Early Societies East Asia Chapter 5 Early Societies East Asia

Huang He “Yellow” River Loess, extremely fertile China’s Sorrow, devastating floods and changes of course Center of Early Chinese civilization King Yu, dredging and canal work to control the flood effects Develops largely in isolation due to: Mountains, Deserts, and Seas

The Earliest Dynasties, 2200 BCE-256 BCE Yellow River: 3000 Miles, Tibet to the Yellow Sea; Deposits fertile, light colored soil; Periodic flooding: “China’s sorrow” Xia Organized village network Hereditary monarchy Flood control Shang Written records and materials Bronze metallurgy Walled cities Zhou The mandate of heaven Produced books

Xia Dynasty Thought for a long time to have been a myth Built their cities out of wood and packed earthen works Credited with establishing hereditary monarchical rule in China, effective flood control projects (Yu), and the early development of metallurgy No writing or records

Shang Dynasty Much more is known about them because they left written records in the form of Oracle Bones Masters of Bronze Metallurgy, of which they kept a guarded monopoly *Chariots from the Indo-Europeans* (what does that mean?) Shang had a strong centralized rule No formalized law code

Oracle Bones and Early Chinese Writing Used for communicating with spirit world, determining future Question written on animal bones, turtle shells Then heated over fire, cracks examined for omens Early archaeological evidence of Chinese writing Evolution of Chinese script Pictograph to ideograph, what is the difference?

Chinese Ideograms The dynamo of the ancient world Effect upon the Chinese people, a unifier Scribes were also the only ones who were taught to write

Oracle Bone from Shang Dynasty

Shang Bronze Amphora

Zhou Dynasty Shang fell into decline and the Zhou dynasty took over establishing a new belief – the Mandate of Heaven. The gods approval to rule Justified their overthrow Expanded south to the Yangtze River Standardized spoken language

Zhou Dynasty Slowly overcame the Shang Dynasty Established the Mandate of Heaven Family rules because they have the approval of the gods.  Dynastic Cycle – Kings could lose the Mandate of Heaven and be overthrown by new kings.

Zhou Dynasty Decentralized government, feudal in nature Difficulty maintaining their bronze monopoly, why? *Iron is introduced* and this really disrupts the power system in Zhou China

Zhou Dynasty The Period of the Warring States result Zhou attacked by nomads, aid was refused from the vassal states, Zhou dynasty moved and the dynasty lost as it’s subordinate states fought amongst themselves for the right to rule At this time the three major philosophical traditions of Chinese culture developed - Later

Southern Expansion of Chinese Society Yangzi Valley Yangzi river: Chang Jiang, “long river” Excellent for rice cultivation Irrigation system developed The State of Chu Autonomous, challenged Zhou dynasty Culture heavily influenced by Chinese

Social Order Ruling classes great advantage Palatial compounds, luxurious lifestyle Supported by agricultural surplus, tax revenues Defended by monopoly on bronze weaponry Hereditary privilege Large class of peasants (high up because they produce food) Support class of artisans, craftsmen Evidence of long-distance trade, merchant class Slave class

Cultural Beliefs Concept of Tian, was an impersonal power responsible for bestowing or revoking the Mandate of Heaven Not for monitoring or judging personal behavior Polytheistic Early gods represented the sun, moon, clouds, and wind No large priestly class develops!

Family and Patriarchy devotion to family, ancestor veneration connection of spirit world to physical world Believed the spirit of their ancestors could speak to the gods Ritual sacrifices to gain favor Father ritual head of family rites Earlier prominence of individual female leaders fades in later Shang, Zhou dynasties No formalized religion ever develops, which serves to strengthen what beliefs they already have

Family Gender, evidence of early matrilineal systems replaced by the Shang times for a patriarchal one Patriarch and extended family possessed tremendous authority over the lives of its members

Economics Trade networks to India as of 2000 b.c. Sail technology, interaction with Korea By the Zhou Dynasty they are using star navigation Crops: soybeans, rice, millet Built irrigation systems Silk, as early as 2600 b.c.e. Domesticated chicken and pigs

Nomadic Peoples of Central Asia Steppe nomads Poor lands for cultivation, extensive herding activities Horses domesticated c. 4000 BCE, bronze metallurgy in 2900 BCE Extensive trade with sedentary cultures in China Tensions: frequent raiding

Relationship with Nomads Constant interaction Weak China, nomads were an ominous force and often raided them. Strong China, source of trade and interaction Never adopted Chinese culture, why?