Social Studies

• -School of law
• -Hanfeizi a scholar created it
• -taught that humans were naturally evil
• -believed harsh laws and stiff punishment was needed to force people to do their duty.
• -Favored force and power in rulers

Also known as the Yellow River, flows across China for more than 2,900 miles.

When the Huang He river flooded many people drowned and many homes were destroyed.

• Also known as the Yangtze River, flows across China
• for about 3,400 miles.

China’s first rulers, little is known about them.

Ruled after the Xia, from about 1750 B.C. to 1122 B.C.

•religion and government were closely linked

• • Kings believed gods, spirits, and ancestors gave
• them power and wisdom

Shang may have built first China city = 1st capital

• upper class, under
• the king, were the warlords and other royal officials
• aristocrats

• sacred shrine where the god(dess) are consulted
• oracle bone = ox scapula or tortoiseshell

a graphical representation that show numerical information by using picture symbols

when a single marking or a collection of pictographs are joined to represent an idea or entire word

• a new dynasty - Zhou (JOH) which ruled the longest
• in Chinese history

appointed officials who are responsible for different areas of government

formal order - Mandate of Heaven the king was chosen by heavenly order - therefore, he would rule with goodness and wisdom

• share similar society position
• •landowners
• •peasant farmers
• •merchants

• children had to respect their parents and older relatives and take care of them
• •son should continue family lineage
• •if a wife doesn’t have a son, the man takes a
• secondwife
• •dying without a son is one of the worse offenses
• •woman’s job is to serve in-laws and produce a son

• • wantedto end problems with social loyalty and obedience
• •wanted to bring peace to society
• •People should put family and community needs
• first
• One of the philosophies of early China

China’s first great thinker/teacher/philosopher

also known as Taoism

•based on the teachings of Laozi (LOWD•ZOO)

• Chinese philosophy that promotes a peaceful society

• • people should give up worldly desires in favor of
• nature and the Dao

• “The First Qin Emperor”

• 221 B.C. Qin declared himself ruler

• made changes in China’s govt. that lasted 2,000 years

• ruled on the Legalism idea - anyone opposed him was punished or killed

• he united China


• began building Great Wall of China to keep Ziongnu (SYEHN•NOO) nomads out

• • 202 B.C. Liu Bang (lee•OO BAHNG) founded
• Han Dynasty

•Han Wudi (HAHN WOO•DEE) “Martial Emperor of Han” ruler

• Civil Service examinations - difficult tests – highest scores chosen for top officials

•acupuncture - eased pain by sticking needles into patients’ skin

•invented steel and paper

• network of trade routes from western China to southwest Asia 4,000 miles

•began between 200 B.C. and A.D. 100

•traded high priced goods such as silk, spices, tea, and porcelain

Han capital that was attacked in A.D. 190 and began a civil war

•largest defensive barrier ever built by men

•about 1500 miles long

•put up to help prevent warring

•Most famous early wall construction was ordered by Shihuangdi of the Qin dynasty