Persian Chart: Classical China
Political:
· By the end of the Han dynasty, china had 130,000 trained bureaucrats to carry out the emperors policies
· The warring states period, an era in were seven states fought in china from 475 to 221 BCE
· For the beginning of the time period to 221 BCE there were seven main states
· The warring states period was ended by the Qin dynasty which united all the warring states under one dynasty from 221 to 206 BCE
· The Qin Dynasty was ruled by Yingzheng- Qin Shi Huang, and his son Hu Hai the only two emperors
· The ruler of the Qin dynasty was the cruel ruler Yingzheng who established the first centralized government in China.
· He named himself emperor of all the state taking all-important major powers, like political, military affairs, and economic.
· The Han dynasty arose in 206 BCE and lasted until 220 AD being split in two periods, Western Han and Eastern Han dynasties
· The Han dynasty had 24 different emperors
· The western Han lasted from 206 BCE to 24 AD being regarded as the first unified and powerful empire of China’s history
· It was established by Lui Bang who became emperor Gaozu
· Emperor Gaozu recruited people based on merit and not on birth or wealth
· Regarded as a continuation of the Western Han the Eastern Han lasted from 34 AD to 220 AD.
· It was established by Lui Xiu who became Emperor Guangwa
· Lui Xui defeated Wang Mang, who had usurped the throne, thus establishing the Eastern Han
· By the end of the Han dynasty, china had 130,000 trained bureaucrats to carry out the emperors policies
· The warring states period, an era in were seven states fought in china from 475 to 221 BCE
· For the beginning of the time period to 221 BCE there were seven main states
· The warring states period was ended by the Qin dynasty which united all the warring states under one dynasty from 221 to 206 BCE
· The Qin Dynasty was ruled by Yingzheng- Qin Shi Huang, and his son Hu Hai the only two emperors
· The ruler of the Qin dynasty was the cruel ruler Yingzheng who established the first centralized government in China.
· He named himself emperor of all the state taking all-important major powers, like political, military affairs, and economic.
· The Han dynasty arose in 206 BCE and lasted until 220 AD being split in two periods, Western Han and Eastern Han dynasties
· The Han dynasty had 24 different emperors
· The western Han lasted from 206 BCE to 24 AD being regarded as the first unified and powerful empire of China’s history
· It was established by Lui Bang who became emperor Gaozu
· Emperor Gaozu recruited people based on merit and not on birth or wealth
· Regarded as a continuation of the Western Han the Eastern Han lasted from 34 AD to 220 AD.
· It was established by Lui Xiu who became Emperor Guangwa
· Lui Xui defeated Wang Mang, who had usurped the throne, thus establishing the Eastern Han
A map of the Qin Dynasty
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A map of the Han Dynasty, as stated in the title...
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Economic:
· With stability in the country and a rapid development in the arts with the invention of paper, porcelain, and industry provided a favorable environment for commerce to flourish
· In industry both textiles and metallurgy had great productivity improvements.
· Iron-smelting was carried on a large scale and steel was being produced
· Coins were the Ban Liang coin
· With stability in the country and a rapid development in the arts with the invention of paper, porcelain, and industry provided a favorable environment for commerce to flourish
· In industry both textiles and metallurgy had great productivity improvements.
· Iron-smelting was carried on a large scale and steel was being produced
· Coins were the Ban Liang coin
Chinese coins during the Han and Qin Dynasties
Religion:
· The two religions of this time were Confucianism and Daoism
· Confucian teachings include the values of Li: ritual, property, etiquette, etc., Hsiao: love within the family, Yi: righteousness, Xin: honesty and trustworthiness, Jeni: the highest virtue, benevolence and humanness towards others, and lastly Chung: loyalty to the state. The three dimensions of the human are described as the self, community, and tradition.
· Dao is described as the way or path. Daoist extended it to mean the Way of Nature as a whole. Since humans are only a small part of nature, daoist argue that the only actions that make sense are those that are natural to the flow of nature. We-wui or non-action is the typical daoist doctrine meaning not to do anything but to not do what isn’t dao.
· The two religions of this time were Confucianism and Daoism
· Confucian teachings include the values of Li: ritual, property, etiquette, etc., Hsiao: love within the family, Yi: righteousness, Xin: honesty and trustworthiness, Jeni: the highest virtue, benevolence and humanness towards others, and lastly Chung: loyalty to the state. The three dimensions of the human are described as the self, community, and tradition.
