In ancient China, society was strictly structured around family roles, with the father in charge and different expectations for men and women. People's social status determined factors like their jobs, education, and clothing. The wealthy wore silk while commoners wore cheaper fabrics. Food varied regionally but included rice, millet, vegetables, meat, eggs, and tea. Ancient Chinese inventions that still impact modern society include gunpowder, paper, printing, and the compass.
THE HISTORY OF CHINA, as documented in ancient writings, dates back some 3,300 years. Modern archaeological studies provide evidence of still more ancient origins in a culture that flourished between 2500 and 2000 B.C. in what is now central China and the lower Huang He (Yellow River) Valley of north China. Centuries of migration, amalgamation, and development brought about a distinctive system of writing, philosophy, art, and political organization that came to be recognizable as Chinese civilization. What makes the civilization unique in world history is its continuity through over 4,000 years to the present century.
The Chinese have developed a strong sense of their real and mythological origins and have kept voluminous records since very early times. It is largely as a result of these records that knowledge concerning the ancient past, not only of China but also of its neighbors, has survived.
Chinese history, until the twentieth century, was written mostly by members of the ruling scholar-official class and was meant to provide the ruler with precedents to guide or justify his policies. These accounts focused on dynastic politics and colorful court histories and included developments among the commoners only as backdrops. The historians described a Chinese political pattern of dynasties, one following another in a cycle of ascent, achievement, decay, and rebirth under a new family.
Of the consistent traits identified by independent historians, a salient one has been the capacity of the Chinese to absorb the people of surrounding areas into their own civilization. Their success can be attributed to the superiority of their ideographic written language, their technology, and their political institutions; the refinement of their artistic and intellectual creativity; and the sheer weight of their numbers. The process of assimilation continued over the centuries through conquest and colonization until what is now known as China Proper was brought under unified rule. The Chinese also left an enduring mark on people beyond their borders, especially the Koreans, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
THE HISTORY OF CHINA, as documented in ancient writings, dates back some 3,300 years. Modern archaeological studies provide evidence of still more ancient origins in a culture that flourished between 2500 and 2000 B.C. in what is now central China and the lower Huang He (Yellow River) Valley of north China. Centuries of migration, amalgamation, and development brought about a distinctive system of writing, philosophy, art, and political organization that came to be recognizable as Chinese civilization. What makes the civilization unique in world history is its continuity through over 4,000 years to the present century.
The Chinese have developed a strong sense of their real and mythological origins and have kept voluminous records since very early times. It is largely as a result of these records that knowledge concerning the ancient past, not only of China but also of its neighbors, has survived.
Chinese history, until the twentieth century, was written mostly by members of the ruling scholar-official class and was meant to provide the ruler with precedents to guide or justify his policies. These accounts focused on dynastic politics and colorful court histories and included developments among the commoners only as backdrops. The historians described a Chinese political pattern of dynasties, one following another in a cycle of ascent, achievement, decay, and rebirth under a new family.
Of the consistent traits identified by independent historians, a salient one has been the capacity of the Chinese to absorb the people of surrounding areas into their own civilization. Their success can be attributed to the superiority of their ideographic written language, their technology, and their political institutions; the refinement of their artistic and intellectual creativity; and the sheer weight of their numbers. The process of assimilation continued over the centuries through conquest and colonization until what is now known as China Proper was brought under unified rule. The Chinese also left an enduring mark on people beyond their borders, especially the Koreans, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
My presentation is based on pre-historic Archeology in which I briefly discussed human evolution from stone age to Iron age. I also shed some light on the cultural evolution of Human.
2. Introduction
Ancient China was located where the western half of
modern day China is now. It began about 8000
years ago when people started to live together in
communities around China’s important rivers. It
lasted over 5000 years, longer than any other
civilization. Ancient China was a very different
civilization than it is today. This report will tell you
about the clothing, food, legacies and structure of
society of ancient China.
3. Structure of society
In ancient China, society was structured so that people had different
roles. The father was the head of the family. Everyone had to obey the
father. They also had to respect the old people. The men worked in
businesses outside of the home. The women’s job was to look after the
children. The poor women’s job was to work in the fields or as a servant.
The rich woman had no work to do. Children followed there father’s
trades. The wealthy families paid for the intelligent boys to go to the
school. People usually had jobs in the same place as they were born.
4. Clothing
In ancient China people wore different kind of clothing depending on
their wealth. The farmer’s clothes were made of inexpensive fabric
which was very comfortable. The wealthy people wore really expensive
silk fabric. Most people wore the same style of clothes. Women’s
summer clothes were made of cotton. Women’s winter clothes were
made of wool. Emperor and his nobles wore richly decorated.
5. Food
There was a variety of food in ancient China. Rice was very
famous. Rice could be made into cakes, dumplings and wine.
People chopped their food, put it in a hot bowl and cooked it
really fast. Most people rarely eat meat. Cows were not
common so there was no cheese and no milk. Most people
only ate eggs and chicken. If people didn’t have food they went
hunting or fishing. Really rich people ate many kinds of meat,
for example pork, chicken , lamb and also geese. Everyone ate
vegetables, fruits and also bread. In the south, they ate rice
and in the north people ate a cereal called Millet. People drank
a lot of Chinese tea or rice wine in ancient times.
6. Legacies
Gunpowder
One of the most important inventions of ancient China’s was
gunpowder. It was invented in 19th century. It was discovered
by a scientist who was trying to make a drink that would make
people live forever, but when he was making it, it exploded! It
was made with salt, peter, sulphur and also carbon. The
ancient Chinese used gunpowder in fireworks to scare their
enemies. Later, it was used for weapons. People still use
gunpowder today to build weapons, guns, bombs, rockets and
fireworks.
7. Conclusion
The ancient Chinese left us a lot of wonderful things.
They were a very creative and interesting society.
They had unique ways of eating, dressing and
organizing their society. They invented many things.
Legacies such as paper, printing, the compass and
gunpowder are still used today. The ancient Chinese
have really impacted how we live today.
8. REFERENCE LIST
Author Date Title
Joann Cole 2005 Ms. Frizzlets adventurers
Jane Shuter 1998 The ancient chines
Robert Nichlson 1994 Ancient China
Linda Naily 2003 Adventurers in ancient China
Date accessed website
251012 www.Brainpopjr.com