1. Early Chinese Civilizations

4. Geography of China
Civilization began between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River
Needed for farming.
Only 10% of China is farmable.
Farmland = valuable
Geographically isolated from other civilizations.
Mountains and deserts create natural barriers.

5. Early Chinese Government
Religious and governmental traditions are established during the Shang Dynasty (1750 – 1045 BC)
2nd Chinese dynasty; followed Xia
Dynasty
A succession of rulers from the same family.
King’s land was divided into territories governed by the aristocracy.
Powerful upper-class landowners.
Aristocrats were military leaders with their own armies (warlords).
Major concern was war.
King could choose and remove the warlords.
KING
WARLORD
WARLORD
WARLORD
ARMY
ARMY
ARMY

6. Early Chinese Religion
Believed that supernatural forces could intervene in worldly affairs.
Practiced ancestor worship.
Stems from belief in life after death.
Spirits of ancestors could bring good or bad fortune to living family members.
Human sacrifices used to win favor of gods.
Accompany king in life after death.
Utilized oracle bones to communicate with gods.
A priest would write questions on a bone; a heated metal rod would be stuck into it; the priest would then read the cracks and interpret the answer.

7. Chinese Writing Symbols which represent an object or idea.
Uses pictographs and ideographs
Symbols which represent an object or idea.

8. Zhou Dynasty In 1045 BC the Zhou overthrew the Shang.
Longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history
1045 – 256 BC
Believe in the Dynastic Cycle
All dynasties will rise and fall.
Explained their right to rule as a Mandate of Heaven.
King was given the authority to rule from Heaven.

9. Dynastic Cycle Dynasty is founded by a powerful leader
Leader gains Mandate of Heaven
Period of power and prosperity
Restores peace and glory
Improves society
Period of decline
Society declines, natural disaster
Leader loses Mandate of Heaven
Period of rebellion – Dynasty overthrown

11. Roots of Philosophy: The Decline of the Zhou
Zhou had been divided into many small kingdoms.
Civil War breaks out
“Period of the Warring States”
Lasts from 475BC to 221BC
During this time, Chinese philosophers wanted to create stability in society.
Become ideas behind Confucianism & Taoism