Nicknamed “River of Sorrows” or “China’s Sorrow” because it often flooded and destroyed crops

Environmental Challenges  Isolated by seas, mountains, and deserts forced early settlers to supply their own goods.  Natural boundaries did not completely protect them from outside invaders. Invasions from North and west happened over and over.

First Dynasties – Building farming settlements along the Huang He – 2000BC settlements grow into China’s first cities – First Dynasty: Xia Dynasty- led by Yu, developed flood control and irrigation projects that tamed the Huang He – Helped make the transition to civilization – Shang rise when Meso., Egypt, and Indus Valley were invaded First Dynasties – Building farming settlements along the Huang He – 2000BC settlements grow into China’s first cities – First Dynasty: Xia Dynasty- led by Yu, developed flood control and irrigation projects that tamed the Huang He – Helped make the transition to civilization – Shang rise when Meso., Egypt, and Indus Valley were invaded

1700 BC-1027 BC 1 st family of Chinese rulers to leave written records Built elaborate palaces and tombs that have been discovered by archeologists Artifacts revealed much about Shang society 1700 BC-1027 BC 1 st family of Chinese rulers to leave written records Built elaborate palaces and tombs that have been discovered by archeologists Artifacts revealed much about Shang society

EARLY CITIES Anyang: one of oldest and most important cities Built mostly of wood Higher classes lived in timber-framed houses with walls of clay or straw inside city walls Peasants lived in huts outside city Shang surrounded cities with massive walls due to constant warfare Chariot is introduced Anyang: one of oldest and most important cities Built mostly of wood Higher classes lived in timber-framed houses with walls of clay or straw inside city walls Peasants lived in huts outside city Shang surrounded cities with massive walls due to constant warfare Chariot is introduced

CHINESE CULTURE V i e w e d o u t s i d e r s a s B a r b a r i a n s China known as Middle Kingdom (center of civilization ) E x t r e m e l o y a l t y t o t h e f a m i l y ; O b e d i e n t t o r u l e r

Most important virtue was respect for ones family Elder men controlled the family’s property and made important decisions Women treated as inferiors, expected to obey own sons Marriages arranged at age yrs old Only having sons could improve a woman’s status

SOCIAL CLASSES Sharply divided between nobles and peasants Warrior-nobles headed by a king made up the ruling class Noble families owned lands and governed villages

ORACLE BONES Family closely linked to religion Family ancestors had power to bring good fortune or disaster to living family members The Shang consulted gods through oracle bones SHANG DI known as supreme god Priest scratch questions on bone and then heat and crack bone Priests interpret cracks to see how gods answered

CHINESE WRITING No link between spoken language and written language You can read Chinese without the ability to speak the language It’s like the number system, everyone knows what is meant when they see 2 + 2=4 Although many spoke different languages, all could learn same system of writing Advantage: unified diverse land Disadvantage: today, over 50,000 characters to memorize

ZHOU DYNASTY and the DYNASTIC CYCLE 1027 BC Zhou dominates and overthrows the Shang 1027 BC Zhou dominates and overthrows the Shang Adopted Shang culture Adopted Shang culture Brought new ideas to China Brought new ideas to China How did they justify overthrowing the Shang Dynasty? Claimed Shang ruler was a poor king and so the gods took his power away Claimed Shang ruler was a poor king and so the gods took his power away and gave it to Zhou This is known as the Mandate of Heaven- a ruler has divine approval This is known as the Mandate of Heaven- a ruler has divine approval Dynastic cycle Strong dynasty establishes peace and prosperity, has Mandate of Heaven In time dynasty declines, power grows weaker Disasters (floods, famine, invasions, etc) occur Old Dynasty is seen as having lost mandate, rebellion is justified Dynasty is overthrown through rebellion; new dynasty emerges New dynasty gains power, restores peace, now has Mandate

Feudalism Zhou controlled a vast area of land Gave control to members of royal family and trusted nobles Established Fuedalism system: Land in exchange for service Nobles get land that belongs to King, King gets nobles military service Nobles also offer protection to people who live in their estate

Technology and Trade Roads and canals stimulate trade and agriculture Cast iron produced in blast furnaces Coined money introduced, improved trade