Ancient China

Yellow River Yellow color soil – very fertile Devastating floods made it “China’s Sorrow” Shang dynasty 1766BCE-1122BCE “oracle bones” prove existence of dynasty Questions about future written on the bones Heated, then “read” to predict the future

First writing – pictographs Bronze metallurgy helped make Zhou a military state

Zhou Dynasty 1122BCE-256BCE Laid basis for Chinese traditions “Mandate of Heaven” – power to rule granted from heaven Power could be taken away if justice and order not maintained Signed from gods like floods, rebellions, etc. were indication that end was near for dynasty

Emphasis on “veneration of ancestors” Tended to graves diligently Believed ancestors spirits could support and protect their descendants Buried tools, weapons, jewelry, etc. Left food & drink at graves Living family very connected to the dead and the not yet born

Patriarchal Society Strongly patriarchal Families led by the eldest male Women more important during early Shang During Zhou women lived in the shadow of men Men performed elaborate ceremonies honoring the spirits

Social Classes Royal family and allied noble families Lived on agr. surplus and taxes collected from their subjects Controlled most bronze weapons Hereditary aristocrats from military allies Administrative & military jobs

Small class of artisans & craftsmen Worked mostly for the aristocrats Lived comfortable lives Merchants and traders

Peasants – owned no land Provided agricultural, military &labor services for their lord In return, they got a small plot of land to live on & cultivate Slaves – enemy warriors captured in battle Provided hard labor

Literature Big influence – served as textbooks Book of Changes – how to tell the future Book of History – documents that justified Zhou gov’t Book of Etiquette (Book of Rites) – polite behavior and how to conduct proper rituals

Most notable – Book of Songs – poems about politics, heroes, kings, life, love, family drinking, work, etc. Much of early literature didn’t survive or was destroyed

China & Nomads of Asia As Chinese farmers spread north and west, they encountered pastoral nomads on grassy steppes of central Asia Indo-Europeans had migrated into the area Not much farming Herding animals to food and water Traded horses with Chinese in exchange for grains, textiles, etc.

Often had bitter wars Poor nomads raided rich agricultural societies Early nomads did not adopt Chinese ways Organized in clans under warrior chiefs Didn’t use writing until c. 7th century CE