1. River Dynasties in China

2. The Geography of China Natural barriers isolated ancient China from all other civilizations. To the east were the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Mountain ranges and deserts comprise 2/3rds of the land mass. In west China lay the Taklimakan Desert and the Plateau of Tibet. In the south are the Himalayas and to the north is the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Plateau.

3. River Systems Two major rivers flow from the west to the Pacific Ocean: the Huang He (Yellow River) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze). The Yellow River deposits large amounts of yellow silt called loess when it overflows its banks. Environmental Challenges? –The Huang He’s floods could be horrible. They could take out whole villages, earning the river the nickname “China’s Sorrow.” –Thanks to geographic isolation, trade was next to impossible. –The natural boundaries did not protect China totally. Invasions from the west and north occurred from time to time.

4. China’s Heartland Only about 10% of China’s land is suitable for farming, and this land lies between a small plain between the Huang He and the Chang Jiang in eastern China. This is known as the North China Plain, and has long been regarded as the center of China’s civilization.

5. Civilization Emerges Around 2000 BC, China’s first cities arose even before the Sumarians’. These cities were along the Huang He river. The first dynasty, the Xia emerged around this time. Its leader was a mathematician named Yu. His flood control ideas kept the river in check and helped civilization to flourish. Around the time that the other civilizations were falling, the Shang rose to power in north China. They lasted from 1700- 1027 BC and left written records.

6. Early Cities One of the earliest and most important cities was Anyang, which was built mainly of wood in a forest clearing. The Shang era cities had extremely high earthen walls because they were constantly waging war.

7. Development of Chinese Culture FAMILY: central to Chinese society. Respect for one’s parents and ancestors was vital. The men controlled the family, and the women were seen as inferior. Between the ages of 13 and 16 her marriage was arranged and she moved in with her husband. SOCIAL CLASSES: Sharply divided between nobility and peasants. Warrior nobility ruled the Shang and owned the land.

8. Development of Chinese Culture RELIGION: The spirits of dead ancestors were believed to bring good fortune or even disaster to the family depending on that family’s actions and worship of the ancestors. These sprits were looked at like helpful or troublesome neighbors, not as gods. Through these spirits, and the rolling of oracle bones, the people communicated with their gods, such as Shang Di.

9. Development of Chinese Culture DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING: One character = one syllable. However, one can read the language without being able to speak it. (Think of 2+2=4 again). People across China could learn one system of writing despite the fact that their languages differed. This helped unify people across a very diverse country. People needed to know at least 1500 characters to be considered barely literate; 10,000 to be a true scholar.

10. Zhou and the Dynastic Cycle Around 1027 BC, a people called the Zhou overthrew the Shang and established their own empire. A large cultural change didn’t happen because the Zhou adopted many aspects of Shang culture. They did bring new ideas.

11. The Mandate of Heaven The Zhou used this to justify their conquests. They declared that the last Shang king had been such a poor ruler that the gods took his power away from him and gave it to the Zhou. This justification developed that the power of royalty came from heaven. A just ruler had a Mandate from Heaven, but that mandate could be revoked. This mandate became central to Chinese civilization. When disasters happened, it was seen that the ruler violated the mandate and it was time for him to go. Historians call this the dynastic cycle (p. 54)

12. Mandate of Heaven v. Manifest Destiny Mandate of Heaven: traditional Chinese sovereignty concept of legitimacy used to support the rule of the kings of the Zhou Dynasty and later the Emperors of China. Heaven would bless the authority of a just ruler, but Heaven would be displeased with an unwise ruler and give the Mandate to someone else. "Mandate of Heaven" was also the very first era name of the Qin Dynasty. Chinese sovereigntykingsZhou DynastyEmperors of China Heaven Qin Dynasty Manifest Destiny: United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean; it has also been used to advocate for or justify other territorial acquisitions. Advocates of Manifest Destiny believed that expansion was not only good, but that it was obvious ("manifest") and certain ("destiny").

13. Control Through Feudalism To govern its large territory, the Zhou gave control of large areas of land to members of the royal family and other trusted nobles. They were responsible for the land and those who lived on it came under their control. The nobles owed loyalty to the king. Towns grew into cities, and those hostile to Zhou lords eventually became accepting of their rule and ways.

14. Zhou Bonuses: Improvements in Technology & Trade –Roads & canals for agriculture & trade –Coined money introduced –Blast furnaces for cast iron – created weapons and agricultural tools.

15. Zhou Problems The Zhou were generally peaceful, but over time rule weakened. In 771 BC nomads from the north and west sacked the Zhou capital and killed their monarch. The surviving members of the royal family picked fights with each other and the rule weakened further. Amongst the fighting, the traditional values of order, harmony, and respect for authority were replaced by arrogance, chaos, and defiance.