The history of Eastern Asia is complex, full of cultural changes that are still practiced today throughout the world. China was isolated from the rest of the world due to mountain ranges, large deserts and vast grasslands. However, isolation from the rest of the world did not affect the growth and changes that occurred in China from the Neolithic Age to 1400. Chinese culture greatly influenced East Asia through trade and war with neighboring territories. Each new Dynasty strived to be greater and mightier than the one that preceded it. New governments, better militaries, more effective weapons, expanding trade routes and new ideologies were some of the changes that spread across China and into modern day Vietnam, Korea and China.
One of the biggest causes of change is war. It forces new ideas in how to govern a nation and more effective militaries. Conquered people forced kings to rethink how they would govern a larger kingdom. China’s history is divided into Dynasties, each one accomplishing great feats but eventually being defeated by opposing forces. Which each new Dynasty came a new concept of ruling a new nation. From the first dynasty, China’s region would grow larger and mightier than the one that preceded it. With the threat of war always on the horizon, the Chinese had to constantly rethink of ways to govern in order to keep stability and economic growth within the borders. War would deplete monies of the kingdom; war booty and trade with other nations were ways to keep the country economically afloat.
Great philosophers, written texts, military minds and leaders emerge out of necessity and the idea that change is needed. One of the most notable philosophers during the Zhou Dynasty was Confucius. Ethics was his main fo...
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...ound its way into Vietnam, Korea and Japan due to trade and commerce with China. Chinese culture had a great impact on these countries, they eventual became unique to each country but its roots can be traced back to China.
China’s history has been compared to the Roman Empire. It was a small nation that grew with each new Dynasty. Soon China became more economically and technologically advanced than any other nation. Through perseverance and the willingness to accept new forms of government and ideas a Country can became a great power house in the world. War, as it would seem, is a necessary evil in order for a nation to grow and excel in the world. China had great setbacks within its borders but as whole always overcame all obstacles and survived through all the changes to become one of the world’s great powers of today.
Works Cited
History of World Societies
...ther religions since they never really comitted to one main religion. Han China spread Confucianism by leading Confucius lives, they used Confucius ideas for their law codes and taught Confucius ideas to their children. The Confucian ideas spread by the Han helped rulers like Wudi have long reigns of power by embracing rule by morals and ethics. It also helped spread written exams as ways to determine peoples places and jobs in society based off of merit as opposed to putting anyone anywhere just to give people jobs. China also had a growing population of Daoists who believed in the power of nature. As time progressed both of their societies changed their religions. Rome slowly progressed from a basic Hellenistic polytheism to the once persecuted Christianity. Meanwhile China, which was mainly a Confucian and Daoist led society began to accept and embrace Buddhism.
Confucius’ impact on Chinese culture has withstood numerous generations and continues to be one of the most prominent philosophies found in Chinese culture. Firmly rooted in years of education, Confucius spent considerable time developing his set of values and principles. In his article entitled “Confucius and the Effortless Life of Virtue”, author Hagop Sarkissian adds to this by saying, “Confucius set his mind on a course of study or cultivation at the age of fifteen, and pursued such studies for a span of fifty-five years, and was thereby able to cultivate a state of being such that he could follow his immediate inclinations in all of life’s predicaments without transgressing social norms” (Sarkissian 1). Confucius’ extensive studies only added to the philosophy represented in the Analects. This includes the pas...
Chinese culture has been evolving for more than one thousand years with one of the most significant influences being the development of the Han dynasty. This paper analyses the ways in which the development of the Han dynasty influenced Chinese culture, to what extent, and why. Knowledge of the Han period’s impact on Chinese culture, is obtained through the analysis of written and archaeological sources depicting the Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–9 A.D) and Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 A.D).
The history of Asia shows a transition from a period of conflicts and wars to a period of unification. The mergence of strong dynasties with sharp divisions of their political interests was the main reason for polarization of China to a long period of war. Also, Asian’s had loose coordination between different countries as they initially thought independently. Religion, especially Buddhism, played an important role of transforming Asia. Buddhism had wider spread than Daoism and its teaching showed that their beliefs were similar. Art and philosophy were also significant in unifying Asia. Art works combined ideas from different nations, making Asians to believe that they were a large family. Philosophy promoted a shift from political culture to artistic culture. Unification of Asia created leadership space for women who had not led during the chaotic past.
Historically, successful civilizations have tended to have constant economic growth. The civilization of China was not successful in the nineteenth century because it had a declining economy, while the civilization of Japan was successful in the same time period because it had a economic growth. As a result China was unable to focus on other key areas such as medical and technological advancements, native culture, and military conquests. Japan’s growing economy enabled it to innovate, grow their culture, and attain military power, all of which are measures of success. China was unable to grow socially and politically because they did not have economic growth.
