River Dynasties in China

Natural barriers isolated ancient China from other civilizations. The Geography of China Natural barriers isolated ancient China from other civilizations. To China’s east is the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Pacific Ocean. To China’s west is the Taklimakan Desert and the icy plateau of Tibet. River Systems: Two major river systems in China are The Yellow River (Huang He) in the north. The Yangtze (Chang Jiang) in the south. Fertile soil called loess is deposited when the river banks overflow. The loess is blown by the winds from deserts to the west and north.

The First Dynasties Before Sumerians were settled in Mesopotamia, early Chinese cultures were building farming settlements along the Huang He. Around 2000 B.C., some of these settlements grew into China’s 1st cities. It was around this time that the first Chinese dynasty, the Xia (shyah) Dynasty, emerged. The leader was an engineer and mathematician named Yu. He was able to control flooding and irrigation projects which helped to tame the Huang He, which then enabled settlements to grow. The legend of Yu’s technological advances illustrate a society transitioning to civilization.

The Shang Dynasty The Shang Dynasty lasted from around 1700 B.C. to 1027 B.C. It was the first family of Chinese rulers to leave written records. Shang kings built elaborate palaces and tombs that have been uncovered by archaeologists.

Early Cities Anyang was one of the oldest cities in the Shang Dynasty, as well as one of the capitals. This city differed from other cities in the Indus Valley or the Fertile Crescent because it was made primarily from wood. The city stood in a forest clearing. Higher classes lived in timber-framed houses with walls of clay and straw. These houses were usually found within the walls of the city. Peasants and crafts-people lived in huts outside of the city. The Shang surrounded their cities with massive earthen walls for protection. The large construction indicated that the Shang were able to raise and control workers.

Walled Cities and Waging War The need for walled cities indicated the Shang regularly waged war. The chariot, a major tool of war, was probably first introduced by contact with cultures from western Asia. Professional warriors underwent lengthy training to learn the technique of driving and shooting from horse-drawn chariots.

Zhou and the Dynastic Cycle Around 1027 B.C., a people called the Zhou (joh) overthrew the Shang and established their own dynasty. Although they had adopted much of the Shang culture, they did bring new ideas to Chinese civilization. In order to justify their conquest over the Shang, the new Zhou leaders claimed that the Shang king ruled in such a poor way that the gods taken away his power and given it to the Zhou. This justification over time developed into a broader view that royal authority came from heaven…

Mandate of Heaven The Mandate of Heaven meant that a just ruler had divine approval. A wicked or foolish king could lose the Mandate of Heaven, and, as a result, lose the right to rule. The Mandate of Heaven became central to the view of Chinese government. Floods, riots, and other calamities could represent that the ancestral spirits were unhappy with the way a king was ruling. In that case, the Mandate of Heaven might pass to another noble family.

Dynastic Cycle The Mandate of Heaven was used to justify rebellion, civil war, and the rise of a new dynasty. Historians describe the pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties as the dynastic cycle.

Feudalism The Zhou Dynasty controlled lands that stretched from north to south. In order to govern in this vast area, the dynasty gave control over different regions to members of the royal family and other trusted nobles. This established a system called feudalism. This is a political system in which nobles, or lords, are granted use of lands that legally belong to the king. In return, the nobles owe loyalty and military service to the king and protection to the people who live on their estates. Similar systems would appear centuries later in both Europe and Japan.

Zhou improve Trade and Technology Roads and canals were built to improve trade and agriculture. Currency-coined money was introduced, which further improved trade. Cast iron was produced thanks to the blast furnaces which were developed/ Zhou cast iron production would remain unmatched until the Middle Ages in Europe. The Zhou used iron to create weapons, especially dagger-axes and swords. They also used it for common agricultural tools, such as sickles, knives, and spades. This made farm work easier, which made the ability to grow food easier.

The Qin Dynasty In the third century B.C., the Zhou Dynasty were replaced by the Qin (chihn) Dynasty . It has this named as it emerged from the western state of Qin. The new ruler who founded the Qin Dynasty employed Legalist ideas in order to control the warring states and unify his country. A new emperor took control in 221 B.C., after ruling for 20 years. He took the name Shi Huangdi, which means, ‘’First Emperor’’. He begun his new reign by halting internal battles that were weakening China. Next, he wanted to defeat invaders and crush resistance within China.

Shi Huangdi as Emperor Policy called ‘’strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches’’. Seized land of nobles families by making them live in the capital city where he would watch them-120, 000 noble families in total. Used seized land to carve China into 36 administrative districts, where he sent Qin officials to control them. In order to prevent criticism, he sent ordered the murder of hundreds of Confucian scholars. Also order the burning of books filled with Confucian ideas.

Autocracy A government that has unlimited power and uses it in an arbitrary manner (unrestrained in use of authority). Program of Centralization: Building of highway network of more than 4k miles. Same standards throughout China for writing, law, currency, and weights and measures-even down to the cart axles. This meant that all vehicles could fit on China’s main roads.

Great Wall of China Scholars hated Shi Huangdi for his book burning. Poor people hated him because they were forced to work on the building of a huge defensive wall. This wall would ensure that enemies would find it impossible to get through and invade. The Great Wall of China was created thanks to hundreds of thousands of peasants who were forced to build the wall or die.

Fall of Qin Shi Huangdi’s son, equally as cruel as his father, was less able to lead. As a result, a peasant rebellion three years after he became ruler and led to the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty would become one of the longest in China’s history.