Ancient China 2000-200 BCE

They felt they were the center of the universe – understandable as they had no contact with any other large civilization

Geography 1) Natural Barriers East – Pacific Ocean West – Taklimakan Desert SW – Himalaya Mountains North – Gobi Desert

Geography 2) Huang He (Yellow) River & Yangtze River China’s early civilization formed on the North China Plain in between these two rivers. Rivers were the center of the ancient Chinese civilization

Rivers 3) Huang He (Yellow) -Unpredictable and destructive floods -Known as “River of Sorrows” or “China’s sorrow.” The nickname "China's Sorrow" memorializes the millions that have been killed during the Huang He River's many diversions and floods Distinctive yellow color is provided by its enormous sediment load, which causes the river's bottom to rise every year.

4) Loess -fine yellow silt, very fertile -Loess deposited in the bottom of the rivers, - sand, silt, and dirt.

1. Xia (She-a) Dynasty (First Civilization) Government 1. Xia (She-a) Dynasty (First Civilization) 1st dynasty around 2000 BCE Yu t is the leader, an engineer and mathematician Major Achievements: Flood control and irrigation projects Led to more and better farmland which allowed for the expansion of the population, cities grow Prehistory or Possible Bronze Age Society

2. Shang Dynasty (1532-1027 BCE) First Chinese rulers to leave written records Built elaborate palaces and tombs Earliest cities: Anyang – one of the capitals – built mainly of wood Surrounded by walls for protection

Shang Dynasty Achievements Horse drawn chariots Leather and bronze armor Silk Pottery Jade and Ivory statues and jewelry Lacked strong leaders

3. Zhou (Joe) Dynasty (1027-256 BCE) Claimed they had the right to rule Mandate of Heaven – a just ruler had divine or godly approval Central to Chinese government

Feudalism Dynastic cycle – pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

Innovations under Zhou Rule Roads and canals stimulated agriculture and trade by making it easier to travel Coined money – improved trade Iron – made stronger weapons and tools

The “Warring States Period” The later period of the Zhou dynasty in which the individual warrior nobles claimed to be the kings of their respective territories Impact on the civilization of China? During this period, warrior- nobles were replaced in war by professional soldiers

Social Classes King/ Emperor Warrior-Noble Peasants Land Land Protection Resources Loyalty money Land Land Protection Feudalism (Government) political system nobles, or lords, are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the king. In return the nobles owe loyalty and military service to the king and protection to the people who live & work on their estates

Chinese Culture Cultural Tradition: Family – central to Chinese society Important virtue – respect for one’s parents Chief loyalty throughout life was to to the family. Beyond this, people owed obedience and respect to the ruler of the Middle Kingdom. Cultural Tradition: Worshipped ancestors – think MULAN!

Religion – polytheistic Shang Kings consulted the god using oracle bones. Oracle bones- animal bones and tortoise shells The diviner would submit questions to gods regarding future weather, crop planting, the fortunes of members of the royal family, military endeavors, and other similar topics. These questions were carved onto the bone or shell using a sharp tool. Intense heat was then applied with a metal rod until the bone or shell cracked due to thermal expansion. The diviner would then interpret the pattern of cracks and write the answer upon the piece. Religion – polytheistic

Written Language Chinese characters Writing does NOT match the spoken language Advantage: all Chinese could learn same system of writing which helped to unify the nation Disadvantage: there was a large number of characters to memorize