Marker Event: The Mandate of Heaven Idea occurred when the Zhou overthrew the Shang in 12th C BCE to justify a forceful removal Zhou rulers claimed they were given the “right” to rule from heaven As long as the rulers were just and fair they would have confidence of heaven, but if they were not, the mandate would be lost Prosperity was a “sign from heaven” that the rulers still had the mandate, but misfortunes meant that the ruler were not living up to expectations If a ruler lost the mandate, subjects had the responsibility to replace him.

Central Belief is the Dynastic Cycle

Ancient China: Cultural Developments Organized religion did not play as important a role as in other ancient civilizations. There was a heaven, but no personal deities who controlled humans and no large priestly class; a few to help with royal rituals. Ancestor worship was an important element of “heaven.” Rulers and family patriarchs consulted ancestors using oracle bones (turtle shells are inscribed with a question asking ancestors for help). Shamans had the ability to read and interpret the information from ancestors.

Ancient China: Cultural Developments As in Egypt and Mesopotamia, Chinese writing was pictographs and combined to communicate abstract ideas (today’s writing reflects Shang times). Complexity of the writing meant that only specialized people could read and write in China like Egypt and Mesopotamia, BUT writing was only associated with the King’s court NOT merchants and trade.

Ancient China: Cultural Developments Due to the early use of writing in China, philosophy and religion developed. Confucianism is the most famous. Confucian values are reflected in the Analects which are instructions for proper behavior.

Ancient China Comparisons Similarities Differences Like other societies, China was a patriarchy based on agriculture Characterized by large cities, specialized labor and massive public buildings Advanced political coordination and complex writing system for record keeping Chinese emphasized families more than most due to the veneration of ancestors (ancestors guide the living) Did not have an array of agricultural gods or a priestly caste Emphasis on learning and literacy; oracle bones was the primary way to communicate with ancestors, thus literacy was highly valued

Mesopotamia Ancient China Comparing Divination in Mesopotamia and Ancient China: Divination is the method for communicating with the gods to determine the future Mesopotamia Ancient China Priests inspected the organs of sacrificed animals to interpret the wishes of the gods Read the trails of smoke from incense; or patterns formed by mixing oil and water Saw destiny in the stars and planets; movements in the heavens were communicated gods will: explains their success in astronomy Divination was controlled by shamans using oracle bones to read messages from the spiritual world The questions were answered by ancestors that passed on Questions varied from everything about ritual performance, the weather, or the outcome of war

Comparative Chart

It’s time for another pulse check! Get ready! There is no need to write down your answers!

QUESTION 1 Which group of people are generally credited with founding Mesopotamian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley?   Akkadians Hittites Phoenicians Sumerians

QUESTION 1 Which group of people are generally credited with founding Mesopotamian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley? D. Sumerians

QUESTION 2 Mesopotamia was the fertile alluvial region between which two rivers?   Nile and Congo Ganges and Indus Nile and Euphrates Euphrates and Tigris

QUESTION 2 Mesopotamia was the fertile alluvial region between which two rivers?   D. Euphrates and Tigris

QUESTION 3 Which characteristic did the early civilizations that developed along the Nile and the Tigris-Euphrates have in common?   Urban communities were built using iron and steel tools. Each society’s religious beliefs were based on monotheism. The form of government in each community was based on male suffrage. Transportation and communication were promoted by a mild climate, fertile soil, and natural waterways.

QUESTION 3 Which characteristic did the early civilizations that developed along the Nile and the Tigris-Euphrates have in common?   D. Transportation and communication were promoted by a mild climate, fertile soil, and natural waterways.

QUESTION 4 Cuneiform writing was usually written on papyrus.   was usually written on papyrus. evolved from Egyptian hieroglyphics. did not last for the duration of Sumerian culture. involved wedge-shaped symbols pressed onto clay with a reed stylus.

QUESTION 4 Cuneiform writing   D. involved wedge-shaped symbols pressed onto clay with a reed stylus.

QUESTION 5 Hammurabi’s Code   represented a legal system which treated all people equally, though harshly. reflected a system of punishment that included biases against members of the lower classes. represented a huge step for Olmec society and its development of a uniform system of weights and measures. represented an increase in centralized power of a state because of the fact that it established a uniform system of writing.

QUESTION 5 Hammurabi’s Code   B. reflected a system of punishment that included biases against members of the lower classes.

QUESTION 6 Examine the map above. Which of the following correctly identifies the location of the Huang He civilization?   A B C D

QUESTION 6 Examine the map above. Which of the following correctly identifies the location of the Huang He civilization?   D

QUESTION 7 In a patriarchal society, power resides with the men.   power resides with the men. the leaders hold absolute power. religious leaders dominate politics. trade is severely restricted by the government.

QUESTION 7 In a patriarchal society,   power resides with the men.