1. Ancient China

2. Yellow River Yellow color soil – very fertile
Devastating floods made it “China’s Sorrow”
Shang dynasty 1766BCE-1122BCE
“oracle bones” prove existence of dynasty
Questions about future written on the bones
Heated, then “read” to predict the future

3. First writing – pictographs
Bronze metallurgy helped make Zhou a military state

4. Zhou Dynasty 1122BCE-256BCE Laid basis for Chinese traditions
“Mandate of Heaven” – power to rule granted from heaven
Power could be taken away if justice and order not maintained
Signed from gods like floods, rebellions, etc. were indication that end was near for dynasty

5. Emphasis on “veneration of ancestors”
Tended to graves diligently
Believed ancestors spirits could support and protect their descendants
Buried tools, weapons, jewelry, etc.
Left food & drink at graves
Living family very connected to the dead and the not yet born

6. Patriarchal Society Strongly patriarchal
Families led by the eldest male
Women more important during early Shang
During Zhou women lived in the shadow of men
Men performed elaborate ceremonies honoring the spirits

7. Social Classes Royal family and allied noble families
Lived on agr. surplus and taxes collected from their subjects
Controlled most bronze weapons
Hereditary aristocrats from military allies
Administrative & military jobs

8. Small class of artisans & craftsmen
Worked mostly for the aristocrats
Lived comfortable lives
Merchants and traders

9. Peasants – owned no land
Provided agricultural, military &labor services for their lord
In return, they got a small plot of land to live on & cultivate
Slaves – enemy warriors captured in battle
Provided hard labor

10. Literature Big influence – served as textbooks
Book of Changes – how to tell the future
Book of History – documents that justified Zhou gov’t
Book of Etiquette (Book of Rites) – polite behavior and how to conduct proper rituals

11. Most notable – Book of Songs – poems about politics, heroes, kings, life, love, family drinking, work, etc.
Much of early literature didn’t survive or was destroyed

12. China & Nomads of Asia
As Chinese farmers spread north and west, they encountered pastoral nomads on grassy steppes of central Asia
Indo-Europeans had migrated into the area
Not much farming
Herding animals to food and water
Traded horses with Chinese in exchange for grains, textiles, etc.

13. Often had bitter wars
Poor nomads raided rich agricultural societies
Early nomads did not adopt Chinese ways
Organized in clans under warrior chiefs
Didn’t use writing until c. 7th century CE