Yellow River Civilization (Shang Dynasty) Location: Yellow River (Huang He) Valley Area Government: King Farming Fertile Soil called “loess” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkD4lKWS0ro Bronze-work Writing Oracle Bones
Early Religion NATURE ANCESTOR WORSHIP YIN and YANG Many gods that related to the natural world around them ANCESTOR WORSHIP Reciprocity “Hungry Ghosts” YIN and YANG Balance between: MALE and FEMALE DARK and LIGHT
Human Sacrifices? http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/human- sacrifices-discovered-at-torched-shang-dynasty-city- huanbei-1975492.html
Shang Dynasty overthrown by the Zhou (1046 BC)
Mandate of Heaven Originated by the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) Justified the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty
Concept 1. Heaven grants the emperor the right to rule 2. There can only be one emperor at any given time 3. The emperor’s virtue determines his right to rule 4. No one dynasty has a permanent right to rule
Implications Incentive for emperors to act responsibly Allowed for incredible social mobility Explanation/scapegoat for natural disasters such as famine, flood, drought
Zhou Ruled for almost 800 years Peace and stability
The end of the Zhou was a period called the warring states (403 BC-221BC) Warring states period ended with the rise of the Qin Dynasty
Shi Huang Di (The First Emperor of China) QIN Dynasty (221-206 BCE Shi Huang Di (The First Emperor of China) Strict Legalism (Began by Hanfeizi) Laws should be very strict and punishments very harsh Started GREAT WALL Uniform: coins, language, weights