The Development of Ancient China
- Yellow River civilization (from 3000 BCE) → Yin (oracle-bone script) → Zhou (feudal system)
- Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (770–221 BCE) → emergence of the Hundred Schools of Thought
- Qin (221–206 BCE): First Emperor・commandery and county system・unification of writing・Great Wall of China
- Former Han (202 BCE–8 CE): Emperor Wu・establishment of Confucianism as the state religion・Silk Road
- Later Han (25–220 CE): invention of paper・arrival of Buddhism・East Asian cultural sphere
Comprehensive Practice Questions
- Give the name of the dynasty in which oracle-bone script was discovered and used.
- Explain the difference between Qin’s commandery and county system and Zhou’s feudal system.
- Explain why the East Asian cultural sphere was formed during the Han period.
Answers
- Yin (Shang)
- Feudal system: Land was granted to feudal lords, who governed autonomously. Commandery and county system: The central government sent officials and ruled directly (centralized government)
- Because Han spread writing・Confucianism・the legal and administrative system・and Buddhism to neighboring countries (Korea・Japan・Vietnam), creating a cultural sphere that shared them