1. Importance of Rivers

2. rivers
agriculture
populations
cities
specialization
hierarchy

3. YELLOW RIVER
YANGZI RIVER

4. Population Growth
Settlements began to crop up along the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers
Created a need for recognized authorities who could maintain order, resolve disputes, and organize public works projects
Village-level organizations could only act locally
Small dynasties followed that extended their control over progressively larger regions

5. Characteristics of a Civilization
Intensive agricultural techniques
Specialization of labor
Cities
A social hierarchy (mandate of heaven)
Organized religion and education (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddism)
Development of complex forms of economic exchange
Development of new technologies
Advanced development of the arts. (This can include writing.)
Intensive agricultural techniques, such as the use of animal power, crop rotation, and irrigation. This enables farmers to produce a surplus of food that will not be needed for their own subsistence.
A significant portion of the population that does not devote most of its time to producing food. They can go into other occupations and trade for the food they need. This is called "specialization of labor." It is possible because of the food surplus described above.
The gathering of these non-food producers into permanent settlements, called cities.
A social hierarchy. This can be a chiefdom, in which the chieftain of one noble family or clan rules the people; or a state society, in which the ruling class is supported by a government or bureaucracy. Political power is concentrated in the cities.
The establishment of complex, formal social institutions such as organized religion and education, as opposed to the less formal traditions of other societies.
Development of complex forms of economic exchange. This includes the expansion of trade and may lead to the creation of money and markets.
The accumulation of more material possessions than in simpler societies.
Development of new technologies by people who are not busy producing food. In many early civilizations, metallurgy was an important advancement.
Advanced development of the arts by those who don't have to farm for a living. This can include writing.

6. Crops Initially, millet was the main crop (especially in the north)
Sometime thereafter, the Chinese began cultivating rice (especially in the south where the Yangzi River is less prone than the Yellow River to devastating floods)
Extensive rice production would require developing a complex irrigation system (made possible by the centralizing authority of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties)

7. The Dynasties of China

8. Overview Time span of the dynasties Over 30 different dynasties
21st century B.C. thru1911 A.D.
Almost 4000 years
Over 30 different dynasties
We will discuss 8 of the most important ones.

9. Shang Dynasty (17st until 11th B.C.)
Cradle of Chinese civilization
Based on agriculture
Developed a writing system
High level of civilization: bronze workmanship
Ruled by kings
Cities were centers of glittering court life
Court rituals honoring ancestors
Slaves buried alive in royal tombs

10. Social Hierarchy: Shang and early Zhou
Royal family and allied noble families
Resided in large, palatial compounds and lived on the agricultural surplus and taxes delivered by their subjects
Privileged class of hereditary aristocrats
Rose from the military allies of the rulers
Possessed extensive land holdings and performed military and administrative tasks
Some access to education for those who lived in cities
Detailed rules of etiquette during Zhou era

11. Social Hierarchy: Ancient Shang and early Zhou
Small class of free artisans and craftsmen
Lived in cities
Those who worked almost extensively for the privileged classes lived reasonably comfortably
Peasants
Semi-servile class that lived in the countryside and did not own land
Provided agricultural, military, and labor services for lords in exchange for plots to cultivate, security, and a portion of the harvest
Slaves
Most were captured enemy warriors
Performed hard labor that required a large work force such as clearing fields or building city walls
During the Shang Dynasty many were victims of human sacrifice during funerals and other religious and ritual observances

12. Zhou Dynasty 10th until 2nd century B.C.
Capital at Hao (near Xi’an) in Wei Valley
Ruled much of China north of Yangtze river
Extended Shang culture
Early rule: Feudal
Decentralized; control based on family ties
Later: City States
Central control over local governments
Impersonal political and economic institutions
Culture: philosophy, poetry and prose

13. Sun Tzu “The Art of War”
Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher during the Zhou dynasty's. He is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an extremely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. Sun Tzu has had a significant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture, both as the author of The Art of War and as a legendary historical figure.

14. Qin (221 until 207 B.C.) Achievements: Leader: Shi Huangdi
Standardized language & Writing
Standardized currency
Standardized measurements
Public Works
Great Wall (started, Many different versions)
Roads & Irrigation canals
Leader: Shi Huangdi

15. What was the purpose of this wall?
Did it work?

17. Western Han (206 B.C.- 9 A.D.) Eastern Han (25-225 A.D.)
Achievements:
Silk Road
Better Tools—Iron
Agriculture
Crop Rotation
Education
Paper and Porcelain

18. Three Kingdoms
(190 to 589 A.D.)
The earlier, "unofficial" part of the period, was marked by chaotic infighting between warlords in various parts of China.
The middle part of the period, was marked by a more militarily stable arrangement between three rival states, Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu.
The later part of this period was marked by the collapse of the tripartite situation: 589 AD the Sui Dynasty would reunite China.

19. Sui Dynasty (581-617) Reunified China in 589
High Taxes and Compulsory Labor
Completion of the Grand Canal (connect Yellow and Yangtze/ Beijing to Hangzhou)
Campaign against Korea in the early 7th century
A lot of revolts and assassinations

20. The Grand Canal Longest in the world 5 million workers
Built to supply the standing army and the capitol with grain

21. Tang Dynasty ( )
High point of Chinese civilization (comparable to Han Dynasty)
Golden age of literature and art
India and Middle-East relations stimulated creativity
Buddhism (from India) was widely promoted (Confucius era)
Block printing was invented

22. Tang Dynasty (618-907) Cont’d
Better government system
Civil service examination and other competitive entrance procedures (why?)
Independent from aristocracy and warlords (why? How?)
“Scholar-officials” (who? duty and privileges?)
Fragmentation of China (5 north dynasties, 10 south kingdoms)
Economic, politic, societal reasons + Arab wars
North invaders

23. Song Dynasty (960-1279) 2 Phases: Northern (960-1127) and
Southern Song ( )
Centralized bureaucracy (more power on emperor)
(regional governors  centrally appointed officials)
City developments (admin., trade, industry, maritime commerce)
Mercantile class
Movable type invented !!!!!!!!!!!!
Printing and education spread
Private trade grew
Market network grew
The Neo Confucius Philosophy (by Zhu Xi)  inhibited pre modern societal development