Ancient China

Huang He (HWANG HUH) River: means “yellow river” Stretches east across China More than 2,900 miles long Begins in western mountains and flows to the Pacific Ocean Cuts through rich yellow soil called loess (LEHS)

Huang He Valley Farmers grew wheat in the fertile soil.

Huang He Valley The Huang He would cause enormous floods. Since 600 B.C.-more than 1,500 floods Called “Child’s Sorrow” in honor of the millions of people killed in the floods.

Chang Jiang (CHAHNG JYAHNG) River or Yangtze River

Chang Jiang River (Yangtze River) Flows from west to east across central China to the East Sea It is about 3,915 miles long Only the Amazon in South America and the Nile in Africa are longer. Farmers grow rice along the river’s shore. It is an important waterway for trade and transportation.

Mountains and Deserts: these provided a barrier between China and it’s neighbors Only 1/10 of China’s land can be farmed. Much is covered by mountains and deserts. Himalaya Kunlun Shan Tian ShanGobi Desert

The First Chinese Dynasty: artifacts left behind by the first settlers Yü the great dug the first channels to control the flood waters of the Huang He. The myth states that the dragon caused the floods and Yü chased him away with the aid of other dragons. Legend has it that Yü founded the first Chinese dynasty named Xia (SHYAH) around 2000 B.C. However there is no evidence to support this belief.

Who were the Shang? The Shang built the first cities in China. The royal capital was called Anyang (AHN·YAHNG) The entrance to the capital city

Shang: Capital city Anyang Craftsmen and merchants Farmers

Shang: Emperor King was the most powerful person, served as political, religious, and military leader. At first, Shang kings controlled only a small area of northern China. They conquered neighboring areas and ruled over most of the Huang He valley.

Shang Empire c B.C. Shang kings sent warlords, military leaders who own their own army, to govern local territories

Shang Empire c B.C. Warriors and Government Officials were called aristocrats. Those people were of noble birth and their wealth came from the land they owned. The land was passed to their children or younger family members. King Warriors and Royal Officials Farmers, merchants, artisans Slaves Upper Class Lower Class Farmers raised cattle, sheep, and chickens. They grew grains such as millet, wheat, and rice

Shang Empire c B.C Shang Ti: Supreme god that ruled over the lesser gods. Legend states that the gods lived in the mountains, rivers, and seas. They were admired and feared because the ancient Chinese believed the gods could bring good or bad fortune. The gods were offered gifts of food and other goods.

Shang Empire c B.C Ancestors, long-dead family members, are honored. Offerings were made to ancestors in hopes they would bring good luck and help in difficult times. Chinese pay their respects by going to temples and burning small paper copies of food, clothing, and other items. These copies represent things the relatives need in the afterlife.

Shang Empire c B.C Shang kings believed they received their power to rule from the gods. Religion and government were closely linked. The kings asked an oracle for help contacting the gods. Priests would scratch questions on bones and heat the bones over a fire until they cracked. The pattern of cracks provided the answer from the gods and ancestors to the king’s question.

Shang Empire c B.C: Oracle Bones

Shang Empire c B.C: Pictographs & Ideographs Ancient Chinese wrote in pictographs and ideographs. Pictographs are characters that represent objects Ideographs are two or more pictographs linked together to express an idea. Instead of representing sounds like in many languages, Chinese characters represent entire words.

Pictographs and Ideographs Pictograph Ideograph

Shang Arts During the Shang dynasty many bronze objects were created. Many of these were the finest ever made. To make the bronze objects, artisans made clay molds with designs carved into them and poured bronze into the mold. Once the bronze cooled the bronze object was decorated.

Shang Arts: Chinese artisans raise silk worms to make silk that is woven into colorful clothing for wealthy people.

Shang Arts: Artisans carved vases and dishes out of kaolin, a fine white clay. Artisans carved statues from ivory and jade.

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