1. 5.1 The Geography of China’s River Valleys
Huang River
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

2. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
1. Monsoon
1. Seasonal winds that bring dry and wet seasons
Northern China = Monsoon winds bring a brief, but intense summer rainy season. The rest of the year it is mostly dry
Southern China = Monsoon winds from the S. China Sea bring heavy rains from March to September. Light rains fall the rest of the year
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

3. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
2. Huang River (Yellow River/ China’s Sorrow) 2.
China’s first civilization began along this river
Second longest river in China & muddiest river in the world
Yellow River- called this b/c of the yellow-brown soil in its waters
China’s Sorrow-called this b/c destructive floods killed many and ruined lands
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

4. Yellow-brown soil that is very fertile
3. Loess 3.
Yellow-brown soil that is very fertile
(Loess Plateau in China)
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

5. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
4. Dike 4.
A protective wall that holds back the waters to help control flooding.
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

6. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
5. What did the Chinese do to control flooding? 5.
They built dikes along the banks of the Huang river.
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

7. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
6. Shang Dynasty
6. -The first RECORDED civilization in China beginning around 1760B.C.
-Shang people built the first cities (walled cities were built for kings and warriors)
-Produced bronze work (tin + copper = bronze)
-Made the first Chinese writing system
-Lasted for 600 years until the Zhou people emerged
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

8. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
Shang Dynasty
A Shang dynasty turtle shell shows one of the earliest examples of Chinese writing
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

9. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
7. -The territory of the Zhou people bordered the Shang people for some time (lived in peace at times & fought each other over borders at times)
Finally conquered the Shang around 1122 B.C. (King Wen & his son Wu)
Ruled for almost 1,000 years (Eastern & Western parts) LONGEST LASTING CHINESE DYNASTY!!
End of this dynasty = Warring States Period (small kingdoms fought each other for control... until the Qin dynasty took over)
7. Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

10. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
8. Mandate of Heaven 8.
A Chinese BELIEF that rulers came to power because it was their destiny, or fate.
This Mandate supported a leader’s right to rule his people
It also gave a father authority over his family
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11. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
9. Family/ Extended Family
9. Family was the center of early Chinese society:
a.) Considered more important than the individual or nation
b.) a person’s first responsibility was to the family
c.) was the source of each person’s well-being
Chinese households might contain 5 generations living together at one time
(Uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, sisters, brothers, etc.)=EXTENDED FAMILY
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

12. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
10. Oldest Chinese Male
10. Was the center of authority in the family:
Had the most privileges and the most power in the family
Would decide who his children and grandchildren would marry
Punished disrespectful children severly
If oldest male died, his lands were divided among the sons who would start their own household
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11. Chinese Women
11. Considered to be of lower status than men
Bound to three obediences…
1.) to obey their fathers in youth
2.) to obey their husbands in marriage
3.)to obey their sons in widowhood (if their husband dies)
Four virtues guided women’s behavior…
1.) morality ) modesty
3.) proper speech 4.) domestic skills
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12. Family Names
12. In Chinese society, the family name comes first...
Ex.) George Washington would be Washington George in China)
THIS SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT THE FAMILY WAS IN CHINA!
This tradition dates back to China’s earliest times.
What would your
name be if you
lived in China?
5.1- Geography of Ancient China

15. 5.1- Geography of Ancient China
13. What factors determined a person’s status within early Chinese families?
13.
The status of each person depended on his or her AGE and SEX.
5.1- Geography of Ancient China