The Silk Road
On the eastern and western sides of the continent, the civilisations of China and the West developed. The western end of the trade route appears to have developed earlier than the eastern end, principally because of the development of the the empires in the west, and the easier terrain of Persia and Syria. The Iranian empire of Persia was in control of a large area of the Middle East, extending as far as the Indian Kingdoms to the east. Trade between these two neighbours was already starting to influence the cultures of these regions. This region was taken over by Alexander the Great of Macedon, who finally conquered the Iranian empire, and colonised the area in about 330 B.C., superimposing the culture of the Greeks. This `crossroads' region, covering the area to the south of the Hindu Kush and Karakorum ranges, now Pakistan and Afghanistan, was overrun by a number of different peoples. The eastern end of the route developed rather more slowly. Brian Hook (Ed.)
Chinese overview
Version for printing Several factors led to the development of mathematics in China being, for a long period, independent of developments in other civilisations. The geographical nature of the country meant that there were natural boundaries (mountains and seas) which isolated it. On the other hand, when the country was conquered by foreign invaders, they were assimilated into the Chinese culture rather than changing the culture to their own. As a consequence there was a continuous cultural development in China from around 1000 BC and it is fascinating to trace mathematical development within that culture. The first thing to understand about ancient Chinese mathematics is the way in which it differs from Greek mathematics. Chinese mathematics was, like their language, very concise. The method of calculation is very simple to explain but has wide application. Liu Hui gave a more mathematical approach than earlier Chinese texts, providing principles on which his calculations are based.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations.[1] The written history of China can be found as early as the Shang Dynasty (c. 1700–1046 BC),[2] although ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian (ca. 100 BC) and Bamboo Annals assert the existence of a Xia Dynasty before the Shang.[2][3] Much of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy further developed during the Zhou Dynasty (1045–256 BC). The Zhou Dynasty began to bow to external and internal pressures in the 8th century BC, and the kingdom eventually broke apart into smaller states, beginning in the Spring and Autumn Period and reaching full expression in the Warring States period. Prehistory Paleolithic Neolithic Ancient China Capital: Yin, near Anyang
Chinese mathematics
Mathematics in China emerged independently by the 11th century BC.[1] The Chinese independently developed very large and negative numbers, decimals, a place value decimal system, a binary system, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Knowledge of Chinese mathematics before 254 BC is somewhat fragmentary, and even after this date the manuscript traditions are obscure. Dates centuries before the classical period are generally considered conjectural by Chinese scholars unless accompanied by verified archaeological evidence, in a direct analogue with the situation in the Far West. Neither Western nor Chinese archaeological findings comparable to those for Babylonia or Egypt are known. As in other early societies the focus was on astronomy in order to perfect the agricultural calendar, and other practical tasks, and not on establishing formal systems. Early Chinese mathematics[edit] Oracle bone script decimal counting rod place value decimal Qin mathematics[edit] Han mathematics[edit]
Electronic Passport to Chinese History
From at least 1766BCE to the twentieth century of the Common Era, China was ruled by dynasties. A dynasty is a family that passes control from one generation to the next. A dynasty does not have to last for a long time. advertisement The ancient Chinese believed their ancestors in heaven had chosen their leaders. There are indications of an earlier Hsia Dynasty, but the Shang were the first dynasty to leave written records. The Shang practiced human sacrifice. The Chou were initially nomads who lived west of the Shang. The Chou developed a feudal system in China. The Chou rulers taxed their subjects, but they used the wealth they collected to build huge walls to defend their cities from nomadic warriors. advertisement Chinese nobles gradually gained more power than the Chou rulers in a period of Chinese history that historians call the Age of Warring States. Rulers of the Ch'in dynasty managed to unify China and end the Age of Warring States by 221BCE. Listen as Mr.
The science of mathematics is looked at with such importance in
The science of mathematics is looked at with such importance in China that it is considered one of the six basic arts, along with ritual, music, archery, horsemanship and calligraphy (Yan, Du Shiran, 1987, p.22). It is the importance that the Chinese place on mathematics that caused it to be one of the most influential cultures in the history of the world in terms of mathematical breakthroughs. Unfortunately for the Chinese, it is only recently that they are beginning to receive the credit they deserve for their achievements. Much of the work that they did had been overlooked due to the fact that many scholars thought that the records that had been kept were not trustworthy, and there was a lack of satisfactory translations(Scott, 1969, p.80). It was Joseph Needhams Science and Civilisation in Chinese Society Volume 3 that began to open the worlds eyes of the accomplishments the Chinese had made in the field of mathematics. Li Shou was not the only legend of Chinese mathematics.
History of China, China History, China History guide, Chinese hi
Internet East Asian History Sourcebook
There is no way of avoiding the fact that China is the central culture of Eastern Asia. Massively larger than any of her neighbors, China may have developed its cultural forms in relative isolation, but since the advent of Buddhism has both absorbed outside influences and disseminated its own culture. Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures are not comprehensible without taking into account power of Chinese culture in art, literature and religion. Chinese culture itself is highly complex, and the other East Asian cultures also reflect local circumstances and traditions. For instance the (later) Chinese ideal of a scholar-gentleman contrasts strongly with Japanese warrior ideals. See my Brooklyn College: Chinese Cultural Studies class page. This page is a subset of texts derived from the three major online Sourcebooks listed below, along with added texts and web site indicators. General The Korean War Cambodia Constitution, 1993 [At Cambodian Parliament.org] The Non-Aligned Movement U.S.
