12. Ancient China
Ch. 2 (pp. 40 – 51)
Key Concept 1.2 The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agriculture Societies
Key Concept 1.3 The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral and Urban Societies
Essential Question: How did early Chinese rulers use religion to justify and strengthen their power?

13. Geography
Agricultural societies developed independently in China as early as 8000 B.C.E.
By ~2000 B.C.E., the Shang Dynasty developed along the banks of the Huang He (Yellow River)
Loess
“China’s Sorrow”
Isolated

15. The Shang Period, B.C.E.
Shang ruled northern territory of China from B.C.E. (largely decentralized)
Ruled by a militaristic king & large bureaucratic staff
Defended against nomadic (barbarians) invaders to north
King was an intermediary b/t the people & gods
Kings used divination (oracle bones) to determine the will of the gods
Distant regions were governed by local leaders who pledged allegiance to king
Cities were walled & built on grid system in accordance w/ cardinal directions (early feng shui)
Capital city was Anyang

16. The Shang Period, B.C.E.
Developed system of writing by combining pictograms and phonetic symbols
Resulted in hundreds of signs
Basis of Chinese writing today
Religion was largely based around ancestor worship
Developed bronze metallurgy

17. The Zhou Period, 1027 – 480 B.C.E.
1027 B.C.E., Wu (leader of a dependent state) overthrew the last Shang king
Established the Zhou Dynasty
New theory about ruler stated that he had been chosen by god and would retain his backing as long as he ruled justly
Known as the “Mandate of Heaven”
If a ruler misbehaved, his right to rule could be withdrawn & a new ruler would come to power (dynastic cycle)
Signs such as floods, earthquakes & rebellions were indications that the end was near for a dynasty
Zhou kings marked a decline in divination & sacrifice

19. The Zhou Period, 1027 – 480 B.C.E.
Family unit was most important structure in society
Veneration of ancestors grew stronger
Belief that society would run smoothly if people followed familial roles
Filial piety
Iron began to replace Bronze

20. The Zhou Period, 1027 – 480 B.C.E.
771 B.C.E., local rulers began to act independently & wage war w/ one another
During this time of instability two cultural developments emerged with opposing ideologies regarding a citizen’s role in society

21. The Zhou Period, 1027 – 480 B.C.E.
By 481 B.C.E., Zhou entered a 260 year period of extreme decentralization known as the “Warring States Period”