Prehistoric China
– Archaic human species Homo erectus arrived in Eurasia between 1.3 and 1.8 million years ago.
– Yuanmou Man, dated to c.1.7 Ma, lived in a mixed bushland-forest environment alongside various animals.
– Peking Man, discovered in Zhoukoudian cave, lived between 700,000 and 400,000 BP.
– Other Homo erectus fossils found widely throughout the region, including Lantian Man in Shaanxi.
– Minor Homo erectus specimens found in northeastern Liaoning and southern Guangdong.
– Majuangou site dates back to 1.66-1.55 million years ago
– Lanpo site dates back to 1.6 million years ago
– Xiaochangliang site dates back to 1.36 million years ago
– Xiantai site dates back to 1.36 million years ago
– Banshan site dates back to 1.32 million years ago
– Evidence of fire use by Homo erectus found at Xihoudu site
– Debate surrounding the evolution of Homo erectus to Homo sapiens
– Earliest modern humans in China dated to 120,000-80,000 years ago
– Coexistence with extinct animals like Ailuropoda baconi panda and Crocuta ultima hyena
– Middle Paleolithic Levallois technology found at Guanyindong Cave site
Ancient China
– Chinese civilization emerged in the Yellow River valley.
– China experienced periods of unity, fracture, prosperity, and strife.
– Dynastic cycle: imperial dynasties rise and fall, with certain achievements.
– Chinese civilization can be traced back thousands of years, making it one of the cradles of civilization.
– Chinese culture has a rich diversity of ethnic and linguistic people groups.
– Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–256 BCE) was a critical period in Chinese history.
– Mandate of Heaven was introduced during this time.
– Foundations laid for philosophies such as Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, and Wuxing.
– Chinese technology and production of paper were on par with the contemporaneous Roman Empire.
– China became known internationally for its sericulture.
– Neolithic age in China began around 10,000 years ago
– Agriculture developed gradually, with domestication of grains and animals
– Earliest evidence of cultivated rice dates back to 8,000 years ago
– Millet agriculture in the Yellow River valley dates back to about 7,000 BC
– Presence of written symbols found at Jiahu and other Neolithic sites
– Bronze artifacts found at Majiayao culture site
– Lower Xiajiadian culture represents Bronze Age in northeast China
– Sanxingdui site believed to be a major ancient city of a Bronze Age culture
– Ferrous metallurgy appears in the late 6th century in the Yangzi Valley
– Bronze hatchet with meteoric iron blade dated to the 14th century BC
– Early political entities like Xia and Shang existed concurrently
– Xia dynasty is considered the earliest of the Three Dynasties
– Shang dynasty supported by archaeological evidence and transmitted texts
– Oracle bones and bronzes provide historical evidence for the Shang dynasty
– Shang dynasty had at least twenty-nine kings and multiple capital city moves
Zhou Dynasty
– Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–256 BCE) was a critical period in Chinese history.
– Mandate of Heaven was introduced during this time.
– Foundations laid for philosophies such as Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, and Wuxing.
– Chinese technology and production of paper were on par with the contemporaneous Roman Empire.
– China became known internationally for its sericulture.
– Longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history
– Power declined over eight centuries
– Arisen in the Wei River valley
– Defeated the Shang at the Battle of Muye
– Enfeoffed relatives and allies in semi-independent states
– Spring and Autumn Period (722–476 BC)
– King You defeated in the Battle of Mount Li
– Rebel aristocrats established a new ruler
– Zhou empire consisted of hundreds of tiny states
– States fought against each other for hegemony
– Society became more urbanized and commercialized
– Warring States Period (476–221 BC)
– Seven prominent states remained
– Zhou king held little real power
– Developments in culture and mathematics
– Administrative system of commanderies and prefectures
– State of Qin became dominant
Imperial China
– Qin dynasty established in 221 BC
– Xianyang became the capital
– Centralized bureaucratic monarchy
– Legalism and Confucianism influenced society
– Standardization of weights, measures, writing styles, and currency
– Ying Zheng proclaimed himself Shi Huangdi
– Centralized bureaucratic monarchy dominated Imperial China
– Legalism philosophy influenced legal matters and economic practices
– Reforms in weights, measures, writing styles, and currency
– Qin administration kept exhaustive records on the population
– Commoners were often forced into labor for construction projects.
– The Qin dynasty built a massive system of imperial highways, totaling around 4,250 miles.
– General Meng Tian led the construction of the Great Wall of China and a 500-mile straight highway.
– Qin Shi Huang’s death led to the decline and eventual capitulation of the Qin government.
– The establishment of the Han Empire followed the fall of the Qin dynasty.
– Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty after the Chu-Han Contention.
– The Han dynasty brought stability, prosperity, and a unified state to China.
– Confucianism became the official ideology of the Han dynasty.
– Art, culture, and science flourished during the Han dynasty.
– The Han Empire expanded its territory and established the Silk Road.
– Emperor Wu consolidated his power by appointing military governors and supporting Confucianism.
– Military campaigns were launched to weaken the XiongnuSources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_China
