Early Society in East Asia Chapter 5

Political Organization in Early China Agriculture -> surplus -> villages -> regional states (Xia, Shang, Zhou) Yellow River = China’s sorrow (flooding) Early dynasties = hereditary states that controlled large areas

The Xia Dynasty C. 2200 BCE: formal control over region Mythical founder (Yu) – importance of public works Cities, metallurgy

The Shang Dynasty 1766-1122 BCE: same general area Success from tech.: bronze monopoly by elites Built army w/ surplus and gained power from allies Capitals: 6; walled (labor), palace, archives, workshops, elaborate royal burials Other similar states prob. existed

The Zhou Dynasty Fought Shang -> allied with them -> eclipsed them Last Shang king was a fool, many became loyal to Zhou (established state) Shang heirs still governed outer districts Mandate of Heaven: justification for deposing Shang king; power comes from heaven, king is ‘son of heaven’ If king does not govern properly, lose mandate

Zhou (cont.) Political organization: decentralized monarchy (power to subordinates in exchange for allegiance, tribute, mil. Support) Lost control,as they became more independent Invasions -> defeat of Zhou -> Warring States per. 256 BCE: last Zhou king abdicated -> Qin dynasty

Society and Family in Ancient China Agriculture -> wealth -> inequalities Social structure: ruling elites and aristocrats, specialized laborers, merchants and traders (long distance, despite geographic barriers, and maritime), peasants (no land – feudal), slaves (hard labor)

Family and Patriarchy Importance of extended family Ancestor veneration for protection and help No organized religion – patriarch performs rituals Shang and Zhou: females became less important; patrilineal descent

Early Chinese Writing and Cultural Development Xia prob. Used writing for record-keeping Shang – extensive use: oracle bones to tell fortunes Pictographic, with ideographs Zhou – oracle bones, bronze inscriptions, books (including Book of Songs) Silk, bamboo books have perished and Qin destroyed any non-utilitarian books

Ancient China and the Larger World Influences through trade, migration, and expansion Agriculture spread north and west Stopped because steppe nomads were pastoral Traded with farmers, introduced bronze, chariots, and horses but also fought with them

The Southern Expansion of Chinese Society No barriers to south -> Yangzi River (good for rice, little flooding) -> pop. Increase-> surplus -> Chu state Adopted Chinese culture elements, but not under political authority