 Barriers Isolate China  Ocean, mountains, deserts isolate China from other areas

 River Systems  Huang He (“Yellow River”) in north, Yangtze in south  Huang He leaves loess— fertile silt—when it floods  Unpredictable flooding

 Environmental Challenges  Huang He floods can devour whole villages ▪ Nicknamed “China’s Sorrow”  Geographic isolation means lack of trade; must be self-sufficient  Only about 10% of land is suitable for farming  China’s Heartland  North China Plain, area between two rivers, center of civilization

 The First Dynasties  Around 2000 B.C.E., cities arise; Yu, first ruler of Xia Dynasty  Yu’s flood control system tames Huang He  Shang Dynasty, 1700 to 1027 B.C.E., first to leave written records King Yu “Conquering the Yellow River equates to controlling the whole of China.”

 Early Cities  Built cities of wood, such as Anyang—one of its capital cities  Upper classes live inside city; poorer people live outside  Shang cities have massive walls for military defense  Elaborate palaces and tombs

 Chinese Civilization  Sees China as center of world; views others as uncivilized  The group is more important than the individual  Family  Family is central social institution; respect for parents a virtue  Elder males control family property  Women expected to obey all men, even sons  Social Classes  King and warrior-nobles lead society and own the land

 Religious Beliefs  Spirits of dead ancestors can affect family fortunes  Oracle bones used to consult gods; supreme god, Shang Di ▪ Priests scratch questions on animal bones and tortoise shells

 Development of Writing  Writing system uses characters to represent ideas ▪ Combinations of characters were used to convey more complex ideas ▪ Character for a tree was one ▪ Forest = Set of 3 trees  People of different languages can use same system ▪ No link between spoken and written word ▪ Unites them  Huge number of characters make system difficult to learn

Similarities allows for scholars to read the ancient writings today.

 Bronzeworking  Massive caldrons ▪ Used for offerings  Bells  Silk

 The Zhou Take Control  In 1027 B.C., Zhou Dynasty takes control of China  Mandate of Heaven  The belief that a just ruler had divine approval  Developed as justification for change in power to Zhou  Dynastic Cycle—pattern of the rise and decline of dynasties

 Control Through Feudalism  Feudalism—system where kings give land to nobles in exchange for services  Over time, nobles grow in power and begin to fight each other

 Improvements in Technology and Trade  Zhou Dynasty builds roads, canals to improve transportation  Uses coins to make trade easier  Produces cast iron tools and weapons; food production increases Ancient Coins from China

 A period of Warring States  Peaceful, stable Zhou empire rules from around 1027 to 256 B.C.  In 771 B.C.E., nomads sack the Zhou capital, murder monarch  Luoyang becomes new capital, but internal wars destroy traditions