Bell Ringer:  Short answer: What was the religion like of ancient Egypt?

Ancient China

Geography  isolated by natural barriers – mountains, jungles, deserts – led to belief that China was center of Earth, sole source of civilization – some contact w/ traders and invaders

Geography  Huang He (Yellow) River/Yangtze River – loess = fine yellow soil carried in the river – dikes built to keep river from overflowing

Huang He River

Shang China  1650 – 1027 BCE  centered on Huang He  dynasty = ruling family  kings ruled a small area, loyal clans held the rest

Shang China  social structure – royal family/nobles – peasant farmers – artisans and merchants

Religion  polytheistic  “ancestor worship” – believed gods wouldn’t respond to mere mortals

Oracle bone

Writing  oldest examples found on oracle bones  combination of pictographs, ideographs  over 10,000 characters  developed calligraphy  writing united China

Technology  Bronze – weapons, jewelry, religious items  Silk  Chopsticks  Jade

Zhou (joe) Dynasty  Mandate of Heaven—Belief that the gods allowed the emperor to rule and if the emperor was overthrown it meant the gods did not approve of them

Innovations  Roads & Canals  Civil Service  Iron

Decline of Zhou  Feudalism—land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service  Nobles fought each other for land  End of Zhou period called Warring States

Exit Pass  Draw a cartoon describing a fictional ruler’s journey through the Mandate of Heaven and Dynastic Cycle.  Your cartoon should have at least three panels – one describing each phase of the cycle.