1. Early Civilizations in China
Stankiewicz World Studies

2. Essential Questions
How did geography help shape early Chinese civilization?
What ideas of government did the Chinese develop?
How did religion effect ancient China?
What were the social classes in ancient China?
What were some of the achievements of early Chinese civilizations?

3. Geography of Ancient China
Ancient Chinese called their land “Zhongguo (the Middle Kingdom)
Ancient China was very isolated
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One of the most _________________________ civilization of the ancient world

4. Geography of Ancient China
Isolation lead to belief that China _______________________________________
Also, the feeling China was __________________________

5. Geography of Ancient China
Geographic Barriers
To the west and southwest
___________________
Tien Shan

6. Geography of Ancient China
Geographic Barriers
To the southeast
_____________
                                    

7. Geography of Ancient China
Geographic Barriers
To the north
________________________
Brutal area

8. Geography of Ancient China
Geographic Barriers
To the east
______________________

9. Geography of Ancient China
Despite these geographic barriers
Chinese did have contact with outside world
_____________________________________

10. Contact between Peoples in Ancient China
Most contact was, however, with warlike, nomadic invaders
Looked at nomads(non-Chinese) as _________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________according to the Chinese

11. Contact between Peoples in Ancient China
______________________________________________________________________
When they attacked and sometimes conquered Chinese ___________________
_________________________________________________________ rather than change it
Yet, Chinese still expanded to vast areas

12. Main Geographic Regions in China
As the Chinese expanded their empire came to include many ______________________
Many climates and landforms

13. Main Geographic Regions in China
___________________________________
East coast
Valleys of the Yellow River and Yangzi River
Rivers formed communications and transportation routes
Irrigation supply
______________________________________

15. Main Geographic Regions in China
Outlying regions
Invaders constantly attacked these regions
Chinese government made alliances with regions often
___________________________________
Xingjian

16. Dynasties, Government and Social Classes

17. Ideas of government
Many rivers would flood yearly, including the Yellow River
Ancient Chinese needed a _____________ government to create water projects necessary to control the river
___________________________________

18. Dynasties and Government
Shang Dynasty
Dominated from 1650 BC until 1027 BC
__________________________________________________________________________________________

19. Dynasties and Government
Shang Dynasty had great tombs and palaces
Warrior kings led their armies from walled cities against any invader
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Noblemen had considerable status
They controlled the rest of lands and were loyal to Shang kings

20. Dynasties and Government
Clans important
______________________________________________________________________
Because of this loose bond between King and Noblemen the civilization of China was more like Sumer city states than Egypt

21. Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs
Under Shang Dynasty
___________________________________
Nature gods and spirits
Chief god was _______________________
Mother goddess who brought plants and animals to world

22. Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs
Gods as great as Shang Di would not respond to needs of everyday people
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
People prayed to ancestors to intercede for them in daily life

23. Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs
At first only ancestors of rulers and powerful were thought to help intercede
Later veneration of ancestors in all classes was practiced throughout Chinese society
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

24. Consulting Ancestors
__________________
Interpreting questions
                       

25. Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs
Yin and Yang
______________________________________________________
Delicate balance
Not opposites
Well being of universe depends on harmony between Yin and Yang

26. Yin
Linked to:
_________________________________
Darkness

27. Yang Linked to: _____________________________________ Light
______________________________________

28. Social Classes Royal Family Nobles Artisans and merchants
__________________________________

29. Peasants Clustered together in farming villages
Lived in thatched roofed houses with _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ and warm in winter

30. Accomplishments

31. Writing (accomplishment)
Ancient Chinese developed a system of writing that used:
Pictographs
Ideographs
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

32. Writing (an accomplishment continued)
Calligraphy - Fine handwriting
Writing fostered unity
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

33. Another Early Dynasty Zhou Dynasty Overthrew the Shang in 1027 BC
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cruelty of Shang Dynasty led to Zhou uprising
Heaven told Zhou to rule the people fairly

34. Zhou Dynasty

35. Dynastic Cycle Circular Aging Dynasty New Dynasty
______________________________________
Becomes corrupt
New Dynasty

36. Dynastic Cycle

37. Feudalism in Ancient China
Started by Zhou Dynasty
A system of government which local lords own land but owed military service and support to the ruler
__________________________________
Developed in Japan and Europe later

38. Other Accomplishments
Silk making
___________________________________
Strong economies

39. Things to know for this test
Dynastic Cycle – in detail
How did geography effect early Chinese civilization
Compare Religion – Shang Di and Egypt
Yin and Yang
Ancestral veneration
Clans/Feudalism
You can do very well on this test if you study, we have faith in you!