1. Ancient China

2. River Dynasties in China
Chapter Two
Section Four

3. China Objective
Explain how the Chinese dynasties affected Chinese civilization, ethical systems, government, technology, commerce, and culture.

4. Setting the Stage
the walls of China’s first cities were built 4,000 years
ago
the wall was built 1,000 years after the walls of Ur, the
great pyramids of Egypt and the planned cities of the
Indus Valley
unlike the other three river valley civilizations, the
civilization that began along one of China’s river s
systems continues to thrive today

5. Geography
natural barriers isolated ancient China from other civilizations
E – Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Pacific Ocean
W – Desert
S – Himalayas
N – Gobi Desert and Mongolian Plateau
mountains and deserts dominate 2/3 of China
two rivers: Huang He and Chang Jiang
(Yellow River) (Yangtze)

6. Environmental Challenges
China’s first civilization developed in a river valley
geographic isolation challenges:
Huang He’s floods could be dangerous
floods devoured whole villages
early settlers had to supply their own goods rather than trading with outside peoples
natural boundaries did not completely protect settlers from outsiders
invasions frequently occurred

7. Environmental Challenges
** The Chinese civilization developed a unique civilization because they were geographically isolated **
10% of China’s land is suitable for farming
Civilizations look forward to the annual flooding of the rivers because the flood improved farmland by depositing a rich layer of silt

8. The First Dynasties
2,000 B.C. settlements grew into China’s first cities
first Chinese dynasty is Xia (shyah)
Yu was leader who was an engineer and mathematician; his legend reflects the level of technology of a society making the transition to civilization

9. The First Dynasties the Shang rose to power in northern China
(1700 B.C. to 1027 B.C.)
first Chinese rulers to leave written records
Shang kings built elaborate palaces and tombs
Anyang (ahn*YANG) oldest and most important city
During the Shang’s ruling period, the people were constantly at war; one can see how developed this dynasty was by the size of the earthen walls they built for protection

10. The Development of Chinese Culture
Chinese believed that people who lived outside the Chinese civilization were barbarians
the group is more important than the individual
chief loyalty was to the family
people owed obedience and respect to the ruler of the Middle Kingdom, just as they did to the elders in their family

11. The Chinese Family family central to Chinese society
most important virtue was respect for one’s parents
roles and structure of the family
elder men = controlled the family’s property and made important decisions
women treated as inferiors
expected to obey their fathers, husbands, and own sons
13 and 16 years old, marriage was arranged
only bearing sons for her husband’s family could she hope to improve her status

12. Social Classes Shang society divided between nobles and peasants
ruling class of warrior-nobles headed by a king governed the Shang
noble families owned
land and governed scattered villages

13. Religious Beliefs
family closely linked to religion - believed spirits of family ancestors had the power to bring good fortune or disaster to living members of the family
through the spirits of the ancestors, the
Shang consulted the gods
Shang Di = Shang supreme god
Shang used oracle bones to consult
with the gods
Oracle bones: one of the animal bones or
tortoise shells used by ancient
Chinese priests to communicate

14. Development of Writing
each character stands for one syllable or unit of language
no links between China’s spoken language and its written language
enormous amount of characters to learn = almost impossible unless you were of nobility
people all over China could learn the same written language = helped unify their diverse nation

15. Zhou and the Dynastic Cycle
1027 B.C. the Zhou (joh) overthrew the Shang and established their own dynasty
Zhou adopted much of the Shang culture; did not bring sweeping cultural change
Justified the conquest = Shang king was such a poor ruler that the gods had taken away the Shang’s rule and given it to the Zhou
A ruler had divine approval = Mandate of Heaven
Mandate of Heaven: Chinese emperors believed they
received the right to rule from god

16. Zhou and the Dynastic Cycle
the Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty and claimed the Mandate of Heave as their justification
Mandate of Heaven became central to the Chinese view of government
obedience to ruler
Dynastic cycle
rise
decline
replacement of
dynasties
Nobles use and
control lands - owe
loyalty and military
service = (Feudalism)

17. Zhou Dynasty Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C. – 256 B.C.) established feudalism
originally, lords submitted to the superior strength and control of the Zhou rulers
the lords grew strong as the towns grew into cities and expanded into the surrounding territory lords fought each other
lords became less dependent on the king

18. Technology and Trade Zhou produced many innovations
roads and canals were built to stimulate trade and agriculture
coined money introduced = improved trade
blast furnaces that produced cast iron were developed
used iron to create weapons = dagger-axes and swords
used for common agricultural toos = sickles, knives, spades

19. A Period of Warring States
Zhou empire was generally peaceful and stable
Zhou rule weakened
771 B.C. nomads from the north and west sacked the Zhou capital and murdered the Zhou monarch
Chinese Dynasties Music Video (4:26)

20. Essential Question
Describe how the dynastic cycle connected to the Mandate of Heaven.
Write three complete sentences in the summary location on your note sheet

21. China Objective
Explain how the Chinese dynasties affected Chinese civilization, ethical systems, government, technology, commerce, and culture.