1. River Dynasties in China

2. Map

3. Introduction to China
Natural barriers isolated China: Pacific Ocean, Himalaya Mountains, Gobi Desert, Plateau of Tibet
Viewed people who lived outside of China as barbarians, thought their civilization was the center of the civilized world
The civilization never failed, continues to thrive today

4. Farming
Used both:
Irrigation & Terrace

5. Dynasties and Cities
Shang dynasty was the first to leave a written record
Kings built elaborate palaces
Anyang was the oldest and most important city
Protected cities with massive earthen walls (dirt mounds)
Consistently warring with other cities
Invented the chariot

6. Society Society was sharply divided between nobles and peasants
Strong bonds to family and the emperor (king)
Family was central to Chinese society, most important virtue was respect for parent’s
Women were treated as inferiors, men controlled the property, women had arranged marriages

7. Religious Beliefs Polytheistic but worshipped a supreme god, Shang Di
Believed their ancestors were spirits
Oracle Bones-animal bones where priests scratched ?s and used a hot poker to cause it to crack, they would then interpret for the gods reply to the ?

8. Writing Each character stands for an idea (not a sound)
- memorize over 1,000 characters
+ unifies the area because EVERYONE writes the same

9. Art and Technology
Skilled workers (artisans) made silk and bronze items
These workers had a special place in society

10. Zhou Dynasty Zhou overthrow the Shang
Mandate of Heaven-royal authority came from heaven, a just ruler have divine approval
M of H-became a central idea to Chinese govt.
Dynastic cycle-patterns of rise, decline and replacement of dynasties

11. Feudalism System to control a large area King gives land to nobles
Nobles rule the land
give land to military for protection