Geography of Ancient China Middle East Gobi Desert Middle Kingdom The Geography of China ancient Chinese called their land Zhongguo, the Middle Kingdom most isolated of the civilizations Chinese belief that china was the center of the earth and the sole source of civilization (nomadic invaders were considered to be barbarians) Geographic Barriers west and southwest of china are high mountain ranges- the Tien Shan and the Himalayas southesast were jungles north the Gobi desert east Pacific ocean traded with neighboring people and in time with middle east “River of Sorrows” Chinese history begins in the Huang He valley Loess- fine windblown yellow soil Water level rises due to the settling of loess on the bottom Many dikes- breakage leads to flooding (destruction of crops and mass starvation)

Contemporary written records Three Dynasties: Xia, Shang & Zhou (2200 BCE-221 BCE) Contemporary written records only begin with Han period (200 BCE) because records from earlier dynasties were written on perishable products (silk, bamboo, wood) Shi Huangdi ordered the destruction of all historical documents except those relating to his own dynasty Enough survived to piece together the three earliest dynasties Xia, first Chinese dynasty (2200 BCE-1766 BCE) leader was an engineer and mathematician named Yu instituted flood-control and irrigation projects actual events of period are unknown because there are no surviving records farm surpluses allowed cities to grow

Shang Dynasty (1766-1027 BCE) State and Society King and his lineage Feudal Local lords swore loyalty to the king Lords governed most of the land Anyang Last capital of the Shang Dynasty On Huang He River, 3.6 miles long 90 % of the basic material for the study of Shang civilization comes from this city ceremonial or ritual center rich and poor cemeteries royal tombs Thirteen only stone sculptures, carved jades, bronze weapons and vessels survive human sacrifices were found below the base of the tomb pit surrounded by bodies of humans sacrificed to the ancestors Fuhao—queen’s grave that was unlooted had 7,000 cowrie shells, 590 jades, 440 bronzes, items of bone and stone

FU HAO’S TOMB

IVORY WITH INLAID TURQUOISE DRINKING VESSEL

BRONZE

BRONZE AXE

JADE PENDANT IN THE SHAPE OF A PHOENIX

QUESTIONS: WHAT DID THEY SPEND MORE TIME ON—THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOMB OR THE OBJECTS IN THE TOMB? WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM? WHAT DOES THAT SUGGEST ABOUT THE SHANG PERIOD? WHAT ASSUMPTIONS DO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT MAKE?

- 100,000 pieces of inscribed oracle bones in existence c. Religious Beliefs—Prayed to many gods and nature spririts, ancestor worship d. Writing and Society 1. Oracle Bones - 100,000 pieces of inscribed oracle bones in existence - most come from Anyang - cattle shoulder blades, shells of turtles - write an inscription (date, questions, sometime the interpretations were also recorded and the outcomes) - heated with a metal rod - cracks interpreted - called ancestor worship 2. wrote on bronze vessels 3. early Chinese writing - thousands of characters - only wealthy learned how to read and write

MANDATE OF HEAVEN Zhou Dynasty (1027-221 BCE) Overthrew the Shang Dynasty Justification comes from the Mandate of Heaven BRINGS PEACE REBUILDS GOVT REDISTRIBUTES LAND PROTECTS PEOPLE NEW DYNASTY AGING DYNASTY LOSE MANDATE MANDATE OF HEAVEN PROBLEMS NATURAL DISASTERS PEASANT REVOLTS INVADERS TAXES ARE TOO HIGH PROTECTION IS WEAK GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPT PEOPLE TREATED UNFAIRLY

b. Justification came from Mandate of Heaven 1. in essence it grants the divine right to rule 2. Gods sent ruin on Shang because they were bad rulers and in response lifted the Zhou to power 3. explains the dynastic cycle (rise and fall of dynasties) a. Provide good government = enjoy the Mandate b. Provide bad government = heaven withdraws its support c. Led to the continuance of feudalism d. Economic Growth 1. more food production due to iron 2. expansion of commerce a. Money—coins b. Trade became easier c. New roads and canals 3. increase in population e. Achievements

e. Achievements 1. Silk a. Silk comes from the thread of silkworms b. Growth of the cultivation of silkworms and mulberry trees c. Women’s work d. Only royalty & nobility could afford e. Most valuable export f. Development of the Silk Road (from China to the ME) g. Process—secret 2. First books a. Bound thin strips of wood/bamboo together b. Drawing of characters c. Book of Songs—poems about farmers & kings

Questions How did Europe help fuel the development of the Silk Road? How did the secret of silk escape China? How many various ethnicities were involved in the Silk Road? Besides silk, what other goods were being traded on the Silk Road? What led to the downfall of the Silk Road?