China Page

Ancient China

Geography and Goverment	Religion and Daily Life	Science, Technology, and Architecture
China developed in isolation from other civilizations because China is surrounded by oceans and mountains. Ancient China was ruled by kings and emperors. The government of the Qin Dynasty (peak at 221 BC) was based on a well developed bureaucracy and centralized government. But this dynasty used censorship to maintain power and lasted only 21 years. The Han Dynasty (peak 87 BC) was more successful than the Qin. It used the ideas of Confucius as well as the ideas of legalism to develop a balanced form of government. There were many advances in science, technology and trade during the Han dynasty.	The Chinese had several religons.One was Confucianism, which was based on the teachings of Confucius. One of his famous sayings was if we are not to live with our follow man, with whom can we live? Religion influenced government and daily life. Priests created calenders that indicated the change of seasons and told farmers when to plant crops. Alchemists played a big role in the lives of the ancient Chinese; they believed that alchemists were magicians who could change things into gold.	The Chinese invented an early form of gunpowder in 300 BC. The oldest piece of paper that still exsists was found in a Chinese tomb built around 86 BC. Around 800 BC, the Chinese discovered the force of magnetism, and around 700 AD, they created the first needle compass The Chinese were great astronomers and around 1,500 BC, they had a calender that accuratly predicted the four seasons and was based on a year that was 365.25 days long. Starting in 1,350 BC, they kept records of eclipses, novas, sunsports, and comets. They had an advanced system of math that included an understanding of algebra and geometry. The Ancient Chinese studied human body and by 100 AD, understood that blood circulated through the body, and by 200 AD, had produced an early type of anesthesia for people who needed surgery. More than 4000 years ago, the ancient Chinese began to develop the healing arts of acupuncture and moxa. The ancient Chinese were great engineers. One of their greatest accomplishments was figuring out that an arch bridge could be supported with only a segment of an arch. The first segmental arch bridge was built in 610, and it is still in use today.

Geography and Goverment

Religion and Daily Life

Science, Technology, and Architecture

China developed in isolation from other civilizations because China is surrounded by oceans and mountains.
Ancient China was ruled by kings and emperors.
The government of the Qin Dynasty (peak at 221 BC) was based on a well developed bureaucracy and centralized government. But this dynasty used censorship to maintain power and lasted only 21 years.
The Han Dynasty (peak 87 BC) was more successful than the Qin. It used the ideas of Confucius as well as the ideas of legalism to develop a balanced form of government.
There were many advances in science, technology and trade during the Han dynasty.

The Chinese had several religons.One was Confucianism, which was based on the teachings of Confucius. One of his famous sayings was if we are not to live with our follow man, with whom can we live?
Religion influenced government and daily life.
Priests created calenders that indicated the change of seasons and told farmers when to plant crops.
Alchemists played a big role in the lives of the ancient Chinese; they believed that alchemists were magicians who could change things into gold.

The Chinese invented an early form of gunpowder in 300 BC.
The oldest piece of paper that still exsists was found in a Chinese tomb built around 86 BC.
Around 800 BC, the Chinese discovered the force of magnetism, and around 700 AD, they created the first needle compass
The Chinese were great astronomers and around 1,500 BC, they had a calender that accuratly predicted the four seasons and was based on a year that was 365.25 days long.
Starting in 1,350 BC, they kept records of eclipses, novas, sunsports, and comets.
They had an advanced system of math that included an understanding of algebra and geometry.
The Ancient Chinese studied human body and by 100 AD, understood that blood circulated through the body, and by 200 AD, had produced an early type of anesthesia for people who needed surgery.
More than 4000 years ago, the ancient Chinese began to develop the healing arts of acupuncture and moxa.
The ancient Chinese were great engineers. One of their greatest accomplishments was figuring out that an arch bridge could be supported with only a segment of an arch. The first segmental arch bridge was built in 610, and it is still in use today.