1. Ch. 2.4 River Dynasties in China
Objective: Describe the effects of geography on cultural development in China

2. China’s Civilization Compared to others, China was a late starter!
Its cities arose 1,000 years later than that of other River Civilizations.

3. Geography made Natural Barriers
East
Pacific Ocean
West
The Taklimakan Desert
North
The Gobi Desert
South
The Himalayas

4. Two Major Rivers In the north: the “Huang - he” or “Yellow River.”
China’s Sorrow -The Huang - he River can be generous or ruinous.
Flooding of river leaves rich deposits of loess.

5. Two Major Rivers The Yangtze River Located in central China.
90% of useable land for farming lies between the two rivers.

6. China was Isolated from Outsiders
The Chinese believed they were at the center of the civilized world.
Called themselves the “Middle Kingdom.”
Outsiders were considered to be barbarians.

7. Civilization Emerges
Humans have inhabited China for about one million years.
Fossil remains:
“Peking Man” skeleton lived 500,000 years ago.

8. The First Dynasties
Legend states that the Xia Dynasty began around 2000 B.C.
No written records remain.

9. The Shang Dynasty Dynasty lasted about 500 years.
Large palaces and tombs they built revealed much about their society.

10. The Shang Dynasty Shang rulers constantly waged war.
They surrounded their cities with massive earthen walls for protection.
Leaders controlled thousands of workers in construction.

11. Strict Social Classes
Noble warrior families owned the land, sent tribute to the Shang king in exchange for local control.
Peasants worked the land for lords.

12. Origins of Chinese Culture
People’s lives were governed by duties to two authorities :
Their family and their emperor.
The group was always more important than the individual.

13. Family and Society The family was at the center of Chinese life.
Most important was the respect for one’s parents: “Filial Piety”
Elder men made decisions, controlled property.
Women were treated as inferiors.

14. Religious Beliefs
Belief that spirits of ancestors could bring good or disaster to the living.
All families paid respects to their ancestors.

15. Oracle Bones Shang kings consulted the gods using Oracle Bones.
Priests would inscribe questions and then interpret heated bones.

16. Development of Writing
Earliest writing found on oracle bones.
Chinese characters stand for ideas not sounds.
Few links between written and spoken Chinese !
Example : = 4

17. Advantages and Disadvantages
Helped unify a large and diverse land.
All could learn to read the same system of writing.
1,000 characters to be barely literate !
Severely limited number of educated Chinese.

18. Shang Technology
Shang craftspeople excelled in bronze working and silk weaving .
Religious objects and weapons - used as symbols of royal power.

19. The Zhou Dynasty
A new dynasty which overthrew the Shang around 1027 B.C.
Adopted much of Shang culture.
They brought new ideas to China.

20. The Mandate of Heaven
The Zhou used the Mandate of Heaven to justify overthrow of the Shang.
Idea: the power to rule came from heaven.
Due to poor rule, the gods took the power to rule away from the Shang.

21. The Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate became central to the Chinese view of government.
A just ruler had divine approval.
A foolish ruler could lose the Mandate and the right to rule.
Floods, riots, war seen as signs that the Mandate was being revoked.

22. The Dynastic Cycle
China’s history is marked by a succession of different dynasties for hundreds of years.
The pattern of rise, decline and fall of dynasties referred to as the Dynastic Cycle.

23. The Zhou Ruled using Feudalism
Kings gave control of regions to royal family and trusted nobles.
Nobles owed loyalty and service to the king
Local lords grew stronger and less dependent on the king
Local lords fought each other for territory and wealth.

24. Warring States Period
The Zhou ruled for about 700 years. Over time, their strength weakened.
The Zhou king was murdered by invaders.
China was racked by warring lords who claimed to be kings.

25. The Warring States Period
Warfare changed from honorable codes of conduct .
Professional warriors and mercenaries set the rules for war.
New iron weapons, crossbow, were introduced.

26. Chinese Society Collapsed
Traditional Chinese values were in decline.
Chaos and warfare replaced order, harmony and respect for authority.
How could China be saved?