中国历史简介【英文】

CHINAOVERVIEW:ABRIEFHISTORYOFCHINESEDYNASTIES©StudentHandouts,Inc.GEOGRAPHYOFCHINALargerthantheUnitedStatesClimatevariesNorthTemperateandcoldSouthSubtropicalErosionFloodsanddroughtsImportantriversHwangho(YellowRiver)–northYangtzeRiver–centralChinaEnclosedbyhighmountains,hotdeserts,wideoceansANCIENTHISTORYBy4000BCEVillagesettlementsalongHwanghoRiverFarming,stonetools,weapons(bowandarrow),animaldomestication,potteryCirca1500BCEPicturewriting(oldestwritinginexistence)Nowcirca40,000charactersWHATAREDYNASTIES?Adynastyisaseriesofrulersfromthesamefamily.Historically,royalrulewasdescendedfromfathertoson.DYNASTICCYCLE1.EmperorcomestopowerandgainstheMandateofHeaven.2.Upwardrise(wealthandpopulationincrease)topeak.3.Downwardspiral(naturaldisasters,corruption,etc.).4.EmperorlosestheMandateofHeaven.5.Civilwaruntilanewemperor,withtheMandateofHeaven,comestopower.MANDATEOFHEAVEN–DescribedbyphilosopherMenciusBeliefthattheemperorwaschosenbyheaventorule.XIA(A.K.A.HSIA)DYNASTY(CA.2070-CA.1600BCE)China’sfirstdynastyFoundedbyYuBuiltroadsandirrigationprojectsSHANGDYNASTY(CA.1600-1046BCE)WritingbeganDevelopedbronze,glazedpottery,andsilkindustriesZHOU(A.K.A.CHOU)DYNASTY(1045-256BCE)InvadedChinafromthenorthwestSetupaloosecentralgovernmentFeudalpowerheldbystrongnoblesPhilosophersConfuciusMencius(hisfollower)QIN(A.K.A.CHIN)DYNASTY(221-206BCE)MilitarydictatorshipcentralizedChinaEmperorShihHuangTiDestroyednobles’feudalpowerSystemoftaxationEstablishedweightsandmeasuresGreatWall(1500miles)HANDYNASTY(206-220CE)ConquerorsEmpire–centralAsiatoChinaSea,IndochinatoKoreaTradeChinesefruits,silks,andspicesinRome(1stcenturyCE)BuddhismcamefromIndiaCivilservicesystemFirstpapermadeTANGDYNASTY(618-906CE)400yearsofwarfarebetweenHanandTangdynastiesTangreunitedChinaT’aiTsungEmperorin627CEEducationandgovernmentreformsExtendedboundariesAlliancesandpeacetreatieswithneighborsIndustryandtradeJadeporcelain,andsilkstoArabia,India,Japan,andPersiaSONG(A.K.A.SUNG)DYNASTY(960-1279)DisorderbetweenTangandSungdynastiesCulturesuperiortothatofmedievalEuropePowerfulonlyinsouthernChinaMONGOLRULE(1259-1368)CentralAsiannomadsGenghisKhanConqueredAsia,includingChinaKublaiKhanGrandsonofGenghisVisitedbyMarcoPolo(Venetian)Ruledforcirca100yearsCapital–Peking(Beijing)TradewithEuropebegunMINGDYNASTY(1368-1644)OverthrewMongolsChinesenativesBeautifiedPeking(Beijing)EncouragedtradewithEuropeGaveEuropeans:GunpowderJadePlayingcardsPorcelainSilkTeaQINGDYNASTY(MANCHURULE)(1644-1912)ManchuriansconqueredChina,Indochina,Korea,Mongolia,Tibet,easternTurkestanChinaprosperedWesternpressurebroughtaboutManchuoverthrowin1912EndedwithbirthofChineseRepublicPHILOSOPHYANDRELIGIONLateZhou(Chou)period(1100-256BCE)SufferingproducedinfluentialphilosophersLao-Tse(6thcenturyBCE)MenshouldbeleftalonetoworkouttheirownliveswiththefewestpossiblelawsofgovernmentMenshouldmaketheirownlivessimpleanddesirenothing,butshouldsubmittoallthatcomesinlifeTaoismCONFUCIUS(551-479BCE)ConsideredChina’sgreatestphilosopherEthics–correctwaytoliveHumannature–goodMenshouldbekind,tolerant,andlovetheireldersandancestors(filialpiety)Goldenrule:“Donotdotootherswhatyouwouldnothaveothersdotoyou.”AnalectsConfucianism–codeofbehaviorandreligionEducation,goodmanners,rightmorals,respectforothers,loveoftradition,obediencetoone’sparentsCULTURELiterature,poetry,history,philosophyTangdynasty–poetLiPoPrintinginvented–booksproducedcheaplyingreatnumbersPaper–1stcenturyBCE“China”or“Chinaware”KnownforglazedpotteryandporcelainMusicPaintingsSCIENCE1000-1500CE–civilizationsuperiortothatofmedievalEuropePaperandink“India”inkreallyChineseinkMovabletypeMovableblockswithcut-outraisedcharactersCompassGunpowderOriginallyforfirecrackersSilkmanufacturingIrrigationandfarmingtechniques