Early Chinese Dynasties: Xia Dynasty

EARLY CHINESE DYNASTIES

XIA DYNASTY

-NO EVIDENCE THAT IT REALLY EXISTED

SHANG DYNASTY

-well organized army with wheeled chariots

-irrigation and flood control projects

-polytheistic religion

-developed own form of writing, accurate calendar, improved art of bronze making

ZHOU DYNASTY

-lasted 800 years

-created idea of mandate of heaven and the dynastic cycle

QIN DYNASTY

Shi Huangdi, "first emperor"

supported legalism

banned all books except for legalist pens

single law code

uniform standards for wets and measurements

currency regulation

built Great Wall to defend land against nomadic invaders

-didn't prevent attackers

-symbolic-southerners=civilized northerners=barbarians

HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-220 AD)

-expanded across asia

-caravans traveled across the silk road

-chinese jade, bronzes, silk in exchange for india goods such as grapes and alfalfa

Civil service System

-restored confucian learning

-developed idea that the most talented and learned men should run the government

-set up exam system to choose government officials

-candidates had top know confucian teachings, chinese law, history and traditions

-officials gained jobs based on merit

Achievements

-improved calendar

-invented seismograph

-advances in medicine

-take pulse, use acupuncture, use anesthetics

Farming

-controlled floods, fertilized soil, drought resistant rice, invented wheelbarrow, mill wheel, water clock, and sundial

-invented stirrup and paper

TANG (618-907) & SONG (960-1279) DYNASTIES

-golden ages - economy prospered and arts flourished

-trade increased - introduced cotton, pepper, dates

-built navy- magnetic compass, sternpost rudder

-missionaries arrived- Muslims, Jews, & Christians

conquered Vietnam, influenced spread to Korea & japan

invented block printing & moveable type

-led to greater literacy & books

painting -celebrated beauty of culture

MONGOL CONQUEST - YAUN DYNASTY

Genghis Khan

using his armies he took most of asia from Korea

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