Mr. Schoff Global History I Chapter 3 Section 3 Mr. Schoff Global History I

OA Turn to page 65 Read “The Huang He Floods” on page 61

Ancient China Ancient China Ancient China

Geography of China Called their land Zhongguo, the Middle Kingdom Most isolated civilizations up to this point Isolation added to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the Earth and the sole source of civilization

Geographic Barriers High mountatin ranges – Tien Shan, Himalayas Brutal deserts – Gobi Thick jungles Pacific Ocean Even with these barriers, they still traded with neighboring people and eventually, goods reached the Middle East and beyond Most outsiders were nomads To the Chinese, these nomads were barbarians who did not speak Chinese and lacked skills and achievements of a settled society Nomads conquered China from time to time, but usually absorbed the advanced Chinese civilization

Main Regions Huang He (Yellow River), Yangzi Fear of floods as seen in Chinese symbol Floods destroyed crops, caused mass starvation Fertile farming regions supported largest populations Xinjiang, Mongolia, Manchuria

Shang Dynasty 1650 B.C.-1027 B.C. Shang kings led noble warriors in battle Noblewomen had status Kings controlled only a small area Princes and nobles governed most of the land Royal family protected by noble warriors Used leather armor, bronze weapons, horse-drawn chariots

Shang Dynasty continued Artisans produced goods for nobles Bronze weapons, silk robes, jade jewelry Most people were peasants All family members worked in fields, used stone tools When not in fields, peasants repaired dikes and river banks

Shang Dynasty continued Complex religious beliefs Shang Di and a mother goddess who brought plants and animals to Earth King was seen as link between people and Shang Di Believed Shang Di would not respond to pleas of mere mortals Chinese called on the spirits of their ancestors to bring good fortune to the family Believed universe reflected a delicate balance between two forces…yin and yang Yin linked to Earth, darkness, and female forces Yang stood for Heaven, light, and male forces

Shang Dynasty continued System of writing – tens of thousands of characters, each character representing a word or idea, made up of a number of different strokes 10,000 characters to read a newspaper

Zhou Dynasty 1027 B.C.-256 B.C. Overthrew Shang Promoted idea of Mandate of Heaven, divine right to rule, to justify rebellion This would be used to later explain dynastic cycle, or rise and fall of dynasties Floods, famine, or other catastrophes were signs that a dynasty had lost favor of Heaven

Zhou Dynasty continued Feudalism – local lords governed their own lands in turn for their military service and other forms of support to the ruler China’s economy grew Knowledge of ironworking – iron axes, ox-drawn iron plows…farming more productive Commerce expanded – copper coins had holes in middle to be strung on cords This early form of money economy made trade easier Merchants benefited from new roads and canals constructed by feudal lords

Zhou Dynasty continued Economic expansion led to population growth Huang He people overflowed into central China and began to farm the immense Yangzi basin Feudal nobles expanded their territories and encouraged peasants to settle in conquered territories China was increasing in area, population, and prosperity at the end of the Zhou Dynasty

Chinese Achievements Astronomers studied movement of planets and recorded eclipses of the sun Accurate calendar of 365 ¼ days Art and technology of bronzemaking 1000 B.C. – discovered how to make silk thread from the cocoons of silkworms Women did most laborious work of tending the silkworms and processing cocoons into thread Wove silk threads into smooth cloth that was colored with brilliant dyes – only royalty and nobles could afford robes made from this luxurious silk Silk became China’s most valuable export Trade route that linked China and the Middle East became known as the Silk Road Kept this process of silkmaking a secret to control profitable trade

Chinese Achievements continued Under the Zhou, they made the first Chinese books Bound thin strips of wood or bamboo together, carefully drew characters on flat surface with a brush and ink Book of Songs (pg. 65) – poems described events such as the lives of farming people, praising kings, love songs

THE DYNASTIC CYCLE IN CHINA PG. 64

Identify major cultural achievements in early China

JADE JEWELRY

STRETCH, ENERGIZE FOR THE 2ND HALF!