1. CIVILIZATION DAWNS IN CHINA

2. Civilization Dawns in China
Google Earth

3. Civilization Dawns in China

4. Civilization Dawns in China
The oldest continuous civilization
Unique and independent path of development
Geography has a profound influence on culture and history

5. Civilization Dawns in China
Geography
Just like Egypt, China has natural borders
Encourages single culture
Protects from invasion
Geography separates the country into north and south
Core of China is 1000 miles by 1000 miles
Gobi desert and Mongolia to the north
China Sea to the east
Tibet plateau to the west
Jungle to the south

6. Civilization Dawns in China
Geography
Obstacles are not impassable but difficult to get to China
Large area allows for population growth
Little interaction with the outside world

7. Civilization Dawns in China
China views itself as an innovator
Develop – agriculture, writing, philosophy, literature, politics and art
View other areas as fringe areas
Felt the Middle Kingdom was the focal point of the world
China had a unique and distinct culture
Felt other cultures were inferior and barbaric

8. Civilization Dawns in China
North and South regions center on rivers
Yellow River in the North
Yangtze River in the South
Both rivers originate in the west and flow east to the China Sea

9. Civilization Dawns in China
Climate, temperature, soil and rainfall differ
North – colder, drier, & flatter with wheat & millet grown
South – wetter, hotter, and hillier – soil for rice
Flood plains provide food for a large population

10. Civilization Dawns in China
12% of land in China is suitable for agriculture
Most of China is dry and desert
Millet, rice and wheat are what builds China
Early writings depict agriculture

11. Civilization Dawns in China
Flooding is dangerous, especially in the flat north
million die in Yellow River flood
Yangtze River is navigable

12. Civilization Dawns in China

13. Civilization Dawns in China
2000 BC pottery, silk and bronze develop on their own
Plow, hoe, irrigation & animal domestication
Calendar, carts and boats

14. Civilization Dawns in China

15. Civilization Dawns in China

16. Civilization Dawns in China

17. Civilization Dawns in China
Shang dynasty in North develops about 1600 BC and is 1st recorded dynasty
Oracle bones and bronze casting is what they are famous for
Had a complex writing system that may have developed in 3000 BC
Over 3000 pictographic characters
Created an original written language which is later copied by Asian nations such as Japan and Korea

18. Civilization Dawns in China

19. Civilization Dawns in China

20. Civilization Dawns in China
Oracle bones – fragments of animal bones and tortoise shells that were used to foretell the future
Wrote a question and then heated the bone until it cracked
Cracks were messages from the gods to be interpreted
Over 200,000 oracles discovered
Predictions were made like horoscopes
Similar to Greek oracles and Mesopotamian astrologers
Asked about finance, health, relationships and crops

21. Civilization Dawns in China
1200 BC horse was domesticated and chariot was used
Tombs for rulers were elaborate – 40 feet deep and covered with a mound
Bronze pots, tools, weapons, small bronze animals and bells
Bronze intricately patterned and could weigh several 100 pounds

22. Civilization Dawns in China
China had kings
Walled cities of up to 4 square miles with 30 foot walls
Zhou (Joe) replaces Shang and dynasty lasts from 1050 BC to 221 BC

23. Civilization Dawns in China
King mandated by heaven to rule and not the gods
Only way to challenge a king was to depose him
“He who wins is the legitimate king: he who loses is the rebel.”

24. Civilization Dawns in China
Feudal system with hereditary lords who ruled certain areas
Peasants at the bottom and worked the land
Central field for lord surrounded by smaller fields for peasants

25. Civilization Dawns in China
20 million people by 600 BC
Coins begin to be used
Wood and earth were used to build early cities so little evidence exists
Poetry describes large palaces and cities
Bronze continues to be developed

26. Civilization Dawns in China
6th century BC Zhou declines and several kingdoms develop
Kingdoms fight each other for power
500BC to 211 BC Warring States Period

27. Civilization Dawns in China
Large armies with massive infantries
Crossbow introduced
War becomes more professional
Social mobility through military exists

28. Civilization Dawns in China
Corruption grows and morals decline
Peasants resent greedy administrators
Political and social confusion leads to change for a better and more just society.
Era of 100 Schools of Thought

29. Civilization Dawns in China
3 thought emerge
Confucius
Daoism
Legalism
Each had a different answer to 2 questions
What is the purpose of life?
How should life be lead?
Same questioning was occurring in other civilizations as well
Time of great creativity that affects us today.