China
China remained very isolated, so its ability to learn was limited. This intellectual heritage stressed the basic harmony of nature: Every feature is balanced by an opposite, every yin by a yang. According to this philosophy, an individual should find a way, called Dao, to relate to this harmony.

Patterns in Classical China
China has maintained the clearest links to its classical past. Already a pattern was set in motion that lasted until the early part of the 20th century. Dynasties would start rule, develop strong political institutions, and encourage an active economy. But afterwards, the dynasty would grow weaker and tax revenues declined, while social divisions increased in the larger society. As one dynasty went down, another emerged and repeated the pattern. * Three dynasties covered the centuries of classical China: Zhou, Qin, and Han.
Zhou
The Zhou dynasty lasted from 1029 to 258 b.c.e. The dynasty only until about 700 b.c.e. flourished. They replaced the Shang rulers. It was then declined by political infrastructure and frequent invasions by nomadic people from border regions. * Government was not very powerful. * Rulers didn’t have the means to control their territories directly. * In exchange for land, supporters were supposed to provide the government with troops and tax revenues. * Extended territory by taking over the Yangtze river valley. (Middle Kingdom) * Wheat grew in the North and rice in the Southpopulation growth. * Difficult to communicaterely on loyal supporters. * Began the spoken language of Mandarin Chinese * During late 6th and early 5th century b.c.e., the philosopher known as Confucius wrote an elaborate statement on political ethics, providing China’s philosophical heritage. * Between 402 and 201 b.c.e., a period known as the Era of Warring States, the Zhou just disintegrated.