DYNASTIC CYCLE
The dynastic cycle appears as follows:
1. A new ruler unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the Mandate of Heaven
2. China, under the new dynasty, achieves prosperity.
3. The population increases.
4. Corruption becomes rampant in the imperial court, and the empire begins to enter decline and instability.
5. A natural disaster wipes out farm land. The disaster normally would not have been a problem; however, together with the corruption and overpopulation, it causes famine.
6. The famine causes the population to rebel and a civil war ensues.
7. The ruler loses the Mandate of Heaven.
8. The population decreases because of the violence.
9. China goes through a warring states period.
10. One state emerges victorious.
11. The state starts a new empire.
12. The empire gains the Mandate of Heaven.
(The cycle repeats itself.)
The Mandate of Heaven was the idea that the Emperor was favored by Heaven to rule over China. The Mandate of Heaven was created by the Chinese philosopher Mencius, during the Period of Warring States.
It has 3 main periods:
1. The first is the beginning of the dynasty.
2. The second is at the middle of the dynasty's life and is the peak of the dynasty.
3. The last period is the decline of the dynasty, both politically and economically, until it finally collapses.
SHANG DYNASTY
DYNASTIC CYCLE
Shang Dynasty
-start about 1500 B.C.E.
-gave way to complex society with people specializing in various trades and craft
Anyang
-capital of Shang Dynasty
-was excavated around 1930
Bronze Works
-suggesting an age of strong religious feelings
Ex.
-bronze bells
-bronze axe (for beheading)
Contributions
-showed that the Chinese had a system of writing with written symbols found on ritual bronzes and oracle bones with inscripted characters
-develop a lunar calendar ,as the king ‘s popularity depended on good harvest, the government then employed priest-astronomers to determine the time of planting with the use of the calendar
Livelihood
-economy was characterized mainly by farming
-plant millet and rice
-raise domesticated animals and used elephants in times of war
-learn to weave silk cloth from silk thread
Arts
-artisans laid the foundation for Chinese ceramic arts
-used kaolin (a very fine white clay) to shaped potteries
Decline
-1028 B.C.E.
-Shang rulers were noted to have become cruel and wicked
Shang Dynasty
-start about 1500 B.C.E.
-gave way to complex society with people specializing in various trades and craft
Anyang
-capital of Shang Dynasty
-was excavated around 1930
Bronze Works
-suggesting an age of strong religious feelings
Ex.
-bronze bells
-bronze axe (for beheading)
Contributions
-showed that the Chinese had a system of writing with written symbols found on ritual bronzes and oracle bones with inscripted characters
-develop a lunar calendar ,as the king ‘s popularity depended on good harvest, the government then employed priest-astronomers to determine the time of planting with the use of the calendar
Livelihood
-economy was characterized mainly by farming
-plant millet and rice
-raise domesticated animals and used elephants in times of war
-learn to weave silk cloth from silk thread
Arts
-artisans laid the foundation for Chinese ceramic arts
-used kaolin (a very fine white clay) to shaped potteries
Decline
-1028 B.C.E.
-Shang rulers were noted to have become cruel and wicked
CHOU DYNASTY
Chou Dynasty
-lasted from 1028-256 B.C.E.
-longest dynasty that ruled China
Wu Wang
-founder of the Chou Dynasty
-believed that his rulr was Mandate of Heaven
Civil Service Examination
-was given by the government to any man who was interested to serve the government
Feudal System
-where provinces are ruled by governments
Warring State Period
-the feudal system were numerous and become increasingly independent which causes Warring State Period
Decline
-the Chou rulers become greedy for power gradually lost the loyalty of their subjects
DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES
1.CONFUCIUS
2.MENCIUS
3.LAO TZU
4.LEGALIST
-there are times when the philosophers on the meaning of life and the right way to live took its form in china
-lasted from 1028-256 B.C.E.
-longest dynasty that ruled China
Wu Wang
-founder of the Chou Dynasty
-believed that his rulr was Mandate of Heaven
Civil Service Examination
-was given by the government to any man who was interested to serve the government
Feudal System
-where provinces are ruled by governments
Warring State Period
-the feudal system were numerous and become increasingly independent which causes Warring State Period
Decline
-the Chou rulers become greedy for power gradually lost the loyalty of their subjects
DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES
1.CONFUCIUS
2.MENCIUS
3.LAO TZU
4.LEGALIST
-there are times when the philosophers on the meaning of life and the right way to live took its form in china
CHIN DYNASTY
Chin Dynasty
-reunited China after the downfall of Chou Dynasty
-dominated by Legalist thinkers
Chin Shih Huang-Ti
-known to be "First Emperor"
-ruled the China
-he conquered the barbarians at the Southern Part of his empire
-ordered the burning of all books judged to be harmful to the state
Huns
-barbarians led by Hsiung Nu
Great Wall of China
-to keep barbarians out of borders
206 B.C.E.
-death of Chin Shih Huang-Ti
-decline of the dynasty
-reunited China after the downfall of Chou Dynasty
-dominated by Legalist thinkers
Chin Shih Huang-Ti
-known to be "First Emperor"
-ruled the China
-he conquered the barbarians at the Southern Part of his empire
-ordered the burning of all books judged to be harmful to the state
Huns
-barbarians led by Hsiung Nu
Great Wall of China
-to keep barbarians out of borders
206 B.C.E.
-death of Chin Shih Huang-Ti
-decline of the dynasty
HAN DYNASTY
Han Dynasty
-founded by Liu Pang
-Chinese called themselves "Man of Han"
-Confucianism triumphed
Confucius
-patroon saint of scholars
Books
1.Five Classics of Confucius
-a collection of the greatest writings of Confucius
2.Analects
-contained Confucius words of wisdom recorded by students
Pan Chao
-one of the greatest female Chinese literary writer
Ssu-ma-Ch'ien
- first great historian of China
Wu Ti
-greatest emperor of the Han Dynasty
-"Martial Emperor"
Great Silk Road
-route to the markets of Syria and other Mediterranean lands
Buddhism
-spread during the decline of Han Dynasty
-founded by Liu Pang
-Chinese called themselves "Man of Han"
-Confucianism triumphed
Confucius
-patroon saint of scholars
Books
1.Five Classics of Confucius
-a collection of the greatest writings of Confucius
2.Analects
-contained Confucius words of wisdom recorded by students
Pan Chao
-one of the greatest female Chinese literary writer
Ssu-ma-Ch'ien
- first great historian of China
Wu Ti
-greatest emperor of the Han Dynasty
-"Martial Emperor"
Great Silk Road
-route to the markets of Syria and other Mediterranean lands
Buddhism
-spread during the decline of Han Dynasty
