River Dynasties in China Chapter 2 Section 4 Pg. 50-55

Geographic Features East – Pacific Ocean North – Gobi Desert South West – Himalaya Mountains Center – Huang He & Yangtze Rivers

Environmental Challenges rivers flood – loess (yellow silt) geographic isolation flooding was unpredictable invasions from west and north

Settlements 1.7 million years ago 1st cites on Huang He River wooden cities surrounded by high walls

Social Classes Emperor obtained power through the Dynastic Cycle by maintaining the Mandate of Heaven nobles & peasants ruled by warriors and nobles/lords through a feudal system

Role of Family family important eldest male – controlled arranged marriage at 13-16 yrs

Religious Beliefs ancestors could cause fortune or disaster made sacrifices to ancestors polytheistic oracle bones

Writing System symbols = words no dialects, all Chinese can understand each other knowledge of symbols 1,000 = literate 10,000 = scholar 20,000 = total

Technological Advances roads and canals coined $ blast furnaces cast bronze – bells cast iron for weapons clock crossbow

Artistry jewelry silk shoes making paper gunpowder/fireworks