China Whats the Big Deal China India Mediterranean Whats In the Classical Period Built on RVC predecessors But larger geographically Culturally deeper AND broader More trade complex economy ID: 681915
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Slide1
Unit 2: The Classical Period
ChinaSlide2
What’s the Big Deal?
China, India, MediterraneanSlide3
What’s In the Classical Period?
Built on RVC predecessors
But larger geographically
Culturally deeper AND broader
More trade, complex economy
More political consolidationSlide4
Why Was the Classical Period Bigger and Better?
Stronger militaries
Iron weapons, c. 1,500 B.C.E.
More outreach, contact for trade
Han—Middle East and India
Alexander (Greeks)—Middle East and India
Formalized religion and philosophy
Hinduism (older, but develops more)
Buddhism
Christianity
Improvements in infrastructure
New Canals
Safer Transportation (Postal Service—Persia)Slide5
Durable Cultures
Chinese more accepting authority
Confucius
Modern-day examples:
One child law
Internet censorship
One-party rule
India’s diversity makes centralization difficult.
Ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences
Modern-day examples:
Partition
The government’s
inability
to regulate birthrates.Slide6
Durable Cultures, pt. 2
Romans:
law and concepts of citizenship
Habeas corpus
?
Roman Catholicism
Greeks
Democracy
Science and philosophy
Theater
^English language roots in both^Slide7
Durable Cultures Pt. 3
The Middle East…gets conquered a lot.
Alexander
Rome
Byzantines…
Persia…always trying to assert itselfSlide8
When Distinctiveness Collides
Syncretism: Buddha in Greek clothes
Conflict: Christianity v. paganismSlide9
Classical Continuities
No massive technological improvements.
No great changes in transportation (just better roads)
Rural folk often maintained older religions.
Continuation of RVC practices:
Money
Law codes
Interest in science (esp. Astronomy)Slide10
Classical China
Zhou, Qin, HanSlide11
Political Patterns
Dynasty cycle (Vigor, Stagnation, Decline—often internal rebellions)
Mandate of Heaven
Rise of Confucian order and bureaucracySlide12
Why China is Special
Isolation BUT magnificence
Advanced civilization contrasts from Aboriginal Australians.
Han the most effective bureaucracy before the modern era.
Technology
Language; writing
ALL WITHOUT MUCH CONTACT WITH OTHER CIVILIZATIONS
No missionary spiritSlide13
Dynasty Cycle
Notion of the ‘Mandate of Heaven” begun by the Zhou
a) Emperors
refered
to as ‘Sons of Heaven’
b) Connecting rulers to divine power/inspiration/oversight
(1) At the start: Strong institutions, honest bureaucracy
(2) Later: Internal rebellions, corruption, external invasions, poor weather, poor
flood
control,
famine—Lose Mandate
With
the decline of one dynasty, another would rise.
a
) Successful invaders, leaders of rebellions, strong generals
.Slide14
Dynasty Cycle: Zhou
Northern people, replaced Shang Dynasty
Closest ties to RVC
Mandarin language
Zhou
had no cohesive bureaucracy
Ruled by alliances with regional princes and noble families
Zhou authority unravels c. 8
th
century B.C.E.
Political conflict
Social turmoil
Nomadic invasions
Context for ConfuciusSlide15
Dynasty Cycle: Zhou to Qin
The Zhou have lost the Mandate of Heaven.
