Dynasties of Ancient China

Xia * *Not generally considered a real dynasty	Shang	Zhou

ca. 2200-1800 BC	1700-1050 BC	1050-221 BC
No archaeological evidence of them was found until 1959 Agrarian people (farmers) Bronze weapons Rulers were shamans (communicated with spirits) According to legend, the dynasty ended when the cruel ruler was overthrown	Considered by most to be China’s first true dynasty Developed on the plains along the Yellow River Landowners, peasants, slaves No strong central gov’t Worshipped ancestors and the god Shang Ti	Developed and spread Shang culture. Started where Shang left off Strong military, conquering a large area “Mandate of Heaven” – permission from the ancestors to rule Iron tools (plows, etc.) and weapons Philosophers Lao-Tzu and Confucius were born during this dynasty

Warring States Period	Qin	Han

475-221 BC	221-206 BC	206 BC - AD 220
Zhou warrior states rebelled, sparking a fight for control of the large area of China Time of the great philosophers Lao-Tzu and Confucius The philosophy of Legalism is introduced (becomes major part of Qin gov’t) Western states vs. eastern states Qin dynasty conquered other warring states to unify China for the first time	36 provinces of China unified under one emperor (Shihuangdi) Started building the Great Wall; build an elaborate tomb with terra cotta warriors 5000 miles of roads to connect empire Standardization of coins, weights, and measures Made Qin the official writing system ( China is named after the Qin)	Civil war erupts after the death of Shihuangdi, and the Han seize the empire Gov’t by Confucian ideas; built Confucian schools to teach sayings and proverbs Scholar bureaucrats chosen by exam (similar to Civil Service Exam) The “ Silk Road” was a major part of the Han economy Expanded China’s boundaries almost to where they are today; in Chinese, the country is called “Han”