and ruthless 2. Harsh laws = effective deterrent for crime 3. Severe punishments for small infractions prevent large crimes 1st Emperor of Qin Shihuengdi (Qin dynasty) China Legalism Buried with the terracotta warriors Han Dynasty Overthrew the Qin dynasty through the Mandate of Heaven  Liu Bang Embraced Confucionsim Technological Terrace farming Innovations Silk and Silk Roads (trade Iron Paper Coins