Ancient+China

=Ancient China =

3000 B.C.-A.D. 500
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**__The 5 Most Important People In the Era__**

 * 1) **Yu The Great**- He was a Hero king who tamed the Yellow River and introduced irrigation and flood control he was also the founder of the Xia dynasty.
 * 2) **Confucius**- Was said to have achieved total peace and recieved enlightenment during one of his many meditations; center of Confucianism religion.
 * 3) **Laozi**- A famous philosopher, he was the center of the religion of Daoism and was 2nd to Confucius but still had many followers that follow his teachings.
 * 4) **Qin Shihuangdi-** The emperor who had the great Terra-cotta army sculpted and buried with him so that when he died he and his tomb would be well protected.
 * 5) **Han Wudi-** This emperor expanded the Chinese Empire into Vietnam and probably his most famous accomplishment was the creation of the Silk Road.



__**5 Important Terms**__
1. **//Loess//**- Is the fine yellow soil that is often found on the banks of the Haung He or the Yellow River, it is caused by the river grinding down rock to form the silt. 2. **//Oracle// //Bones//**- Priests were asked by emperors to write questions in chinese characters on the bones which when burned a certain way were said to predict the future. 3. **//Jade//**- A milky-green colored gem stone valued to be more precious than gold by the chinese because of the mystical powers it was believed to posess. 4. **//Terra-cotta Army//**- An army of clay soldiers made to gaurd Shi Haungdis's tomb in the afterlife; each soldier was made with unique facial features and amor to depict an actual soldier in his army. 5. **//Analects//**- The teachings or sayings by Confucius that are studied rigorously by his followers and are the values that were considered in some laws during this time period.



**Ancient China**
The first dynasty that ruled the earliest chinese civilization was the Xia dynasty. This was the start of a vast and innovative nation. In the begining, the chinese built impressive cities that were well protected by mountain ranges, rivers and deserts. They were also protected by the Great Wall of China which was built during the Qin dynasty. The Wall was built to keep out the Huns and Mongols that threatened to invade the northern border. This was just the begining of China's great achievements.

The chinese had seven major periods when different dynasties were in power. For example, there was the Xia that is believed to be the first dynasty. This was the age of the Sage Emperors, and there is little else known about their reign. Next was the Shang dynasty. During this dynasty many impressive cities were constructed and the Shang had many capital cities before naming Anyang the official capital. In this time China also formed the basis of its governing system. Third, there was the Zhou dynasty. In this era, China developed a great and effective army nicknamed the "Sons of Heaven". Thie was important because China now had a way to defend its territory. These were only a few of the many dynasties, but the advances and achievements they made are important to China today.

Lastly, the Xia was the age of the Sage Emperors, the Shang was an advance in chinese construction and the Zhou developed a effective army. All in all, the chinese civilization was an important one that contributed many skills and lessons that we use now. They also built a monument that thousands of peple travel great distances to see. In conclusion, the dynasties discussed had a great impact then and now.

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 * Timeline**
 * 1750 BC:** Shang dynasty begins
 * 1045 BC:** Zhou dynasty begins
 * 551 BC:** Confucius is born
 * 403 BC:** Warring States begin
 * 256 BC:** Zhou dynasty ends
 * 221 BC:** Qin dynasty begins
 * 202 BC:** Han dynasty begins
 * 87 BC:** Han Wudi dies
 * 170 AD:** Han dynasty begins collapse
 * 202 AD:** Peace and prosperity comes to China

To learn more about Ancient China:
[|Ancient China] [|History of China] [|Chinese History] [|Ancient China for Kids] [|Ancient Chinese History]