Ancient China

Ancient Chinese Geography  Yellow River (Huang He)  Yangtze River  Isolation – The Middle Kingdom  Geographic Physical Diversity

Neolithic China

Shang Dynasty  1700 BCE – 1027 BCE Anyang Anyang Emperors and Aristocracy Emperors and Aristocracy Province based government Province based government  Society  Religious Beliefs (oracle bones and veneration of ancestors)  Bronze casting  Writing = calligraphy

Oracle Bones

Shang Bronze Artifacts

Zhou Dynasty  1027 BCE – 256 BCE  Mandate of Heaven  Dynastic Cycle  Feudalism  Economy  Achievements  End of Zhou…

Mandate of Heaven This character represents the connection between heaven (at the top) and the earth (at the bottom). This relationship is mediated by the lord or emperor (the center horizontal line).