1. Early Society in East Asia
Chapter 5

2. Political Organization in Early China
Agriculture -> surplus -> villages -> regional states (Xia, Shang, Zhou)
Yellow River = China’s sorrow (flooding)
Early dynasties = hereditary states that controlled large areas

3. The Xia Dynasty C. 2200 BCE: formal control over region
Mythical founder (Yu) – importance of public works
Cities, metallurgy

4. The Shang Dynasty 1766-1122 BCE: same general area
Success from tech.: bronze monopoly by elites
Built army w/ surplus and gained power from allies
Capitals: 6; walled (labor), palace, archives, workshops, elaborate royal burials
Other similar states prob. existed

5. The Zhou Dynasty
Fought Shang -> allied with them -> eclipsed them
Last Shang king was a fool, many became loyal to Zhou (established state)
Shang heirs still governed outer districts
Mandate of Heaven: justification for deposing Shang king; power comes from heaven, king is ‘son of heaven’
If king does not govern properly, lose mandate

6. Zhou (cont.)
Political organization: decentralized monarchy (power to subordinates in exchange for allegiance, tribute, mil. Support)
Lost control,as they became more independent
Invasions -> defeat of Zhou -> Warring States per.
256 BCE: last Zhou king abdicated -> Qin dynasty

7. Society and Family in Ancient China
Agriculture -> wealth -> inequalities
Social structure:
ruling elites and aristocrats,
specialized laborers,
merchants and traders (long distance, despite geographic barriers, and maritime),
peasants (no land – feudal),
slaves (hard labor)

8. Family and Patriarchy Importance of extended family
Ancestor veneration for protection and help
No organized religion – patriarch performs rituals
Shang and Zhou: females became less important; patrilineal descent

9. Early Chinese Writing and Cultural Development
Xia prob. Used writing for record-keeping
Shang – extensive use: oracle bones to tell fortunes
Pictographic, with ideographs
Zhou – oracle bones, bronze inscriptions, books (including Book of Songs)
Silk, bamboo books have perished and Qin destroyed any non-utilitarian books

10. Ancient China and the Larger World
Influences through trade, migration, and expansion
Agriculture spread north and west
Stopped because steppe nomads were pastoral
Traded with farmers, introduced bronze, chariots, and horses but also fought with them

11. The Southern Expansion of Chinese Society
No barriers to south -> Yangzi River (good for rice, little flooding) -> pop. Increase-> surplus -> Chu state
Adopted Chinese culture elements, but not under political authority