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China’s Earliest Civilizations The Shang and Zhou Dynasties

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The Shang (1700 – 1027BC)  Is the first known group in the region to meet the characteristics of a civilization..  Agriculture?  Cities?  Government?  Social Classes?  Religion?  Written Language?  Trade?  Specialized Skills?

The Shang Dynasty

Oracle Bones

Lost City of Shang

Why did the Shang Dynasty fall?  Invaded by the Zhou in 1027 –Traditional Chinese history says that the Zhou were able to take over the Shang because the Shang had degenerated morally Also, war, floods and famine were signs that the rulers needed to be replaced. –Part of this belief may have been caused by the Zhou themselves, who are credited with the idea of the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou used this idea to validate their takeover and subsequent ruling of the former Shang kingdom.

Mandate of Heaven  Belief that the gods give a ruler his power –People owe their loyalty, and in return the ruler must maintain order and stability  When the rulers are corrupt or not maintaining order, the gods will indicate that they need to be replaced –Natural disasters, invasions, peasant rebellions may occur **All indicate it is time for a change in the leadership  Many constant changes in dynasties occur in Chinese history because of this –This constant change of rulers/dynasties as each loses the Mandate of Heaven is called…

 Explains rise/fall of ruling dynasties in Chinese history…

Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty ( BC)  Divided into different time periods, the last of which is the most important –Western, Spring/Autumn, and Warring States  Western period (1027 – 770) –Capital located in the west – time after the defeat of the Shang  Spring and Autumn period (770 – 476) –Forced to move east after king killed during attacks by northern barbarians –During this time, the Zhou emperor steadily lost power due to the realization by the feudal lords that he was not powerful and could be beaten, which had been proven by the defeat in the west.

Warring States period (475– 220 BC)  So named because of the power struggle between the large states of China that were trying to gain control over the entire area. –This was a chaotic time, leads people to look for order and stability in their lives –Encourages belief systems that promote these ideas  This time period is also considered the “classical age”, as it was a time of great philosophers.  3 schools of thought developed during this time. Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism

Review  Which group invaded and conquered the Shang in 1027?  The belief that heaven gives a ruler the right to rule is known as…  What two different indicators showed that ruler had lost the “Mandate of Heaven”?  The constant change of ruling families in Chinese history is known as the…  During which period in Zhou history did a power struggle occur between large states of China?  What 3 philosophies emerged during this period?