1. Ancient
China

2. Neolithic
China

3. Sinanthropus pekinesis
“Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BC)
Sinanthropus pekinesis

4. The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

5. Yellow River Civilization

6. Neolithic Pottery
3000 BC to 2000 BC

7. “Chung Kuo” (The “Middle Kingdom”)

8. The Dynastic Cycle Start here A new dynasty comes to power.
The emperor reforms the govt. & makes it more efficient.
Emperor is defeated !!
Lives of common people improved; taxes reduced; farming encouraged.
The Dynastic Cycle
Rebel bands find strong leader who unites them. Attack the emperor.
Problems begin (extensive wars, invasions, etc.)
Poor lose respect for govt. They join rebels & attack landlords.
Taxes increase; men forced to work for army. Farming neglected.
Droughts, floods, famines occur.
Govt. increases spending; corruption.

9. Xia Dynasty BC

10. Xia Dynasty
Historians consider this as the beginning of Chinese civilization.
Little is known about this civilization.

11. Xia Plaque, 1700 BC

12. Shang Dynasty BC

13. Bronze Age Empires

14. Shang: BC

15. Writing system developed that used pictographs which were symbols or characters representing an object.
Pictographs
Semantic-Phonetics

16. Clear social divisions : Wealth was based on land.
Farming society ruled by aristocracy.
They had a belief in super natural forces.
To communicate with the gods rulers made use of oracle bones.

17. Oracle Bones

18. Oracle Bones Calendar

19. Silk making and bronze
working were
technological
contributions of this
dynasty

20. Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE
Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE - jade
Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE

21. Shang Urn

22. Shang Bronzes

23. Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BC