BCE ANCIENT CHINA

Ancient China The Chinese called their land the “Middle Kingdom” They felt they were the center of the universe – understandable as they had no contact with any other large civilization

Geography Surrounded by natural barriers East – Pacific Ocean West – Taklimakan SW – Himalaya Mountains North – Gobi Desert

Huang He River & Jiang (Yangtze) River China’s early civilization will form on the North China Plain in between these two rivers. Unpredictable and destructive floods – known as “River of Sorrows” Loess – fine yellow silt, very fertile Rivers were the center of the ancient Chinese civilization

Loess deposited in the lower reaches of the rivers

First Civilization Xia Dynasty – 1 st dynasty (Around 2000 BCE) Led by an engineer and mathematician named Yu Major Achievements Flood control and irrigation projects Led to more and better farmland which allowed for the expansion of the population

Shang Dynasty ( BCE) First Chinese rulers to leave written records Built elaborate palaces and tombs Earliest cities Anyang – one of the capitals – built mainly of wood Surrounded by walls for protection

Social Classes Feudalism – political system in which nobles, or lords, are granted the 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 King Warrior- Noble Peasants

Shang Dynasty Horse drawn chariots Leather and bronze armor Silk Pottery Jade and Ivory statues and jewelry Lacked strong leaders

Chinese Culture Family – central to Chinese society Important virtue – respect for one’s parents Chief loyalty throughout life was to to the family. Beyond this, people owed obedience and respect to the ruler of the Middle Kingdom. Worshipped ancestors – MULAN! Shang kings consulted the god using oracle bones – animal bones and tortoise shells Religion – polytheistic

Writing Chinese characters Writing does NOT match the spoken language Advantage: all Chinese could learn same system of writing which helped to unify the nation Disadvantage: there was a large number of characters to memorize

Zhou Dynasty ( BCE) Claimed they had the right to rule Mandate of Heaven – a just ruler had divine approval Central to Chinese government Feudalism Dynastic cycle – pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

Strong dynasty establishes peace and prosperity; it is considered to have Mandate of Heaven In time, dynasty declines and becomes corrupt Disasters such as floods, famines, peasant revolts, and invasions occur Old dynasty is seen as having lost Mandate of Heaven; rebellion is justified Dynasty is overthrown through rebellion and bloodshed; new dynasty emerges New dynasty gains power, restores peace and order – claims to have Mandate of Heaven Dynastic Cycle of China Role of Mandate of Heaven

Innovations under Zhou Rule Roads and canals stimulated agriculture and trade by making it easier to travel Coined money – improved trade Iron – made stronger weapons and tools

The “Warring States Period” The later period of the Zhou dynasty in which the individual warrior nobles claimed to be the kings of their respective territories During this period, warrior-nobles were replaced in war by professional soldiers