· Dao is described as the way or path. Daoist extended it to mean the Way of Nature as a whole. Since humans are only a small part of nature, daoist argue that the only actions that make sense are those that are natural to the flow of nature. We-wui or non-action is the typical daoist doctrine meaning not to do anything but to not do what isn’t dao.
The ancient scholar and founder of Confucianism, Confucius.
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Taoist symbol of yin and yang
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Society:
· Society during the Han dynasty can be generally described as highly structured with a clear definition of each social class.
· There was a three tiered system, artisans and bureaucrats were at the top, followed by skilled laborers like farmers and iron workers, and at the bottom were the unskilled laborers like slaves servants artisans craftsmen and merchants.
· Family was based on that of Confucius values of the father at the top followed by sons in order of age then the wife and daughters, with men being superior to women in general among society.
· Society during the Han dynasty can be generally described as highly structured with a clear definition of each social class.
· There was a three tiered system, artisans and bureaucrats were at the top, followed by skilled laborers like farmers and iron workers, and at the bottom were the unskilled laborers like slaves servants artisans craftsmen and merchants.
· Family was based on that of Confucius values of the father at the top followed by sons in order of age then the wife and daughters, with men being superior to women in general among society.
A picture of Han artisans
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A picture of some Han officials
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Innovations, Intellectuals, and Inventions:
· Cattle and iron tools were used at large to increase production, looms were being used for weaving and metallurgy and textile productivity was up.
· During the eastern Han dynasty a special tool the “Shui Pai” was invented by Nangary, which allowed for water to be applied to the air blasting in the process of iron smelting which prompted productivity.
· Zang Heng, a famous astronomer, created special equipment, which is considered to be the earliest seismograph with great techniques for testing earthquakes.
· Hua Tuo, a well-known surgeon of ancient China, originated the use of anesthetic techniques in operations.
· Cattle and iron tools were used at large to increase production, looms were being used for weaving and metallurgy and textile productivity was up.
· During the eastern Han dynasty a special tool the “Shui Pai” was invented by Nangary, which allowed for water to be applied to the air blasting in the process of iron smelting which prompted productivity.
· Zang Heng, a famous astronomer, created special equipment, which is considered to be the earliest seismograph with great techniques for testing earthquakes.
· Hua Tuo, a well-known surgeon of ancient China, originated the use of anesthetic techniques in operations.
Ancient Chinese loom
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Ancient Chinese seismograph
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Arts/Architecture:
· Calligraphy and painting were no longer used purely for letter symbols and their charm as art emerged.
· Literature flourished with the invention of paper as art with the invention of the loom and porcelain.
· The techniques for making porcelain were so advanced they’re comparable to todays work.
· Buildings were generally were made of wood and tombs towers and a variety of other building have been unearthed.
· Calligraphy and painting were no longer used purely for letter symbols and their charm as art emerged.
· Literature flourished with the invention of paper as art with the invention of the loom and porcelain.
· The techniques for making porcelain were so advanced they’re comparable to todays work.
· Buildings were generally were made of wood and tombs towers and a variety of other building have been unearthed.
The Zhongyue Temple, built at the foot of the Songshan Mountain in the Han Dynasty is an example of early Taoist activity in China
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An ancient archway built during the Han dynasty
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Near Geographic:
· The major areas of fiefdom are known today as the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hebi.
· Some of the more important geographic features to china are the Gobi and Taklimakan deserts, Himalayan Mountains and the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers with the mountains protecting from invaders and the rivers giving necessary water.
· The major areas of fiefdom are known today as the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hebi.
· Some of the more important geographic features to china are the Gobi and Taklimakan deserts, Himalayan Mountains and the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers with the mountains protecting from invaders and the rivers giving necessary water.
A picture of the Yangtze river and Yellow river necessary to Chinese crops
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The Himalayan mountains
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Citations for everything:
- http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/western.htm
- http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/qin/
- http://confucianism.freehostingguru.com/
- http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1000bce_daoism.htm
- http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-social-structure/
- https://www.boundless.com/art-history/chinese-and-korean-art-before-1279/han-dynasty/architecture/
- http://globerove.com/china/ancient-china-geography/2412
Victor Hernandez Pd. 5