“Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BCE) Sinanthropus pekinesis

Yellow River (aka Huang He) Civilization

Neolithic Pottery 3000 BCE to 2000 BCE

The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

Pan-Gu: Mythical Creator of the Universe

Plaque, 1700 BCE

Shang: c BCE

Originated in the Huang He (Yellow) River Valley Moved westward toward Gansu and south past Yangtze River Dominated by warrior aristocracy (self-indulgent) King and court ruled central area –Constantly on move to promote loyalty Aristocrats=generals, ambassadors, supervisors Distant regions governed by local elites who swore allegiance to king

Term barbarian emerges (people who were not Shang, nomads) POWs served as slaves Capital – Anyang –Religious and political center –Massive walls of pounded earth –Palaces, royal tombs, shrines to gods and ancestors Common People –Agri villages (Pounded earth, wooden posts, dried mud) –Early feng shui  placement of village/city entrances

Writing Pictograms and phonetic symbols combined to form 100s of signs Mastered by small # of elites Similar today (unlike Meso and Egypt’s written language that evolved into simpler alphabetic scripts Animal bones, turtle shells  heated  cracks  priestly interpretation of symbols  written language

Oracle Bones

The Evolution of Chinese Writing during the Shang PictographsSemantic-Phonetics

Oracle Bones Calendar

Kingship and Religion King: intermediary b/w gods and people Shang royalty and aristocracy worshipped spirits of male ancestors Believed ancestors were interested in their fortunes and had direct link to gods Divination –Sacrifices in order to win divine favor –Human and animal sacrifices for king’s burial Nobles, women, servants, soldiers, pow’s

Technologies Bronze = authority and nobility –Not plentiful in China –Bronze weaponry and Bronze vessels (used in rituals) –Artisan class worked the bronze Cast and molded items (weapons, chariot fittings, musical instruments, vessels) Trade developed across China –Imports (jade, ivory, mother of pearl, carved figures

Shang Bronzes

Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BCE

Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE - jade Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE

Shang Urn

Bronze Age Empires

Western Zhou: BCE

Eastern Zhou: BCE

How did the Zhou come to be? Last Shang emperor defeated in 11c BCE by Wu, the ruler of the Zhou –Dependent state in Wei river valley Preserved Shang culture and developed new elements

Mandate of Heaven Used in order to justify new rule Chief deity = ‘Heaven’ According to theory, the ruler is chosen by ‘Heaven’ and would retain his backing as long as he was a just and wise guardian of his people –Proof = prosperity and stability of kingdom Right could be withdrawn in ruler ‘misbehaved’ –Proof = corruption, violence, insurrection, arrogance (displeasure and validated a replacement)

Zhou Dominance Maintained Shang rituals –Decrease in human sacrifices and divination Priestly class lost power (  separation of church & state  development of philosophical and mystical systems) Early Zhou = Western Period –b/c of location of capitals –All major buildings faced south (harmony) Decentralized gov’t (like Shang) –Members and allies of royal family governed 100s of states

Eastern Zhou Relocated capital to Loyang in 771 BCE Much political fragmentation Fierce competition and warfare Warring States Period ( BCE) –Began using soldiers on horseback 600 BCE ironworking appeared  1 st to forge steel Many bureaucrats (many law codes, direct taxation of peasants, lg scale public works)  Legalism..Daoism..Confucianism

Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou)

Pendant of a Dancer - jade 3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)

Ritual Wine Vessel – 4c bronze, silver, gold, copper

Zhou Coins - bronze

“T’ien Ming” The Mandate of Heaven 1.The leader must lead by ability and virtue. 2.The dynasty's leadership must be justified by succeeding generations. 3.The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important.

The Dynastic Cycle A new dynasty comes to power. Lives of common people improved; taxes reduced; farming encouraged. Problems begin (extensive wars, invasions, etc.) Taxes increase; men forced to work for army. Farming neglected. Govt. increases spending; corruption. Droughts, floods, famines occur. Poor lose respect for govt. They join rebels & attack landlords. Rebel bands find strong leader who unites them. Attack the emperor. Emperor is defeated !! The emperor reforms the govt. & makes it more efficient. Start here 