The earliest civilizations in China grew up along the banks of three major rivers – the Chang Jiang, Xi Jiang and Huang He. Farmers used the water to irrigate their crops, but often suffered bad floods.
From about 2205 BC, China was ruled by a series of
dynasties (ruling families). Evidence shows that the first was the Shang
dynasty, which began in about 1766 BC. The Shang ruled for more than 400 years,
until they were conquered by the Zhou. Zhou rule lasted until 221 BC. During
this time many wars were fought between the rival kingdoms that made up the
Zhou lands. But it was also a period of economic growth, with foreign trade in
Chinese silk, jade and porcelain.
By 221 BC, the kingdoms of China had been at war for
more than 250 years. Gradually, the Qin (or Ch’in), a war-like dynasty from the
northwest, united the country and established the empire that gives China its
name. the first emperor of the united China, Shi Huangdi, reorganized
government and standardized money, weights and measures. A road and canal
network was built to link up various parts of the country, and the Great Wall
of China was built across the northern border to keep out the hostile Hsung Nu
(the Huns). Shi Huangdi was a brilliant but ruthless general and politician,
putting scholars to death if their ideas did not match his own.
The Qin dynasty was overthrown in 206 BC, four years
after Shi Huangdi’s death.
The
philosopher Confucius was born in about 551 BC, at a time when wars were
frequent. He dedicated his life to teaching people how to live in peace. His
teachings formed the basis of the Chinese civil service up to the beginning of
the 20th century.
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