Ms. Culp- World History September 5, 2012 take your seat Begin warm-up silently Warm-Up: The Ancient Chinese had mummies, too! Explain, in your own words, why people thought mummification was important. Today in History! On this day in 1836, Sam Houston is elected as president of the Republic of Texas

Yo! I graded your Warm-Ups from last week! You need to label them as Warm-Up and have the date obvious to me You do not need to write the question, just your answer BOTH your folder and your spiral need to have your name and period on them! Make sure that you are putting your folder and spiral are in the correct crate I will be grading them every week for a daily grade. If you are absent, you need to mark that down in your spiral, so that you can get the appropriate credit. If you take your spiral home with you, be sure to leave them with me on Friday OR show me your Warm-Up each day before you leave

7 Characteristics of Civilization 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Mini-Review River Valleys – 2 bodies of water Mesopotamia Indus River Egypt River Valleys – 3 disadvantages 1. 2. 3. Technology Social Structure

Ancient China

The oldest continuous civilization on Earth Ancient China The oldest continuous civilization on Earth

Ancient China The Chinese called themselves the Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom was located in the river valley between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Yellow River is called such because of the large amount of yellow-ish silt in the water – comes from LOESS: fertile soil blown by the winds from the desert Extra disadvantage: much more open valley and therefore susceptible to invasion – lots of invaders! The Middle Kingdom was beginning even before Mesopotamia. There is evidence that people have been living in China for over 1 million years!

Ancient China

Ancient China Social Structure Stable Food Supply 2 classes: Nobles and Peasants King, Warriors/Nobles, Peasants FEUDALISM – system in which nobles are granted use of the king’s land in exchange for loyalty and military service We see this again in Medieval Europe – slightly more complex Stable Food Supply Like all of our River Valley Civilizations, the Ancient Chinese were farmers

Ancient China Religion Writing Polytheistic religion that was closely tied to family spirits. One ruling god and many lesser gods Respect and attention given to spirit of ancestors – could bring good fortune or disaster Still a prevalent part of Chinese culture today Writing Pictographic system, similar to Sanskrit – made up of lines

Ancient China

Ancient China Government Technology One king – came from the noble class Mandate of Heaven: A king who was considered to have divine approval – a wicked or foolish king could lose divine approval and therefore the ability to rule Technology Unlike the other River Valley Civilizations, the Chinese used a lot of wood especially for building. They discovered silk, invented coined money, and were the first to use iron They invented kites, golf, parachutes, paper, gunpowder, barges, bridges, propaganda and automated cross-bows (essentially, the first “machine-gun”)!! Ancient Chinese Inventions & Technology, Pt. 1 Ancient Chinese Inventions & Technology, Pt. 2 Ancient Chinese Inventions & Technology, Pt. 3