1 / 41

Unit 2: The Classical Period

Unit 2: The Classical Period . China. What’s the Big Deal?. China, India, Mediterranean. What’s In the Classical Period?. Built on RVC predecessors But larger geographically Culturally deeper AND broader More trade, complex economy More political consolidation.

ziven
Download Presentation

Unit 2: The Classical Period

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Unit 2: The Classical Period China

  2. What’s the Big Deal? China, India, Mediterranean

  3. What’s In the Classical Period? • Built on RVC predecessors • But larger geographically • Culturally deeper AND broader • More trade, complex economy • More political consolidation

  4. 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)

  5. 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.

  6. 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^

  7. Durable Cultures Pt. 3 • The Middle East…gets conquered a lot. • Alexander • Rome • Byzantines… • Persia…always trying to assert itself

  8. When Distinctiveness Collides • Syncretism: Buddha in Greek clothes • Conflict: Christianity v. paganism

  9. 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)

  10. Classical China Zhou, Qin, Han

  11. Political Patterns • Dynasty cycle (Vigor, Stagnation, Decline—often internal rebellions) • Mandate of Heaven • Rise of Confucian order and bureaucracy

  12. 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 spirit

  13. 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.

  14. 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. 8th century B.C.E. • Political conflict • Social turmoil • Nomadic invasions • Context for Confucius

  15. Dynasty Cycle: Zhou to Qin • The Zhou have lost the Mandate of Heaven. • Shi Huangdi, 3rd Century B.C.E., warrior strongman • Tyranical/Brutal • Legalism • Conscripted labor and taxes • Son and advisors lose support of people (& Mandate of Heaven) • Peasant revolt lead to rise of the Han…etc.

  16. 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 North

  17. 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!)

  18. 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!)

  19. 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 works

  20. 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 god

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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-intellectual

  24. Religion and Culture, Pt. 5 • Art • Decorative, stressing detail, craftsmanship • Reflect geometric qualities, as in Chinese writing • Music • Scholars studied the mathematics of tone

  25. Classical Chinese Economy • Agriculture • Wheat in North • Rice in South • Internal trade (isolation) • Iron mining • Manufacturing (e.g. textiles: silk, porcelain) • The Silk Road

  26. Classical Chinese Technology • Skilled ironworks • Pulleys and winding gear • Yokes sans choking • Ox-driven plows • Increased production=increased population • Largest cities in the world • Water-powered mills • Paper • Chinese science and astronomy focused on practical application (e.g. calendars)

  27. Classical Chinese Families • Tightly organized (Confucius!) • Patriarchical (Confucius) • “There are no wrongdoing parents.” (Confucius) • Primogeniture (Confucius) • Order and control start in the family (Confucius)

  28. 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?

  29. 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 history

  30. Expansion

  31. Expansion

  32. Shi Huangdi

  33. Wanna Play a Game?

  34. Qin Architecture

  35. Han Architecture

  36. Confucius

  37. The Silk Road

  38. The Silk Road

  39. Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

  40. Terra Cotta Army

  41. Han Chinese Art

More Related