Ancient China

Chronological Context 5000 BCE: Farm 4500 BCE: Millet 3500 BCE: Soybeans 2000 BCE: Rice 1700 – 1027 BCE: Shang Dynasty 1027 – 256 BCE: Zhou Dynasty

Geography Yellow River. Floods every year to irrigate. Completely isolated!

Economic Organization Farming villages. River used for travel and trade. Clay ovens, pottery. Rich vs Poor: –Cities and wooden houses vs. country and caves. –Weapons, wool, silk vs. nothing.

Political Organization 1523 BCE: Shang Dynasty First cities: –Palace and temple at city center. –Public buildings and gov’t officials around the palace. –Outer district – workers and poor. –Country – peasants.

Social/Cultural Organization Religion: –Spirits of nature who must be appeased by the people. –Ancestors influence people’s fortunes. Familial ties. –Kings receive power from nature. –Oracle Bones. Society: –Kings – nobles – government officials – workers – farmers. Writing: –1,000 characters = barely literate –10,000 characters = scholarly

Collapse Conflict between rich and poor: –Who were the soldiers? –1028: Zhou dynasty takes over.

Zhou Dynasty Overthrow the Shang. Leadership: –Mandate of Heaven. –Feudalism. Infrastructure: –Roads, canals. –Iron. Social Class: –Civil servants.