1. Xia Dynasty to Era of Warring States
Ancient China
Xia Dynasty to Era of Warring States

2. China 1st Cities 1,500 yrs. After Ur
First signs of Chinese Civilization 3,500 yrs. ago along Huang He(Yellow) River
Later along Yangtze River
“Longest Enduring” Civilization
Geographically Isolated
East- Pacific Ocean
West- Takla Makan Desert
Southwest- Himalaya Mountains
North- Warlike, Nomadic Barbarians of the Steppes

3. The Middle Kingdom China is center of the world
All outside of China viewed as barbarians
Chinese are the only civilized people

4. Three Divisions of China Proper
Brown China
Green China
The mountainous South and West River Valley

5. Brown China Northern China Huang He River Cereal Crops- Wheat & Millet
Area of Earliest Chinese Civilization

6. Green China
South of Brown China
Yangtze River
Tea
Rice
Silk

7. Four Outlying Territories
Manchuria
Mongolia
Xinjiang (Central Asia)
Tibet

8. Xia Dynasty Legendary Dynasty
Little evidence other than mention in writings from later dynasties

9. Shang Dynasty Mastery of advanced bronze working
Development of writing
Agriculture- wheat, millet
Possibly had irrigation for rice cultivation
Domestication of Animals- Oxen, Sheep, Goats, Chicken, Horses
Also ate pork and dog

10. Shang Dynasty

11. Mandate of Heaven

12. Zhou Dynasty

13. Zhou Dynasty Overthrow Shang c. 12th century BCE
Used Mandate of Heaven to legitimize rule
Originally from further west of Shang territory
Kept written records of rule: tax rolls, import/export lists, historical accounts of rulers
Western Zhou- (11th-8th centuries BCE) capital cities in west
Eastern Zhou- (8th-5th centuries BCE) capital moved east to Luoyang
Expanded territory beyond boundaries of the Shang
Ruled through decentralized loyalties with local leaders retaining much autonomy (semi-feudal)
Growing reliance of professional bureaucrats, shi (men of service)

14. Major Social Classes of the Shang & Zhou
The Elites
Free Artisans and Craftsmen
Merchants and Traders
Peasants
Slaves

15. The Elites Royal family and allied families
Great prestige and economic benefits
Palatial houses
Monopolized use of bronze tools, weapons, decorative objects (lower classes used clay)
Consumed most of meat (compared to lower classes)
Emphasis placed on proper behavior (table manners, etc.)

16. Free Artisans and Craftsmen
Worked almost exclusively for the Elite
Lived primarily in cities in houses of pounded earth, an expensive construction at the time

17. Merchants and Traders
Little is written of traders until the late Zhou Dynasty
Tin from SE Asia
Jade from Central Asia
Military technology from as far as Mesopotamia

18. Peasants Owned no land Worked land of the nobility
Small houses dug into the earth with thatched walls and roofs
Also required to build roads, buildings and irrigation projects for the nobility
Life became somewhat easier with introduction of iron by end of Zhou Dynasty

19. Slaves Most captives of war
Hard labor- clearing new fields, laying foundations, building city walls

20. Decline of Zhou
Decentralized nature of Zhou rule led to local leaders gaining/claiming more authority
Eventual Zhou “vassals” began to call themselves by the title of Wang (King), previously only used by the Zhou rulers
As Zhou rulers lose ability to control local lords, many begin fighting among themselves to gain supremacy over each other
The Era of Warring States has begun