Shi
Huangdi
, 3
rd
Century B.C.E., warrior strongman
Tyranical
/Brutal
Legalism
Conscripted labor and taxes
S
on and advisors lose support of people (& Mandate of Heaven)
Peasant revolt lead to rise of the Han…etc.Slide16
Qin Dynasty
Qin=China
Shi
Huangdi
undercuts aristocrats
Provinces ruled by bureaucratic appointments; not noble families
Bureaucracy not tied to nobility
Expands beyond Zhou borders
South to modern-day Hong Kong
Great Wall in NorthSlide17
Qin Legacy
Use of conscripted (but not enslaved) labor
National census (for tax and labor purposes)
Standardized weights and measures
Good for trade
Standard axles promote standard roads…
Uniform written script
Promotion of irrigation (still happening)
Promotion of industry (silk)—(Still happening)
Intolerant of criticism:
Burned many books
Feared opposition from intellectuals (Still happening!)Slide18
Han Legacy
Peasants topple a dynasty…
Centralization without brutality
Wu Ti and Confucius
Expansion:
Korea
Indochina
Central Asia
Decline:
Weakened central control
Invasions from Central Asia (Huns!)Slide19
What’s Important About Chinese Political Structures?
Central authority
Emperor with a Mandate from Heaven
Uniform legal codes
Uniform tax system
Uniformity…
Supportive and expansive bureaucracy
Use of appointed governors for provinces
Embrace of Confucianism; Civil Service Exam
Sponsorship of industries and public worksSlide20
Chinese Religion and Culture
Many religions, esp. among masses
; polytheism
Tolerated if not political
Daoism promotes withdrawing from politics
Buddhism will suffer later
Emphasis on harmony, balance (yin/yang)
Emphasis on rituals and ceremony
Han worship Confucius as a godSlide21
Religion and Culture, Pt. 2
Confucius NOT a religious leader
Emphasis on relationships &
Ruler and subject
Father and son
Elder brother and younger brother
Husband and wife
Friend and friend
Hierarchy is natural and good.
It’s about knowing your proper place—harmony.Slide22
Religion and Culture, Pt. 3
Daoism
“The Way”
Lao Tzu
Concept of Yin-Yang, order in all things
Nature-based, quiet, withdrawn life
Not endorsed by Emperor or bureaucracy, but apolitical so left alone.Slide23
Religion and Culture, Pt. 4
Legalism
Pragmatic guide to maintaining order
Human nature is evil; must be restrained
Harsh central rule
Severe punishment for crimes
Limited thought; anti-intellectualSlide24
Religion and Culture, Pt. 5
Art
Decorative, stressing detail, craftsmanship
Reflect geometric qualities, as in Chinese writing
Music
Scholars studied the mathematics of toneSlide25
Classical Chinese Economy
Agriculture
Wheat in North
Rice in South
Internal trade (isolation)
Iron mining
Manufacturing (e.g. textiles: silk
,
porcelain)
The Silk RoadSlide26
Classical Chinese Technology
Skilled ironworks
Pulleys and winding gear
Yokes sans choking
Ox-driven
plows
Increased
production=increased
population
L
argest
cities in the
world
Water-powered mills
Paper
Chinese science and astronomy focused on practical application (e.g. calendars)Slide27
Classical Chinese Families
Tightly organized (Confucius!)
Patriarchical
(Confucius)
“There
are
no wrongdoing
parents.” (Confucius)
Primogeniture (Confucius)
Order and control start in the family (Confucius)Slide28
Classical Social Groups
Mandarins/Land owners; bureaucrats and scholars
Laborers and peasants
Mean People (traders and merchants; performing artists; dirtiest jobs)
Why are Merchants and traders so low?
Harsher punishments for crimes
Had to wear green scarves?Slide29
Big Picture
Politics and culture
Emphasized order and stability (guess who)
Divergence of Confucianism, Daoism, and (eventually) Buddhism
Technology, religion, philosophy, political structures: despite isolation
Practical science=useful technology=improved economy
Longest lasting civilization in world historySlide30
ExpansionSlide31
ExpansionSlide32
Shi HuangdiSlide33
Wanna Play a Game?Slide34
Qin ArchitectureSlide35
Han ArchitectureSlide36
ConfuciusSlide37
The Silk RoadSlide38
The Silk RoadSlide39
Shi
Huangdi’s
Terra Cotta ArmySlide40
Terra Cotta ArmySlide41
Han Chinese Art