Of the many dynasties that make up China’s history, one of the most notable is the Han Dynasty, which lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE, under the rule of numerous emperors. It made many contributions to China’s history and made lasting changes, some of which remained for millennia following the dynasty’s collapse. They made changes to China’s economy, technology, social order, religion, philosophy, and education that revolutionized the way China operated. Also, as the Han Dynasty expanded greatly during its rule, many of the territory that the dynasty conquered became part of what would later be modern day China. These changes helped to shape the country that China became.
Deemed by students a "Divine Sage," Confucius (Kong Fuzi) (ca. 551-479 B.c.a) was founder of ~ humanistic school of philosophy that accessible Zhou China a societal and political culture consequent from idealized values of the history (al. 2012) As a therapy for the political chaos of his age, the well-known teacher deserted the depraved aristocratic code and accessible in its lay an ethical system which largely focused on personality moral conduct, politeness, sacrament and kindness. In conflict that the basics of good government and the well-being of society rested on person ethical behavior, Confucius urged the monarch and his other assistants, the junzi (gentlemen), to give moral examples for the public at large.
In the early years of China, the Chinese began a period of establishment in the world with ideas and teachings of new religions, changing powers, and building empires. In a nutshell the Chinese were progressing toward new technology, writings, and belief systems. The Chinese saw many dynasties come and go as well as many ups and downs experienced with societies over the course of history. As all nation’s go through change, the Chinese experienced changes from other lands far away and produced many concepts in which helped other realms to see change for themselves. The Chinese used many inventive innovations to prosper as an economic power and stabilize intellectually. Change mixed with innovation proved to be the roots of China’s success as a powerful nation to be reckoned with for the vast numbers appeared in China’s favor.
China is located in East Asia. Ancient China is surrounded by Gobi Desert in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Himalayan Mountains in the southwest, and the Taklimakan desert in the west. This land has a wide variation of animals because of the different habitats provided for them. Most farming was done in the very fertile lands of the Yangtze valley. Present China is much bigger than Ancient China, which means that over time, the kings and different dynasties went gaining more and more land and wealth.
Overall the Chinese from 100 CE to 600 CE was fulfilled with many cultural and political changes and continuities. The fall of the Han Dynasty brought political changes whereas the invention of paper brought about cultural changes. While there were a lot of changes, there were significant continuities, as well. Culturally, China saw Buddhism grow in power. Politically, they saw the wall of China go up as a way for their leader to protect them. Wither it was something changing or something that remained and grew, all of these things had a huge impact on China during this time period.
Confucianism, one of the most renowned Chinese ideologies, was begun by Confucius, a Chinese scholar born in 551 B.C. At the time of his birth, there was crisis and violence occurring in China. In order to combat this problem, Confucius came up with the five relationships. Following these “relationships” (ex. Ruler and subject, older brother and younger brother) would help to establish harmony between all. The majority of these relationships pertained to family matters, which went hand in hand with Confucius’s stressing of filial piety, or respect shown by children for their parents and elders. This single value led to many changes in people’s daily life and attitudes.
Confucius played a major role during the time of the Zhou dynasty. “Confucius was a thinker, a political figure, an educator” (“Confucius”). The Analects of Confucius contain information on how one should interact with others and conduct their daily lives, and how deeply people should participate in society and government. These ideas then spread to his students, and eventually to many regions of Asia. This
Confucius (551–479 B.C.) was a Chinese philosopher and founder of the Confucian school of thought, which greatly influenced political and social life in China. His teachings are known primarily through the Analects of Confucius, a collection of "brief aphoristic fragments", which was compiled many years after his death. Although he didn’t write any books, his students did the writing based on his teachings and millions of people still rely on Confucius's philosophy as a guide to live. Until the twentieth century, Confucianism was the state religion of China. Confucius (Master K'ung Ch'iu), His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China over other doctrines, such as Legalism or Daoism. Legalism was a third Chinese philosophy, a Classical Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the need for order above all other human concerns. At the other extreme was the philosophy known as Legalism. Proponents of Legalism did not concern themselves with Confucian values of ethical and mor...
This essay gives an overview of early civilization in China and the different periods within this era. Also, it includes political and cultural pursuits of the people within this time period and the struggles of the Asian peoples and their religious beliefs and community uniqueness and differences.
A significant part of the ancient Chinese civilization was that it shared a common background that is longer than any other ethnic group on Earth. China mostly isolated and unknown to the outside world, was quietly progressing at a rate greater than or equal to other notable civilizations of the prehistoric world. China was composed of several dynasties. The dynastic cycle played a definitive role in the successions of Chinese empires. Each era’s achievements and failures influenced the next. The combined contributions from all the regimes, not only led to the success and progress of China, but defined it as well. Technological discoveries, inventions, creations and its ability to adapt all participate in its maturity. The evolution of ancient Chinese dynasties provided the cultural, economical and governmental structure that developed and shaped their country into one of the marvels of ancient times.