Indus Valley and China WHAP

Indus Valley Civilization Grew up on the coast of the Arabian Sea, in Pakistan and India Arose around 2600 BCE Had a written language, has never been deciphered Result: not much is known about the civilization Original settlers filtered down from the mountains as early as 7000 BC Were herders who became farmers

Cities of the Indus

Urbanized Civilization Civilization was very large and heavily urbanized Built several hundred cities Largest are Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Designs are virtually identical Probably very tightly unified and politically centralized Used metal tools and created artwork of high quality Traded with Mesopotamia?

Planned Cities First sign of Indus Valley civilization discovered in 1856 Systematic excavations began in the 1920s By 1930s, two identical sites were located

Planned Cities Includes: Raised Citadel Ceremonial and administrative buildings Grid patterned streets Streets up to 45 ft. wide Underground sewage and drainage system

Mohenjo-Daro (Hill of the Dead)

Decline Cities began to decline by 2000 BC Reason for decline not known for sure Declined either because of environmental factors/ecological disaster (drought, drying up of rivers, etc.) or invasion Combination of both?

Early Chinese Dynasties Xia (Hsia) ca. 2000 BC-1500 BC Shang 1700 BC-1027 BC Zhou Western Zhou: 1027 BC-771 BC Eastern Zhou: 770 BC-221 BC Warring States Period: 475 BC-221 BC

Early China Chinese civilization emerged along the Huang He (Yellow) River Two east-west rivers in area – Huang He and Yangtze Because China is either hilly or bordered by desert, rivers valleys are very important

Early Settlement First settlements occurred around 8000 BCE along the Huang He River Grew wheat, rice, and millet Cultivation of rice required a high degree of cooperation Gave an impetus for government? Chinese history from 1700 BCE until 1911 AD is measured in dynasties, or families of rulers Dynasties overlapped. One dynasty ruled as another faded away By 2000 BCE had discovered bronze working

Xia Dynasty First dynasty was mythic – Xia dynasty around 2000 BCE Remains consist of some cities, bronze tools, and tombs. Marks a shift from Neolithic civilization to Shang civilization. Cities were centers of administration and ritual ruled by relatives of the King.

Shang Dynasty First historically verifiable dynasty was the Shang dynasty, 1700 BC-1027 BC. Led by a warrior aristocracy Conquered north and west Was feudal in nature Traded extensively- as far as the Middle East?

Shang Dynasty Trade based on jade, ivory, and silk Writing system originated during this period Early religious beliefs included fortune-telling and ancestor worship

Zhou Dynasty Founded by King Wu Rebelled against the Shang Lasted until 221 BC In decline since 800 BC From 475 BCE until 221 BCE referred to as the Warring States Serious series of civil wars

Developments By 600 BCE had learned to make iron tools Developed crossbow and cavalry Made warfare more destructive Were politically sophisticated Rule based on the Mandate of Heaven Right to rule given by the Gods If you ruled wisely and fairly, you had a divine right to rule Major religious concepts of Taoism and Confucianism emerged during this period