Early Society in East Asia Chapter 5 Early Society in East Asia

The Yellow River Huang He 3000 Miles: Tibet to the Yellow Sea Deposits fertile, light colored soil Periodic flooding: “China’s sorrow”

Prehistoric Society: Yangshao 5000-3000 BCE Middle region of the Yellow River valley Banpo Village Painted pottery Bronze tools

The Earliest Dynasties Xia C. 2200 BCE Organized through village network Hereditary monarchy Flood control Shang 1766-1122 BCE Zhou 1122-256 BCE The Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, 220-256 BCE

Shang Dynasty Bronze metallurgy State monopoly Horse-drawn chariots, other wheeled vehicles Large armies Political organization: network of fortified cities, loyal to center 1000 cities Capital moved six times Impressive architecture at Ao, Yin Other regional kingdoms coexist: Sanxingdui

Shang Dynasty Burial Practices Hierarchical social structure Live burials alongside deceased member of ruling class Sacrificial victims, mostly slaves Wives, servants, friends, hunting companions Later replaced by statuary, often monumental

Zhou Dynasty, 1122-256 BCE No law codes: rule by decree “Mandate of Heaven” Aggregation of villages opposed to Shang leadership Decentralization of authority Development of cheap iron weaponry ends Shang monopoly on Bronze Early money economy

Decline of the Zhou Dynasty Decentralized leadership style allows for building of regional powers Increasing local independence, refusal to pay Zhou taxes Iron metallurgy allows for widespread creation of weaponry Northern invaders weaken Zhou dynasty, beginning 8th c BCE Internal dissention: the Period of the Warring States (403-221 BCE)

China during the Period of the Warring States, 403-221 BCE

Social Order Ruling classes great advantage Palatial compounds, luxurious lifestyle Supported by agricultural surplus, tax revenues Defended by monopoly on bronze weaponry Hereditary privilege Support class of artisans, craftsmen Evidence of long-distance trade, merchant class Large class of semi servile peasants Slave class

Family and Patriarchy Devotion to family, ancestor veneration Connection of spirit world to physical world Ritual sacrifices Father ritual head of family rites Earlier prominence of individual female leaders fades in later Shang, Zhou dynasties

Oracle Bones and Early Chinese Writing Used for communicating with spirit world, determining future Question written on animal bones, turtle shells Then heated over fire, cracks examined for omens Early archaeological evidence of Chinese writing Evolution of Chinese script Pictograph to ideograph

Oracle Bone from Shang Dynasty

Zhou Literature The reflections of Confucius Book of Changes Manual for divination Book of History Book of Etiquette (Book of Rites) Book of Songs Little survived Often written on perishable bamboo strips Many destroyed by Emperor of Qin dynasty in 221 BCE

Nomadic Peoples of Central Asia Steppe nomads Poor lands for cultivation, extensive herding activities Horses domesticated c. 4000 BCE, bronze metallurgy in 2900 BCE Extensive trade with sedentary cultures in China Tensions: frequent raiding

Southern Expansion of Chinese Society Yangzi Valley Yangzi river: Chang Jiang, “long river” Excellent for rice cultivation Irrigation system developed The State of Chu Autonomous, challenged Zhou dynasty Culture heavily influenced by Chinese