1. Early China

2. Satellite View of China

3. China vs. the U. S. in Size
China
United States

4. Bodies of Water Amur River Sea of Japan Yellow Sea Huang-He River
Yangtze River
Xi River
Pacific Ocean
South China Sea

5. Deserts & Plateaus
Gobi Desert
Taklamakan Desert
Tibetan Plateau

6. China’s Climate Zones

7. Precipitation in China

8. Summer Rainfall

9. Agricultural Regions in China

10. Arable Land

11. “Brown” China vs. “Green” China
Wheat Dominant
Pasture and Oasis
Rice Dominant
Double-crop rice

12. South China

13. Geography and Resources
China is divided into two major geographical regions: the steppe, desert, and high plateau west and northwest; and the eastern zone, more suitable for settled agriculture.
The Steppe(s) is flat, semi-arid grassland between mountain ranges of Eurasia, running from modern Hungary to Mongolia, mostly in Central Asia.

14. The eastern zone is subdivided into two areas: north and south.
The northern area includes the Yellow River Valley and as a dry, cold climate.
The southern area includes the Yangzi Valley, has plentiful rainfall, and is relatively warm.

15. Natural Resources
China’s natural resources include timber, stone and metals.
Loess soil and cool climate of the north are suitable for growing millet.
Rice may be cultivated in the warmer and rainier south.

16. Shang Period 1750-1027 B.C.E Land of Neolithic communities
Pigs, Chicken, Millet domesticated
Silk textiles
Bronze Metallurgy

17. Origins Shang dynasty- Origins in Yellow River Valley
Expand into Mongolia to Gansu and south to the Yangzi Valley.
Kings- direct rule over core and indirect rule over peripheral areas

18. The Shang Kings will carry out warfare against nomadic enemies.
These nomads would ambush trade convoys and steal items.
It is possible that these convoys were trading with Mesopotamia.

19. Religion The kings worshiped of male ancestors. Practiced sacrifice.
Kings were intermediaries between the gods and human world
Ancestor worship became very popular.
Oracle bones- shoulder bone of an ox was used for a priest to scratch questions to ancestors

20. Shang Technology Bronze weapons, ceremonial vessels
Horse drawn chariot

21. Shang Dynasty

22. Zhou Period 1027-221 B.C.E. Dependent state of the Shang.
Defeated Shang in the 11th century B.C.E
“Mandate of Heaven” Used by the Zhou to justify their actions in overthrowing the Shang
The Mandate of Heaven postulates that heaven (天; Tian) would bless the authority of a just ruler, as defined by the Five Confucian Relationships, but would be displeased with a despotic ruler and would withdraw its mandate, leading to the overthrow of that ruler. The Mandate of Heaven would then transfer to those who would rule best. The mere fact of a leader having been overthrown is itself indication that he has lost the Mandate of Heaven.

23. Zhou Period Priestly Power of elite faded
Result in separation of religion and govt.
Led to secular philosophy.
Zhou divided into two periods Western Zhou, and Eastern Zhou

24. Western Zhou 11th -9th & Eastern Zhou 771- 221 B.C.E centuries B.C.E.
Like the Shang the Western Zhou had direct control over core territory and administered the peripheral areas indirectly
Eastern Zhou declined in central government as regional elites began to rule territories
Eastern Zhou subdivided into two periods
Spring and Autumn period B.C.E
Warring states Period B.C.E

25. Zhou Technology Construction of long walls for defense
Iron and steel metallurgy
Horse riding

26. Eastern Zhou Political Philosophies
Legalism- Human nature is wicked and selfish. People must have strict laws and harsh punishments

27. Confucianism Founded by Confucius
Assumes that human nature is essentially good.
Hierarchical view of universe, society, and family
Not influential with it’s founding, but became the dominant political philosophy in the future.

28. Daoism Founded by Laozi Universe is constantly changing
No real moral standards
People should take life as it comes to them.
“Whatever attitude”

29. Eastern Zhou Society Development of the three generation family
Concept of Private Property
Privately owned land
Women were subordinate to hierarchy
Yin and Yang
Yin-male- Bright, Shining, Active
Yang-Female- moon, passive, shaded