1. China Develops

2. Cosmic Powers, Itty-Bitty Living Space
Cities formed around rivers  Yangtze & Yellow Rivers
Bordered on the east by oceans
Yellow Sea
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean
Deserts to the North and West
Gobi Desert
Taklimakan Desert
Mountains along West and South
Pamir Mountains
Tian Shan
Himalayas

3. Oldest Civilization
Civilization developed 2000BCE and evolved into Chinese culture today
Shang family set up first Chinese dynasty in 1766BCE
Reminder: Dynasty is ruling by generations of the same family
Religious & Political  Ruling with the gods’ permission

4. Shang Culture Family & religion go hand in hand
Respecting parents and ancestors was necessary
Spirits of ancestors bring luck (good or bad)
Patriarchal (dad rules)
Pictographs developed from oracle bones
Similar to today’s form of Chinese writing
10,000 characters
You can read it without being able to speak it
2+2=4 in many languages, not just English

5. Zhou Culture Zhou family takes over
Emperor put local lords in charge of areas b/c the land was too big to rule by himself
Cities grew, lord’s power grew
Constant invasions from nomadic groups
Lords fighting everyone (each other and nomads)
Very chaotic time called Time of the Warring States

6. Dynastic Cycle