2. As the Chinese Needed Things, They Invented Things

I.China’s Early History

A. Inventions

1. Because China is the oldest continuing civilization, the Chinese are responsible for many inventions

a. Fireworks

b. Gunpowder

c. Paper

d. Silk

2. As the Chinese needed things, they invented things.

B. China’s Dynasties

1. A dynasty is a series of rulers from one family

2. Dynastic rulers were called emperors

3. Invaders and dynasties often fought for control of China

4. The Qin Dynasty was the first to unite China under one ruler

a. Shi Huangdi was a strong leader

1. Great Wall of China

2. Terra Cotta Warriors

5. Most Chinese are able to trace their ancestry to the Han Dynasty

6. The Qing was China’s final dynasty

C. Outside Influences in China

1. Chinese wanted little to do with other countries

2. Isolation was due – IN PART – to geography (mountains, deserts and seas)

3. European Explorers began to want Chinese goods and forced the country to trade

4. New items and ideas were brought to China by outsiders

II. China’s Modern History

A.Revolution and Civil War

1.In 1911, emperor rule ended and a republic was established

2.Two rival groups competed for power

a.The Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-shek) were backed by the USA

b.The Communists (led by Mao Zedong) were backed by the Soviet Union

3.The Communists defeated the Nationalists in 1949 (Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government there)

B.Communist China Under Mao

1.Mao Zedong was a fierce leader whose government controlled all areas of life

2.Women gained more rights under Mao

3.Few freedoms existed

4.Many of Mao Zedong’s programs were failures (Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution)

5.Emphasis on factories (namely steel) resulted in fewer farms, which led to a great famine

C.Communist China since Mao Zedong

1.Following Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping took over

2.Deng Xiaoping was more forward-thinking and admitted mistakes

3.In introduced some forms of free enterprise as he worked to improve the economy

4.Deng Xiaoping also encouraged other countries to become involved in China

III. China’s People and Culture

A.Population

1.China has the world’s largest population at 1.3 billion

2.Most people live in the Manchurian and North China Plain

3.The Chinese government has attempted to slow population

a.one-child policy

b.encourage couples to wait to start families

B.Ethnic Groups and Language

1.92% of percent are descendents of the Han Dynasty

2.Mandarin is China’s official language

3.55 other ethnic groups make up the remaining 8% of China’s population

C.Religion, Values and Beliefs

1.China’s communist government discourages the practice of religion

2.Buddhism and Daoism are two of the main beliefs followed by the Chinese

3.Confucianism is also popular and is based on the teachings of Confucius

4.Christianity and Islam are also followed, but by a minority of Chinese

D.The Arts and Popular Culture

1.Crafts are made with bronze, jade, ivory, silk and/or wood

2.Chinese porcelain is highly valued

3.Paintings are usually reflective of the balance of harmony and nature

4.Calligraphy is Chinese writing (characters or symbols are used)

5.Pagodas are common in China