ANCIENT CHINA!

China is a country in Asia.

Geography affects civilization Mountains & Seas separated China from other lands, so they knew little of the rest of the world

* Where did Chinese civilization begin? * Where do MOST people in China live today?

China’s earliest civilization began along its rivers! Each spring, rivers overflowed, depositing rich soil by the river valleys- Civilization began on the Huang (Yellow) River and spread south to the Chang, (Yangtze) the longest river Sea level along the coasts, but the further west you travel, the higher the elevation and the harder it is to farm!

Objectives Examine the geography of ancient China Find out about early civilizations in China. Learn about the importance of family ties in early Chinese society.

Seasonal winds that bring dry and wet seasons. Monsoon Seasonal winds that bring dry and wet seasons. In Northern China - Monsoon winds bring a brief, but intense summer rainy season. The rest of the year it is mostly dry. In Southern China - Monsoon winds from the South China Sea bring heavy rains from March to September. Light rains fall the rest of the year.

Huang River (Yellow River/ China’s Sorrow) China’s first civilization began along this river. It is the second longest river in China & muddiest river in the world. Yellow River- called this because of the yellow- brown soil in its waters. China’s Sorrow-called this because destructive floods killed many and ruined lands.

It is yellow-brown soil that is very fertile. Loess (Loess Plateau in China) It is yellow-brown soil that is very fertile.

Dike A dike is a protective wall that holds back the waters to help control flooding.

What did the Chinese do to control flooding? They built dikes along the banks of the Huang river.

5.1- Geography of Ancient China The geography and climate of China are part of what helps us to understand the Ancient Chinese. We need to look to THEIR CULTURE as well! JOURNAL ENTRY: How would you rank the following in order of the one you think should have THE MOST authority to the one you think should have THE LEAST: Brother, 10 yrs. Old Sister, 15 yrs. old Mom Grandfather Brother, 18 yrs. Old Dad Grandmother 5.1- Geography of Ancient China

Objective Learn about the importance of family ties in early Chinese society. Define Dynasty and explain how the dynastic cycle in China worked

Family/ Extended Family Family was the center of early Chinese society: a.) Considered more important than the individual or nation. b.)A person’s first responsibility was to the family. c.) It was the source of each person’s well-being. Chinese households might contain 5 generations living together at one time. (Uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, sisters, brothers, etc.)=EXTENDED FAMILY

He was the center of authority in the family: Oldest Chinese Male He was the center of authority in the family: Had the most privileges and the most power in the family. Would decide who his children and grandchildren would marry. Punished disrespectful children. If oldest male died, his lands were divided among the sons who would start their own household.

Chinese Women Considered to be of lower status than men Bound to three obediences… 1.) to obey their fathers in youth 2.) to obey their husbands in marriage 3.)to obey their sons in widowhood (if their husband dies) Four virtues guided women’s behavior… 1.) morality 2.) modesty 3.) proper speech 4.) domestic skills

Family Names In Chinese society, the family name comes first... Ex.) George Washington would be Washington George in China) What would your name be if you lived in China? THIS SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT THE FAMILY WAS IN CHINA! This tradition dates back to China’s earliest times.

What factors determined a person’s status within early Chinese families? The status of each person depended on his or her AGE and SEX.

Dynastic Cycle Dynasty= Ruling Family Dynastic Cycle= Rise and fall of different Chinese Dynasties

Learn the Chinese Dynasty Song! Xia, Shang Zhou Qin, Han, Sui, Chinese Dynasty, Chinese Dynasty, Then came the Golden Age, Tang & Song, ‘Til Mongols showed up with Kubilai Kahn, On horses Yuan came and took o’er the land, ‘Til Ming and Ching, Ming and Ching.

XIA DYNASTY A “legendary dynasty,” there is little evidence of its existence Developed in the Huang Valley around 5,000 BC The Xia were likely nomads who wandered from place to place, hunting and gathering.

Mandate of Heaven A Chinese BELIEF that rulers came to power because it was their destiny, or fate. This Mandate supported a leader’s right to rule his people. It also gave a father authority over his family.

Shang Dynasty The first RECORDED civilization in China beginning around 1760B.C. Accomplishments of the Shang: 1) built the first cities. (walled cities were built for kings and warriors) 2) Produced bronze work-(tin + copper = bronze) 3) Made the first Chinese writing system Read the play about the Shang Dynasty to find out more!

5.1- Geography of Ancient China Shang Dynasty Why was King Jie of the Xia dynasty overthrown? He was a corrupt tyrant; the Chinese believed that Heaven chose leaders to rule them (mandate/law of Heaven), and if a leader became corrupt, he must’ve lost Heaven’s approval 2) Were the Shang people monotheistic or polytheistic? How do you know? They are polytheistic (believe in many gods); they worshipped all of their ancestors 5.1- Geography of Ancient China

Shang Dynasty 3) What kinds of materials did the Shang use to write on? Silk, Bamboo, Bronze, & Oracle bones (read by diviners who communicated with ancestors; they believed their ancestors would give them the answers) 4) Soong states that many valuable articles will be buried with Fu Hou. What does this tell us about the beliefs of the Shang? They believed in an afterlife- buried their dead with possessions, weapons, animals, and even live people (human sacrifices) so they could accompany them in the afterlife! 5.1- Geography of Ancient China

Shang Dynasty Arose around 1760 BC Invented Bronze Created the first writing system Polytheistic, but highest god was Shang Di Used Oracle Bones to help predict the future Believed in an afterlife where you could take your possessions with you

Losing the “Mandate of Heaven” The last Shang king committed suicide when he was defeated by the Zhou people; it was believed that the Shang had lost the Mandate of Heaven and the Zhou had gained it!

Zhou Dynasty Lived in the Wei Valley (West of the Shang) and conquered them in 1122 BC Believed in Tian (Heaven) Believed Tian granted rulers the Mandate of Heaven

What was at the center of early Chinese society- considered to be more important than the individual OR the nation?!?!

THE FAMILY!