AP World History - Stearns Chapter 2 ? Classical Civilization: China I. Introduction ? longest-lived civilization in history A. Isolated 1. Couldn?t learn from other cultures 2. Rare invasions 3. Distinctive identity 4. Relatively little internal chaos w/ decline of Shang dynasty a. Greatest links to classical society B. Intellectual theory 1. Harmony of nature ? yin and yang ? balance 2. Seek Dao ? the way a. Avoid excess b. Appreciate balance of opposites c. Humans part of world, not on outside ? like Mediterranean Thesis: China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system in which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole. II. Patterns in Classical China