Ancient China (Shang and Zhou Dynasties) Theme: The importance of rivers and the advantage of technology, the development of cities

Importance of Rivers

rivers agriculture populations cities specialization hierarchy

YELLOW RIVER YANGZI RIVER

Population Growth Settlements began to crop up along the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers –Created a need for recognized authorities who could maintain order, resolve disputes, and organize public works projects –Village-level organizations could only act locally Small dynasties followed that extended their control over progressively larger regions

Dynasties “A sequence of powerful leaders in the same family” –Shang Dynasty 1766 to 1122 B.C. –Zhou Dynasty 1122 to 256 B.C. –Tang Dynasty 618 to 907 A.D. –Song Dynasty 960 to 1279 A.D. Shang Dynasty

Shang: BCE

Characteristics of a Civilization Intensive agricultural techniques Specialization of labor Cities A social hierarchy Organized religion and education Development of complex forms of economic exchange Development of new technologies Advanced development of the arts. (This can include writing.)

Bronze Age Empires

Agriculture

Yellow River Takes its name from the vast quantities of soil it picks up along its route –Yellow River periodically unleashes terrible floods, earning it the nickname “China’s Sorrow”

Agriculture Loess soil is extremely fertile and easy to work –Even before the introduction of metal tools, cultivators with wooden instruments could generate large harvests

Crops Initially, millet was the main crop (especially in the north) Sometime thereafter, the Chinese began cultivating rice Extensive rice production would require developing a complex irrigation system (made possible by the centralizing authority of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties)

Cities Ruins of Banpo Village near modern Xian

Cities: Shang Vast network of walled towns whose local rulers recognized authority of the Shang kings Shang rulers moved their capital six times Royal tomb at Anyang

Social Hierarchy King Wen of Zhou China

Social Hierarchy: Shang and early Zhou Royal family and allied noble families –Resided in large, palatial compounds and lived on the agricultural surplus and taxes delivered by their subjects –Power tied to bronze Privileged class of hereditary aristocrats –Rose from the military allies of the rulers –Possessed extensive land holdings and performed military and administrative tasks –Some access to education for those who lived in cities –Detailed rules of etiquette during Zhou era

Social Hierarchy: Ancient Shang and early Zhou Small class of free artisans and craftsmen –Lived in cities –Those who worked almost extensively for the privileged classes lived reasonably comfortably Peasants –Semi-servile class that lived in the countryside and did not own land –Provided agricultural, military, and labor services for lords in exchange for plots to cultivate, security, and a portion of the harvest Slaves –Most were captured enemy warriors –Performed hard labor that required a large work force such as clearing fields or building city walls –During the Shang Dynasty many were victims of human sacrifice during funerals and other religious and ritual observances

Specialization Silk making Bronze storage jar from Zhou Dynasty

Specialization Bronzesmiths Jewelers Jade workers Embroiderers Manufacturers of silk textiles –Silkworms are fed mulberry leaves, they molt and spin cocoons, then workers boil the cocoons to produce the raw silk. Silkworm cocoon

Religion and Education Bronze wine vessel used for rituals to honor ancestors during Shang Dynasty

Religion Ancient China did not have an organized religion or official priesthood Did not recognize a personal supreme deity who intervened in human affairs or took a special interest in human behavior Did speak of an impersonal heavenly power– tian (“heaven”)– that was responsible for bestowing and removing the mandate of heaven on rulers

Religion Instead, the patriarchal head of the family presided over rites and ceremonies venerating ancestors’ spirits Burning paper gifts for the departed is one traditional form of ancestor worship

Confucius

China before Confucius The “Yellow Emperor” Xia and Shang Dynasties –2070 B.C B.C. Zhou Dynasty –1046 B.C B.C. “Spring and Autumn” period –770 B.C B.C.

Confucius Born in 551 B.C. died in 479 B.C.

Confucianism Concerned primarily with restoring social stability and order –What is the basis of a stable, unified, and enduring social order? a system of social and ethical philosophy –“only when character is cultivated are our families regulated; only when families are regulated are states well governed.”

Confucianism li –rituals, norms, institutions, or mores –the outer, conforming aspect of Confucianism ren –humaneness, love, kindness, benevolence, or virtue –the inner, reforming aspect of Confucianism

Five relationships father-child ruler-subject husband-wife elder brother-younger brother friend-friend

Confucianism Persecuted in Qin Dynasty –221 B.C B.C. promoted by later rulers

Economic Exchange Cowrie shells used as money

Economic Exchange Somewhat limited by the mountain ranges and deserts that stood between China and India and southwest Asia –Shipbuilding emerged during Zhou era and facilitated trade Evidence of –Cowrie shells from Burma and the Maldives –Military technology from Mesopotamia –Jade from central Asia –Tin from Malay

New Technologies Silk making

New Technologies: Silk During the Zhou era, the Chinese discovered how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. –Silk would become China’s most valuable export, eventually linking them with most of the world through trade.

New Technologies: Bookbinding Chinese artisans learned how to bind together long, thin strips of wood or bamboo to make books

New Technologies: Shang and Military Success Shang pictograph of composite bow Shang were also able to exert military might over the Xia through bows

New Technologies: Zhou and Military Failure Zhou kings were not able to monopolize bronze production as the Shang had Iron technology was spreading rapidly throughout China –Iron ores were cheaper and more abundant than copper and tin so Zhou could not monopolize iron Leaders were able to equip their forces with iron which enabled them to resist the central government When nomads invaded the Zhou capital at Hao in 771 B.C., the subordinates refused to support the king

New Technologies The Great Wall of China originated as a defensive barrier against tribal intrusions Construction started in the seventh century B. C. and spanned over 20 states and dynasties –Two sections were built during the Zhou era –As China unified, the various sections were connected

Art and Writing Bronze from Sang Dynasty Writing on bamboo strips

Writing The earliest form of Chinese writing was the pictograph Pictographs were combined into ideographes to represent complex or abstract notions –The combination of “mother” and “child” renders “good” Unlike most other languages, written Chinese did not include an alphabetic or phonetic component

Book of Songs Collection of 331 poems from the Zhou era Represent a variety of subjects –Political themes –Ritualistic hymns –Life –Love and friendship –Family –Work and play