01:506:201 Lecture 2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2 – Classical Civilization: China
1. Introduction – longest-lived civilization in history
1. Isolated
1. Couldn’t learn from other cultures
2. Rare invasions
3. Distinctive identity
4. Relatively little internal chaos w/ decline of Shang dynasty
1. Greatest links to classical society
2. Intellectual theory
1. Harmony of nature – yin and yang – balance
2. Seek Dao – the way
1. Avoid excess
2. Appreciate balance of opposites
3. Humans part of world, not on outside – like
Mediterranean
Thesis: China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system in
which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the
individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole.
2. Patterns in Classical China
1. Pattern of rule
1. Dynasty, family of kings – create strong politics, economy
2. Dynasty grew weak, taxes declined
3. Social divisions increased
4. Invasion or internal rebellion
5. Another dynasty emerged – general, invader, peasant rebel
2. Zhou Dynasty – 1029-258 BCE
1. Started decline in 700 BCE
2. Ruled w/ local princes – alliance system
1. Successful in agricultural communities – ie manor
system Europe
2. Princes received land for troops/tax
3. Eventually local leaders ignored central gov’t
4. Contributions
1. Extended territory to “Middle Kingdom” – wheat north,
rice south
1. Transportation/communication difficult – hard to
govern
2. Mandate of Heaven – Sons of Heaven – emperors
live affluent life
3. Greater cultural unity
1. Banned human sacrifice
2. Standardized language – Mandarin – most
people speaking same
4. Confucius – wrote on political ethics
5. 402-201 BCE Era of the Warring States
3. Qin Dynasty – China’s namesake
1. Xin Shi Huangdi – first emperor – brutal leader
1. Undid power of regional leaders
2. Nobles brought to emperor’s home
3. Officials selected from nonaristocratic groups –
allegiance
4. Extended territory south
5. Built Great Wall – 3000 miles
6. Burned books, attacked culture – hurts his autocratic
rule
2. Innovations
1. National census – tax and labor service
2. Standardized coins, weights, measures
3. Uniform written language
4. Irrigation projects
5. Promoted manufacturing – silk
3. Downfall – unpopular
1. high taxes, attacks on intellectuals
2. killed men, punished brutally
3. Died in 210 BCE – revolts broke out
4. Han Dynasty – 202 BCE-220 CE
1. Kept centralized power of Qin, but reduced repression
2. Extended borders – opened trade to India, Mediterranean
3. Wu Ti – period of peace – like Pax Romana
4. Advancements
1. Formal training
2. Supported Confucianism
1. Shrines built to worship Confucius as god
5. Invasions – Huns – led to decline
6. 220 – 589 CE China in chaos
3. Political Institutions
1. Strong central government
1. Qin stressed unquestioned central authority
2. Han – expanded bureaucracy
2. Political framework